RE:RE:RE:More EV newsNF, any conductors beyond the meter has to be copper according to the Canadian Electrical code. The demands on the power system would increase tremendously if you consider that an EV would demand the equivalent amount of energy from the elecrical grid as it would use fossil fuel, of course that means huge increases in electrical generation and transmission. I am guessing there will be changes to the electrical code in the future to take into account the possibility of widespread EV's, this would demand a small increase in copper use as the conductors from the meter to the distribution panel would need to be increased in size - but not by much. Can you imagine 2 or 3 EV's per household ? Time of use or (Smart) metering (and pricing ) will become the norm as will penalties for usage over a prescribed amount (we are already seeing this in BC.)
I looked this up on Wiki and it says a 230v 16 amp circuit will supply enough chrage for 100 km in 6-8 hrs. This could be supplied from most existing home panels. A faster charge in 3-4 hrs would require a circuit equivalent to an electric stove which would likely be in excess of a modern 100 amp home service. If the EV were charged every day, the cost would be 230v X 16 A = 3680 watts X 8 hrs = 29440 wh or 30 KWH/day and at 10 cents/kwh would be about $3.00/day. This does not take into account any penalties such high use would attract (and there are plenty of penalties that can be dreamed up eg Time of use, demand and excess usage) not to mention what the gov would do if they could not collect a road tax.