Thinking about buying an electric vehicle?

If you're thinking about buying an electric vehicle (EV) or installing an EV charging station, there are some important things you should consider first. 

Charging your car

At a house

First, you must have your own garage, driveway or parking spot. You must have a safe, unobstructed location to install your charging station. It’s not possible to install private charging stations on the boulevard, so if you rely on street parking, an EV may not be the right choice for you right now.

At an apartment, condo, industrial, commercial or institutional location

Ideally, your building has completed the initial wiring necessary to install one or more charging stations at parking spots - otherwise this process can become very costly.

If you are installing chargers for multiple vehicles, then you may want to consider who will pay the installation and ongoing operating costs, and if you need metering for billing usage. Finally, before you arrange upgrades to the electrical service and install a charging system, it is best to check with the landlord, condo board or property owner and obtain written approval.

Can your location handle the load?

An EV can add significant load to an electrical service. The power available for charging an EV depends upon the building electrical system capacity and the instantaneous building peak demand. 

Customers may wish to consider one or more of the following solutions to manage the new load of an EV Charger:

Get more information regarding EVEMS solutions, from this CSA Research Report.

Take advantage of incentives

Explore any rebates and incentives that you might be eligible for if you purchase or lease an EV. The Government of Canada's website lists incentives for purchasing zero-emission vehicles, for example.

Take note of additional costs

Aside from the cost of the work done by your contractor, you should be aware of any additional monthly fees from Kingston Hydro. For example, if you have to install another meter to connect your EV, you’ll be responsible for paying additional delivery charges on a monthly basis – one per meter.

Choosing an EV charger for home

The amount of time it takes to charge your vehicle will depend on your charger. There are different charging speeds available at different price points: 

Level 1, 120-volt

This provides the slowest charge. 

Your new EV will come with a 120-volt charging cord that can easily be plugged into any wall-socket. 

Level 2, 240-volt

The popular choice. 

These 240-volt chargers, available at hardware stores for $800–$1,200 can be installed outdoors or in a garage, and are also available at public charging locations.

Level 3, 480-volt

Lightning fast.

These ultra-fast chargers can charge your vehicle in 25-30 minutes. Generally, level three chargers are found at public charging stations.

Schedule the work

Hire a licensed electrical contractor (LEC) to assess your home and determine whether it can handle the EV model of your choice. Need some help finding the right contractor? Find a list of credible LECs in your area, from the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) website.

Work with your licensed electrical contractor to determine if you need to upgrade your existing service. If required, complete an application for service and schedule the work with your contractor and Kingston Hydro. If necessary, Kingston Hydro will schedule a site visit and will provide you with a list of requirements necessary to complete the installation.

ESA permits and inspection

Work with your licensed electrical contractor to take out a permit, install the charger and schedule an Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) inspection. 

Ontario building code change 

On May 2, 2019 changes to the Ontario Building Code 2012 regarding electrical vehicle charging systems come into effect. These changes were made by the Ontario government’s Ministry of Municipal Affairs to remove the technical requirements related to electric vehicle charging infrastructure in houses and non-residential large buildings, such as workplaces. Get more information from Build Right Ontario. 

Already own an EV?

Shift charging to off-peak hours to save. 

Just like running the dishwasher or clothes dryer in the evening helps you save on your home’s energy costs, charging an EV during off-peak hours provides the highest cost-savings and comes from the cleanest sources of electricity. Research shows that some EVs still plug in during mid-peak hours when electricity is more costly, especially when arriving at work in the day or home in the evening. Some charging stations have a delay start function or a feature that limits the charge rate to help owners manage their electricity costs, while still having the convenience of plugging in as soon as they arrive at a destination.

For the lowest electricity rates, charge your EV between 7 p.m. and 7 a.m. during the week, and all day Saturday, Sunday and on statutory holidays.

See the Ontario Energy Board for time-of-use prices and periods. 

Web links

You might find the following websites helpful.