Olson Electric professionally installs a myriad of brands of electric vehicle chargers including the Tesla PowerWall, ChargePoint chargers, Siemens chargers and many more. We believe electric vehicle technology will continue to improve and dominate the marketplace, enriching the lives of many Canadians through lower transportation costs, lower ecological impacts, and a brighter more sustainable future.

New EV charger rebate information from BC Hydro

Right here on the Sunshine Coast, we've installed dozens of chargers over the years. We've installed them in malls and shopping centres, in residences, in parks, or any other location our sustainability minded community has needed them. This year with Tesla Model 3 as well as other very affordable EVs taking a more significant market share, we're shaping up to install more chargers in homes than ever before. 

What are the differences between Level 1 and Level 2 and 3 chargers?

Electric vehicle chargers come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Chargers are categorized by their capabilities and the subsequent requirements of the device in order to better comprehend the speed at which they will charge. The lower the level of charger, the lower the input voltage (and subsequent capability) of the charger. The higher the level, the higher the requirements (and capability). 

Level 1 Charger
Input voltage: 120v AC
Charge time (full charge): Overnight (8-12 hours)

Level 2 Charger
Input voltage: 208/240v AC
Charge time (full charge): 3-6 Hours

Level 3 Charger
Input voltage: Hundreds of volts
Charge time (80% charge): 20-60 Minutes
Depending on the size of battery

^{Sechelt's first Level 3 charger at the Trail Bay mall location}

Level 1 chargers come with your electric vehicle and plug in to a common household 120v receptacle. The relatively low voltage and current available to the charger means that refilling a completely empty battery will take quite awhile. Level 1 chargers are best suited to charging overnight, for use the following day, and don't require any specialized equipment or installation in order to use in your home.

Level 2 chargers are the first significant upgrade a new EV owner will want to look for. Dramatically improving your charge time is something every EV owner wants, and all it takes is a qualified product along with a dedicated 240v circuit. The increased voltage and current allows the charger to refill a battery in a fraction of the time it would take a Level 1 charger.

While Level 3 chargers don't have a completely adopted standard in place, manufacturers have started supporting one or more types of intelligent "Level 3" chargers using similar technology:
- Combined Charging System (CCS)
- CHAdeMO Chargers
- Tesla Superchargers

Consult your owner's manual if you are unsure of which Level 3 charger your vehicle supports (if any).