Canada Only- Level 2 Charger

A

Atul Thakkar

Active Member
Does any one know for Ontario, which Level 2 charger for clarity PHEV works best in terms of price and performance both? In Ontario there is 50% or up to $ 500 discount on level 2 charger. However in USA , the chargers are available around $ 250/- US $ .
I also noticed that if anyone need to get government discount , the dealer must be Canadian and also must me shipped from Canada and shall be only from approved Vendor list provided by Approved authorities.

If any one who installed and got discount from government help to understand process will be really helpful. Thanks
 
I bought a ChargePoint EVSE from autochargers.ca

Not the cheapest but qualifies for the rebate and has an excellent app to control and monitor it.
 
The amazon charger you reference is a 16A L2 charger capable of charging at 3.86 kWh. The Clarity can source around 32A L2 charging around 7.7 kWh. So with that charger it will take twice as long to do a full charge around 5h instead of 2.5h.

Still 2.66 times as fast the included 12A L1 charger, but not the 5.33x rate you expect.
 
I'm in Ontario. I picked up the Juice Box Pro 40 from AutoChargers.ca and am very happy with it. I got a certified electrician to do the install from a fairly big local company for $650 but I'll get half that cost back too. Just be warned - I submitted my rebate application February 22. I checked with the MTO office and they say they're backed up to February 1 as of last week so you're not getting that rebate soon.
 
I will be shopping for a charger as well and have only started the research. Features I am thinking about.
-I read the chargepoint cord has to be purchased separately, does the cord qualify for the rebate?
-32A-40A definitely.
-Lights on the charging station or any other feature that allows me to use it without a smartphone.
-Security: do I have to worry about someone swiping the cord?
-Size:
-Weatherproof: I want to mount mine outside. I would really like the one charging station to handle an inside cord and an outside one but I dont think this is going to be available.

Ease of use. This is a big one for me. I or the wife will be plugging the car in almost daily. I don't need any type of struggles to plug it in especially during inclement weather.
 
prestoOne, I’ll try to answer these in order:
-FWIW, my Chargepoint came with the cord. They offer 2 different lengths. Don’t know anything about Canadian rebates as I’m in USA.
-Mine is 32 amp, any higher will be of no benefit to the Clarity. (32 amp requires minimum of NMB 8-2 wire and a 40 amp breaker but as always check national and local codes. Note that it does not require a neutral wire.)
-When not connected to the internet, the base will light up white for ready to charge, pulsing blue for charging, and red for fault. Smart phone is used for scheduling (or just use Honda Link) or to use CP app to track kWs. When connected to internet you get green for ready to charge, pulsing green for schedule set, blue for plugged in, pulsing blue for charging, and red for fault.
-As to possible theft: The cord is connected by spring toggle levers. So if someone were to snap off the decorative cover and unscrew the inner cover, they could take the cord, but they would have to work at it. Not a snatch and grab unless they cut the cord. Also hardwired makes it a little more work to steal the base as opposed to just unplugging. Tamper resistant bolts/screws could give you more peace of mind.
-The size is very unobtrusive and is especially shallow. Doesn’t stick out from the wall hardly at all. Definitely not an eyesore to mount outside. Cord storage is built in and loops around the curved top for a neat appearance.
-ChargePoint states the unit is suitable for outdoor installation if you buy the hardwired version. This is probably due to the plug-in version only having a 12” cord which makes it impossible to use a NEMA waterproof box/cover for the receptacle as code (and common sense) requires in my locale.
-Very easy to use; just unplug from base and plug into car. Has the same force needed as several other public chargers I have used. I have a surgically repaired arm/wrist and I don’t have any problems. Your wife will find it easy.
Hope those answers help.

I like mine a lot, especially the app that lets me track kW many different ways. You can use it without a smartphone or internet connection just fine but lose its best feature which is the tracking app.
 
I would say the top 3 (and they are all equally good choices but in different ways) are:
-ChargePoint Home
-JuiceBox 40
-Sun Country Highway EV40

ChargePoint offers WiFi connection, most compact, most aesthetically pleasing and currently the cheapest with the 20% off earth day sale.

JuiceBox offers WiFi, is heavy duty built, slightly ugly, 8A more charging than the other two (in case you ever get an EV that can charge at 40A), because of the 40A ability the charge cable is thicker/heavier than the others.

The Sun Country (which is the Canadian branding of the Clipper Creek chargers= Most reliable EVSE brand) has no WiFi, is the most heavy duty built of the 3, and is sold by Costco at a great price all year long. If you want reliable with zero bells and whistles this would be the choice, but there are valid reasons to want WiFi and that is a personal choice.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
Mikep00 said:
ChargePoint offers WiFi connection, most compact, most aesthetically pleasing and currently the cheapest with the 20% off earth day sale.
Click to expand...
Thanks for this, ordered from Amazon, looks like 1-2 months delay. Works for me though cause I ordered my car on Monday and will probably take months to get here. Maybe I'll get them together? lol
 
Atul Thakkar said:
Get your charger installed from Licensed Contractor ONLY. The link will provide list of approved contractor in your area.
https://www.plugndrive.ca/charging-station-installation/
Click to expand...

I’m undecided on using an installer at all or just doing it myself.

Option 1
If I do it myself without paying for a ESA inspection, I’m looking at an install cost of $120 for material. So out of pocket cost $120 since I wouldn’t be eligible for rebate on installation costs since I wouldn’t have an ESA certificate.

Option 2
If I get an ESA certificate I have to pay $120 for the inspection. So total cost of $240 but after 50% rebate, my out of pocket would be $120.

Option 3
Hire electrician to do the job. They all know about the Ontario rebate, so any 240V outlet outside, near the garage, anywhere of that nature is assume an EV outlet install and they are charging accordingly. After 6 quotes they ranged from $950 to a perfect $1000 and all included comments about being a good price after the 50% rebate. I have to say my install couldn’t be easier (and short) and a master electrician should be in and out in about 40 minutes. After rebate, my out of pocket cost would be between $475 and $500.

I have confirmed with the Ministry that I would still receive the rebate on the charger without an ESA certificate, just no rebate on the install.

I don’t see any reason why I shouldn’t go with option 1 so long as I follow Code in my install.


Sent from my iPhone using Inside EVs
 
I do all my own electric work but always get an inspection. Mostly for the peace of mind of future owners and so in the event of an unrelated fire/accident, my work does not get called into question by the insurance company. We are fairly lucky where I live that an electric inspection only costs around $35.

$120 is a bit high, but doesn’t seem like too much to pay for a good review and legal documentation of the high quality of your work.

I don’t begrudge the electricians their due, but if you can do the work well there’s no need to pay what they’re asking. I think they hear “electric car” and they all think we are rich Tesla owners.
 
I am wondering , I have Kitchen stove plug unused due to Natural gas stove use. Can any one know it will work for me ? The location of this plug is on garage wall but other side ( kitchen side) , so I was thinking to do extension by making hole and use same plug to bring in to garage , so that way I can minimize electric work. Any comments will be appreciated.
 
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