Hire a licensed electrician.
New receptacles, circuits and hardwired chargers need a licensed electrical contractor and, where required, a permit and inspection. In Ontario that means an ESA-licensed electrical contractor and an ESA permit. Never use a household extension cord, and never run a cord from a balcony, window or patio door to a parking stall. Not electrical or legal advice.
The short answer
- Renting or likely to move? A plug-in Grizzl-E (Made in Canada) on an approved NEMA 14-50 receptacle. You take it with you.
- Want FLO but can’t hardwire? The FLO Home X3 plug-in (Canadian brand) uses the same NEMA 14-50 receptacle as the Grizzl-E chargers. Its listing says it is factory set to 40 A on a 50 A circuit.
- Own your condo stall and have board approval for a permanent unit? The hardwired FLO Home X3 (Canadian brand) has the highest listed current here: factory set to 48 A on a 60 A breaker.
- Tight budget? Grizzl-E Classic Connect costs less than the Mini and still says Made in Canada on the listing.
Grizzl-E vs FLO Home X3 side by side
Grizzl-E vs FLO Home X3 (plug-in and hardwired) — approximate CAD and Amazon.ca ratings at last check; confirm on the listing
| Charger | Label | Install | Plug | Max current | Operating temp | Warranty | Price | Rating |
| Grizzl-E Mini Connect | Made in Canada | Portable plug-in | NEMA 14-50 (adapters for 5-15, TT-30, 14-30 and 6-50 in the box) | Up to 40 A, adjustable | −30 to +50 °C | 3 years | ~$600 | 3.8 (53) |
| Grizzl-E Classic Connect 40A | Made in Canada | Plug-in | NEMA 14-50 | Up to 40 A (settings for 50, 40, 30 and 20 A circuits) | −30 to +50 °C | 3 years | ~$500 | 4.5 (93) |
| FLO Home X3 (plug-in) | Canadian brand | Plug-in | NEMA 14-50 | 40 A factory setting (needs a 50 A circuit) | −40 to +50 °C | 3 years | ~$699 | 4.4 (24) |
| FLO Home X3 (hardwired) | Canadian brand | Hardwired | None (wired in by an electrician) | 48 A factory setting on a 60 A breaker | −40 to +50 °C | 3 years | ~$699 | 4.4 (28) |
Specs come from the current Amazon.ca listings. The Mini’s listing shows adjustable current from 40 A down to 7 A and a 25-foot cable; the Classic’s listing shows settings for 50, 40, 30 and 20 A circuits; FLO’s hardwired listing shows a factory setting of 48 A on a 60 A breaker, and its plug-in listing shows 40 A on a 50 A circuit. Both FLO listings use a J1772 connector, so Tesla and other NACS cars need an adapter.
What the labels mean
Made in Canada is used only where the Amazon.ca listing says so (Grizzl-E Mini Connect and Classic Connect, by United Chargers). Canadian brand means a Canadian company whose listing does not say Made in Canada; FLO Home X3 is described as designed and engineered in Canada.
Plug-in vs hardwired: why it matters more than brand
A plug-in charger only needs a dedicated 240 V receptacle; the building owns the receptacle and you own the charger. A hardwired charger is permanently connected, so the landlord or condo board is approving a fixed piece of equipment. That usually makes plug-in the easier ask for renters. More: portable vs hardwired and 14-50 vs 6-50.
Match the charger to your circuit
A charger must be set to no more than 80% of the circuit rating for continuous charging (Canadian Electrical Code continuous-load rule). Your electrician picks the circuit; you set the charger to match. See amp sizing on a 100 A panel.
FAQ
Is FLO Home X3 Made in Canada?
We list FLO Home X3 as a Canadian brand only. The Amazon.ca listing says it is designed and engineered in Canada, so we do not call it Made in Canada. The Grizzl-E Mini Connect and Classic Connect listings say Made in Canada.
Which is better for a renter, Grizzl-E or FLO?
For most renters, a plug-in charger is easier: it uses an approved NEMA 14-50 receptacle and leaves with you when you move. Both Grizzl-E models and the FLO Home X3 plug-in work that way. The hardwired FLO Home X3 needs your landlord’s written yes for a permanent wall unit.
Which charges faster?
On paper, the hardwired FLO Home X3: its listing shows a 48 A factory setting on a 60 A breaker. The FLO plug-in and both Grizzl-E models top out at 40 A on a 50 A circuit. In practice your car’s onboard charger and your circuit size often set the real limit, so check both before paying more for amps.
Do both work in a Canadian winter?
Both list cold-weather ratings: −30 °C for the Grizzl-E models and −40 °C for FLO Home X3. Keep the cable off ice and out of plow paths either way.
Is there a plug-in FLO Home X3?
Yes. The FLO Home X3 plug-in on Amazon.ca has a NEMA 14-50 plug and a J1772 connector, and the listing says it is factory set to 40 A on a 50 A circuit. A licensed electrician still has to install or verify the receptacle. Confirm the plug and connector on the listing before you buy.