Everything You Need to Know about Charging Your Car at Home

Fighting climate change involves making a series of changes to our everyday lives and routines. Choosing an electric vehicle over a car that burns fossil fuels could significantly help to reduce your carbon footprint. And did you know that the cost of electricity per kilometre is about a third less than gas?1 So now that you’ve taken the guesswork out of making your drive greener, it’s time to think about where and how you will charge your new EV.

Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3 Chargers

A Level 1 charger uses a 120V power supply and can be plugged into any standard outlet. However, its charging rate is usually the slowest of all available options.

Level 2 charging uses 240V and compared to level 1 charging, is a potentially faster way to power up your EV. Depending on the model, our level 2 home EV charging stations can charge your electric vehicle 4x or more faster than a Level 1 standard receptacle, meaning you can juice up more quickly between excursions. Reliance’s Level 2 chargers include a standard SAE plug that can be used with most EVs sold in North America — except for Teslas, which require an adaptor. Renting or buying from Reliance also includes a free in-home consultation, a site inspection and installation by one of our licensed technicians. Electrical installations are always best left to the experts!

Level 3 charging stations are less common than Level 2 charging stations. Although they can be significantly faster than a Level 2 EV charger, installing a Level 3 EV charging station at your home would likely cost you more than the EV itself. This is because a Level 3 uses direct current (DC) and requires a high-voltage electricity supply not usually available for residences. Level 3 EV charging stations are generally used for businesses and public charging locations.

Many EV owners opt for a Level 2 home charging station for the extra features, convenience, faster charging speeds (compared to the Level 1) and more affordable pricing (compared to the Level 3).

Renting vs. Buying a Level 2 Charging Station

Buying a Level 2 charging station could be the right choice for many people, but we offer a unique opportunity to rent your Level 2 charging station, which means you will have access to our 24/7 live telephone support and we can help resolve any issues or repairs quickly.

Installation Process

It’s a pretty simple process. First, a Reliance Home Comfort Advisor provides a complimentary in-home consultation and assesses the different options and locations for the unit; second, a licensed electrician inspects the site and determines all your specific installation needs; and third, the electrician installs the unit and shows you everything you need to know to operate it.

When to Charge Your EV

Many Level 2 EV charging stations, including the ChargePoint Home Flex and the FLO Home™ X5, can be controlled using an app on your phone*. This could help you avoid peak-hour electricity consumption and higher electricity bills.

Want to learn more about the Level 2 EV charging stations we carry? Be sure to visit our EV Chargers page.