Crunching Numbers: Charging Costs for Electric Cars

Updated: Aug 8, 2024

Relevance Notice: The information in "Crunching Numbers: Charging Costs For Electric Cars" holds its significance as of August 2024. Explore details to gain updated insights into the electric car charging experience.

One primary motive driving the transition from gasoline-powered to electric vehicles is the desire to cut running costs. But how much does it genuinely cost to charge your EV?

The costs linked to charging your car will fluctuate based on your selected charging behavior and the choices you have. Generally, this depends on whether you charge your electric vehicle at home or often utilize public charging points, while also factoring in your precise location within Canada.

In this research, our attention will be directed toward higher levels of charging used by the trio of key provinces: Quebec, British Columbia, and Ontario which is the second-largest province, recognized for its significant market size and strategic influence within the EV sector, making it a critical area of study.

1. Public Electric Vehicle Charging

Charging fees for public charging stations can be structured in different ways among various EV charging companies in Canada:

• Per Time Charging: Some charging networks charge by the second, minute, or hour, regardless of how much energy is delivered. This means that faster-charging EVs might end up paying less. 

• Per Kilowatt-Hour (kWh) Charging: This method charges on the amount of energy delivered to the vehicle. It's a more direct way of powering, ensuring that you pay for the actual electricity used. 

And only recently, after the Measurement Canada announcement on February 20, 2023, Canadian customers who operate publicly accessible Level 1, 2, and DC fast charger stations (known as Level 3+) can provide kW billing for energy consumed, rather than time spent charging.

• Membership/Subscription Plans: Many charging networks offer membership plans that provide discounted rates or flat fees for members. These plans can be beneficial for frequent EV users.

Electricify Canada is one such company, where the cost of your charging is determined by the speed at which your vehicle communicates with the charger, along with the charger's maximum charging capacity, your membership status, idling, and any other applicable taxes.

• Options Combined: In such scenarios, like with Tesla, defining precise charging costs becomes a challenge. This is due to the varying methods of billing at different stations, where some charge per kilowatt-hour while others charge per minute. If you encounter a Supercharger that employs the latter, there are four tiers to consider, each reflecting conditions and adjustments in charging rates. 

1.1 The Tesla Supercharger ranked the highest among many public fast-charging infrastructures. It is the only one customers found the most efficient and convenient via factors like the ease of charging, speed of charging, and most importantly physical condition and availability of EV chargers. On the other hand, the satisfaction of EV owners drops when they resort to other public charging choices outside the network.

Tesla's supercharging services offer various pricing options and bundles. On average, a full charge will set you back between $15 and $25. For most drivers, charging from 10% to 80% - a popular choice to avoid long waits - costs about $10 to $20.

Keep in mind, these costs can vary based on your location, the time of day, and any idle fees that may apply.

Yes, it so happens, Tesla often imposes idle fees of up to 50 cents per minute to encourage drivers to move their cars once they’re charged, ensuring points are available for others. Any prices can also change quickly, though. Factors like rising energy costs, global and the company's factors can lead to fluctuations. Over the past year, for example, Tesla has adjusted Supercharge rates, sometimes reaching up to $0.50 per kWh.

The pioneer is gradually allowing other electric vehicle brands to use its Supercharger network, yet this process is taking time and involves embracing the NACS standard.

It is also crucial to emphasize that presently, non-Tesla owners can only access the Superchargers by using a specific adapter that is not widely accessible in Canada. 

1.2 Other Public Charging Options: Level 2 & Level 3

Many AC public chargers can be found for free or on a pay-per-use basis by savvy users. Level 2 charging typically ranges from about $1.00 per hour to $2.50 per charge, although prices can vary by location and provider. These chargers usually offer rates similar to residential ones and can power your EV to 80% from empty in 4-10 hours, making them suitable for overnight charging or longer stops, but less ideal for quick top-ups.

DC chargers are commonly associated with a pay-as-you-go model, with costs varying between 15 and 57 cents per minute depending on factors like location, network, charging station speed, and billing system.

To charge 50 kilowatt-hours of electricity at DC fast chargers in Ontario, you can expect to pay between $12 and $35 before tax. For example, the University of Toronto provides $4-10 per hour but major providers like Electrify Canada,  Petro Canada and other popular networks may have rates that exceed this range far beyond.

Since May 1, 2024, BC Hydro customers have encountered the following charging rates: $0.3479 cents per kWh for fast charging (25 kW+), and $0.2865 per kWh for Level 2 powering. Additionally, an idle fee of $0.40 per minute will apply. 

Quebec's Electric Circuit network is a renowned public charging system that employs fast charging rates based on seconds. Expect to pay, similarly, ranging from $12.77/h - $25.52/h (below and above 90% charge respectively for 50-kW fast-charge stations) or more, depending on the power delivered by the station.

Please note, that most public stations will also charge you an idling fee if you don’t move your vehicle within a few minutes of reaching a full charge. In addition, all the costs are likely to include taxes and might consist of parking and other fees.

2. Convenience Of Home Charging

Charging your vehicle at home is both cost-efficient and convenient, and it has been demonstrated that the optimal choice is to buy and set up a Level 2 (240-volt) charger. 

Most car batteries can be fully recharged with a Level 2 home charging station in 4-8 hours, or 8-12 hours from empty, depending on the specific EV model you own, its battery size and the efficiency of the EVSE you have acquired. 

Take a moment to look over your hydro bills and discover the intricacies. Home charging procedure often benefits during hours of reduced demand, when energy consumption rates are approximately half the price of using electricity during peak hours.

Charging rates at home will differ based not only on the time of day you charge, but also the province you're in, the season, and the charging equipment.

Overall, according to Yohoo Finance Canada: the annual cost for Canadians to charge electric vehicle at home starts from $300 in 2024. 

3. Closing Remarks

There are many important factors to think of in public EV Charging.  

• Using a Level 3 fast charger to reach a 100% charge is discouraged as it can potentially damage the battery and lead to premature deterioration. Public chargers are primarily intended for on-the-go, long-distance recharging. For an everyday charging experience, it is advised to opt for a Level 2 home charger.  
• Another factor is that both cold and hot weather can negatively affect charging speeds and the battery’s state of health which can cause early deterioration.  
• It is challenging to determine all the changing fees when you are using public charging frequently.

To conclude, consider the challenges of finding suitable public charging stations: reliability issues such as outdated software, communication failures, and hardware malfunctions, access complexities, and the potential accumulation of high costs and fees - not to mention the impact on your battery. When you factor in these elements, the overall experience can be less than ideal. In contrast, the benefits of affordable and convenient home charging, when it is available, become clear.

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