Charging an EV in Winnipeg is not the same as charging one in Vancouver. When it’s -30°C outside, your battery charges slower, your vehicle draws more power for cabin heat, and a standard 120-volt outlet that gives you maybe 6 kilometres of range per hour of charging becomes almost useless. That’s why most Manitoba EV owners move to a Level 2 charger — a 240-volt, hardwired unit that can fully charge a vehicle overnight even in the coldest months.
We install all types of CSA-certified EV chargers for both residential and commercial properties across Winnipeg and the surrounding area. The electrical side is where most of the work happens — making sure your panel can handle the load, running the circuit, and getting the charger mounted and wired correctly.
A Level 2 charger typically needs a dedicated 40-amp or 50-amp circuit on a 240-volt line. The first thing we check is whether your panel has the capacity and available breaker space to support it. In homes built in the 1980s and later — like much of Fort Garry, North Kildonan, and The Maples — a 200-amp panel usually has room. In older homes still running 100 amps, a panel upgrade is often the first step.
From there, we run the circuit from the panel to your garage or parking area, mount the charger, and wire it in. If the charger is going on an exterior wall or in a detached garage, we size the wire for the distance and for Manitoba’s extreme temperature range — cold weather increases resistance in longer cable runs, so undersized wire that works fine in July can create problems in January.
For commercial installations — office parking lots, fleet depots, condo common areas — the scope is larger but the process is the same. We assess the building’s electrical capacity, plan the circuit routing, and install the units. Multi-unit commercial installs often require coordination with Manitoba Hydro for service upgrades.
We install all CSA-certified EV charger brands. The right unit depends on your vehicle, your driving habits, and where the charger is being mounted. Indoor garage installations have different requirements than outdoor or detached garage setups — particularly around weatherproofing and cable management in cold climates.
We don’t sell chargers directly, but we’ll advise on what specs to look for and make sure whatever unit you purchase is compatible with the circuit we’re installing. If you want us to source the charger, we can do that too and it’ll be covered under our warranty.
EV charger installations have become one of our most common residential calls since 2019. Elton stays closely involved in every project and makes sure the installation is sized correctly for both the vehicle’s needs and Manitoba’s climate.
Yes. We run the circuit from your main panel to the detached garage, either underground or overhead depending on your property layout. The wire needs to be sized for the longer distance, and the installation must meet code for outdoor or underground wiring. It’s a common setup in Winnipeg where many homes have detached garages.
A typical residential installation takes half a day to a full day, depending on the distance from the panel to the charger location and whether any panel work is needed. If a panel upgrade is required, that adds a day.
Yes. A hardwired Level 2 EV charger requires a City of Winnipeg electrical permit. We handle the permit and inspection process for you.
The charger itself works fine in cold weather — it’s the vehicle’s battery that charges more slowly when temperatures drop below -20°C. A properly installed Level 2 charger will still deliver a full overnight charge even in the coldest Manitoba nights. We size the installation for cold-weather performance so you’re not losing capacity when you need it most.
If you’ve got an EV or you’re buying one, get the charger sorted before winter. Reach out for a panel assessment and installation quote.
Monday – Sunday: 7:00 AM – 8:00 PM