Home › Guides › EV chargers
Level 2 charger installation in Québec: cost and steps
What happens from the first visit to the first charge, how long it takes, and the six things that really change the bill.
In short
- In the vast majority of cases, the installation is done in a single visit.
- The load calculation comes first, not on installation day. It drives everything else.
- At STM-Électrique, an installed Flo charger runs about $1,750.
- The biggest price factor isn’t the charger: it’s the distance between the panel and where you park.
- The municipal permit is part of the electrician’s job: you don’t have to call the city.
In this guide
Most people who call us already have their vehicle, or a delivery date. What they want to know comes down to three questions: can my house handle it, how much does it cost, and how long does it take?
This guide answers all three for a home EV charger installation in Québec, in the order things actually happen.
Before: the visit and the load calculation
This is where it all plays out. An installation that goes sideways on the day is almost always one that was poorly prepared the week before.
The load calculation
It’s a standard method, set out in the Code, that adds up the living area, heating, fixed appliances and special loads. Since 2026, the charger’s load must be included in it.
It has three possible outcomes, and only one of them is expensive:
- Your installation works as is. This is the most common case in a house that already has 200 amps.
- It works with load management. A controller stops the charger and another large load from running at the same time. Modest cost, problem solved.
- The capacity has to go up. That’s a different project, and you need to know it before you order the charger, not after.
An electrician who quotes you a charger price without doing this calculation is selling you a risk. It’s that simple.
The location
We look at where you park, where the panel is, and which way the cable can go. That distance, and what lies in the way, decides a good part of the bill. The charger brand doesn’t.
The permit
If your city requires a municipal permit, we apply for it, and we report the work to the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ). You have nothing to do with your city.
Installation day
For a simple installation (a panel with room to spare, the charger on the garage wall or next to the driveway), plan on half a day. The order is always the same.
| Step | What happens | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| Power off | We shut off the panel to install the breaker | A few minutes |
| Dedicated breaker | A 240 V breaker is installed, sized according to the load calculation | 30 min |
| Cable run | Conduit or cable to the charger location, drilling, fastening | The longest: 1 to 3 h |
| Charger mounting | Wall mounting, connection, grounding | 45 min |
| Power back on | Checks, commissioning | 15 min |
| Test with your vehicle | A real charge, plus app setup if the charger has one | 20 min |
The power outage is short, unlike a panel replacement. We shut off the power to install the breaker and turn it back on: you won’t be without electricity all day.
What it costs
At STM-Électrique, an installed Flo charger runs about $1,750 in a single-family home, charger included.
That’s a ballpark Level 2 charger installation cost for an ordinary job: a panel with room to spare, a charger mounted a reasonable distance from the panel, and no upgrade needed. It includes:
- The charger itself
- The dedicated breaker and connection hardware
- The cable and cable run over a normal distance
- The municipal permit
- Commissioning and a test with your vehicle
And here’s what isn’t included, because it depends on each house: a panel or service entrance upgrade, a trench to a detached garage, a long or difficult cable run, or repairing a finished wall.
The six things that change the bill
No one can give you a firm EV charger installation cost without seeing the place. Here’s exactly why.
| Factor | Effect on the bill | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Panel → charger distance | The biggest | Every metre means cable, conduit and time |
| What the cable has to go through | Significant | A finished basement, a slab or a concrete wall changes everything |
| Panel capacity | Significant | An upgrade is a second project added on to the first |
| Detached garage | Significant | Trench, buried conduit, restoring the yard |
| Charger amperage | Moderate | A 48 A charger needs a bigger cable than a 32 A one |
| Municipal permit | Low | The cost varies from one city to the next |
Here’s how we work: we look, we price it, and the price is written in the quote before anything starts. If we find something once we open things up, we call you before going any further.
Ready to ask for prices?
We look, we price it, and the price is in writing before anything starts.
Send my quote requestAfter: testing, paperwork, grant
The test is done with your vehicle, not with a testing device. We plug in, check that charging starts, look at the actual current, and set up the app if your charger has one.
The work is reported and inspected, as the regulations require. That’s what the permit is for.
You get the detailed invoice and the work report. Keep them: you’ll need them for your grant application, and the next buyer’s inspector will ask for them if you sell.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take?
Half a day for an ordinary installation. What makes it longer: a long distance between the panel and the charger, a detached garage, or a panel upgrade during the same visit. The power outage itself only lasts a few minutes.
Do I need to be home?
At the start, to give us access and confirm the location, and at the end, for the test with your vehicle. In between, you can go about your day.
Can my panel handle it?
Often, yes, and the load calculation is what tells you. There are three possible outcomes: it works as is, it works with load management, or the capacity has to go up. Our guides on 200-amp and 100-amp panels explain what tips an installation one way or the other.
Can I install it myself?
No. A charger circuit is electrical work that requires an RBQ licence, subclass 16.0. Beyond the law, an undeclared installation shuts you out of the grant and can cause problems with your insurer.
Is a detached garage much more expensive?
More expensive, yes, because power has to be brought out there: trench, buried conduit, restoring the yard. It’s priced after a visit, never over the phone. If the garage already has power, it’s a completely different question.
Does the power have to be shut off in the house?
Only for a few minutes, long enough to install the breaker in the panel. It’s nothing like a panel replacement, which means half a day to a full day without electricity.
Is the grant deducted from my invoice?
No. You pay for the installation, then you apply with the invoice. The amount is paid to you afterwards. We give you everything you need to include.
Need an EV charger installed?
We do the load calculation before we propose anything, and the price is written in the quote before work starts.
4.9 from 469 Google reviews · RBQ licence 5815-0137-01 · Members of the Corporation des maîtres électriciens du Québec (CMEQ) · Free detailed quote
Sources
The figures and requirements in this guide come from the official pages below, checked on September 11, 2026. Programs change: check the page’s last update date before you commit to any spending.
Also worth reading
- EV charger at home: where to start (in French)
- Chargers in apartment buildings: the $120,000 program (in French)
- EV charger grant: the real amounts
- 200-amp panel: is yours enough? (in French)
- 100-amp panel: 5 signs it’s no longer enough
- Replacing a panel: how it works
- Our EV charger installation services
- Electrician in Laval
- Electrician in Montréal