HVAC and EV Charger — Can Your Electrical Panel Handle Both?
Published: July 23, 2026 — CANRO Heating & Cooling — Greater Vancouver, BC
Panel Capacity Issues
A 100-amp panel in a typical Vancouver home can handle: furnace + hot water (gas) + range + dryer = approximately 60-70 amps used. Adding a 30-50 amp heat pump and a 30-50 amp EV charger would exceed capacity. A 200-amp panel is usually sufficient for all loads including heat pump and EV charger.
Solutions Without Panel Upgrade
Load management devices (EV charger + heat pump sharing): automatically adjust charging speed based on total home load — $500-1,500. Smaller heat pump (ducted mini-split uses less power): 15-20 amps vs 30-60 amps for central heat pump. Lower-amperage EV charger (16-24 amps instead of 40-50): charges slower but uses less capacity. Stagger usage: charge EV at night when the heat pump is not running.
Panel Upgrade Costs
Upgrading from 100-amp to 200-amp service: $2,500-5,000 including new panel, meter base, permit, and BC Hydro connection. If you plan to add both a heat pump and an EV charger within 5 years, upgrading now is more cost-effective than two separate upgrades. Some CleanBC programs offer incentives for panel upgrades when combined with heat pump installation.