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7 minute read Published on Aug 19, 2026 by BrokerLink Communications
If you’re planning on buying an all-electric vehicle (EV), you may be wondering how much it costs to charge it and whether the extra cost is worth it. The short answer is that charging is usually quite a bit cheaper than buying gas. But what you actually pay depends on things like where you live, when you plug in and how much you drive. Home charging is usually the cheapest option, while public charging typically costs more, especially fast charging. Read on to find out how these costs break down in real use.
Charging an electric car is mostly about energy. You pay for electricity, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), the same way your home does.
The basic formula looks like this:
Cost = electricity rate × energy used
And energy use depends on:
Your car’s efficiency (kWh per 100 km)
How far and often you drive
How full the battery is when you plug in
Local weather conditions, especially cold temperatures
Many compact EVs use around 16 to 18 kWh per 100 kilometres in mild weather. Larger vehicles use more.
For example, if your electricity costs $0.10 per kWh, then driving 100 kilometres could cost around $1.60 to $1.80 in electricity. Still, this number can go up or down depending on your local rate. You can use Natural Resources Canada (NRCan)’s fuel consumption ratings tool to see how much electricity your electric car uses in a year and estimate the cost.
Public charging adds another layer. While they use the same math, the price is not always listed per kWh. Some charge by the minute, while others charge by session or add idle fees. You can use tools like PlugShare or ChargeHub to check prices and billing models before you plug in.
Most EV charging in Canada happens at home and it’s usually overnight. But how quickly it charges depends on the type of home charging station you have. Here's what you should know:
This is a regular household plug. It works, but it’s slow. Very slow. You might get five to eight kilometres of range per hour. In winter, even less. It can take more than a day to fully charge a larger battery. Level 1 charging can work if:
You drive short distances
You don’t drive every day
But it generally won’t work well if you rely on your vehicle daily.
A Level 2 charger is what most electric vehicle owners end up using eventually. It usually adds about 25 to 40 kilometres of range per hour, depending on the car. This allows most drivers to fully recharge overnight.
Ontario electricity prices for 2026 depend on the plan you’re on. Most households are on Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing, though some may use Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) pricing if they can shift most usage to late night. Here’s what it might look like for an Ontario driver with a Chevrolet (Chevy) Bolt EV with a 65 kWh battery and a GM-estimated range of up to about 410 km on a full charge:
Vehicle efficiency: 65 kWh ÷ 410 km = about 15.9 kWh per 100 km
Annual driving: 20,000 km
Annual electricity needed: 20,000 km ÷ 100 × 15.9 kWh = 3,180 kWh
Here's a table to help visualize further:
Electricity plan
When charging happens
Electricity rate
Estimated annual cost
Approximate monthly cost
Time-of-Use (TOU) off-peak
Evenings, weekends, holidays
$0.098 per kWh
$310 per year
$26 per month
Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO)
11 p.m. to 7 a.m.
$0.039 per kWh
$124 per year
$10 per month
If you can charge overnight on the ULO plan, electricity for driving can cost close to $100 a year. On standard off-peak TOU pricing, it’s still usually under $300 a year, which is significantly less than how much you’d likely spend on fuel for your gas car every year. Please note that electricity rates can change. Always confirm current pricing with your utility provider.
If you want to charge for daily driving at home, you’ll want to look at installing a Level 2 charger. This can cost around $1,500 and $3,000 or more, depending on your location and any necessary upgrades to your home’s electrical system. Luckily, NRCan notes that some provinces and utilities offer rebates for installing home chargers.
Public charging is generally more expensive than charging at home, because you’re paying for things like speed, location and convenience. Keep in mind that public charging pricing in Canada varies by city, province and network operator. Take a look:
The EV charging stations that you typically see at malls, work parking lots, community centres and some street parking spots generally use Level 2 public chargers. While pricing varies by location and network, pricing models include:
Per hour
Per session (flat fee)
Per kWh
A combination of the above
Free charging (with or without time limits)
Some Level 2 public charging stations across Canada are still free to use or have a very low cost if you’re parked for a while. According to Plug ’n Drive, when there is a fee, it tends to be either about $1.00 per hour or around $2.50 per charging session, though this depends on your location.
Some cities also charge based on how much electricity you use. For example, Mississauga, Ontario, charges about $0.30 per kWh at city-owned stations. Level 2 stations add range slowly, so they tend to work best when your car is parked for a couple of hours anyway, like while at work, a grocery store or maybe even a rest stop along a highway. But they may not be ideal if you’re just waiting in the car.
This is what people usually mean by “fast charging.” DC fast chargers are designed for quick charging on longer trips. They can take you from near empty to around 80% in about 25 to 30 minutes, depending on the car and battery level.
Plug’n Drive says some DC fast charging stations bill by the minute on average, at about $20 per hour of charging time. Others bill per kilowatt-hour. This will depend on the city and province.
For example, BC Hydro’s public fast chargers run about 34.8¢ per kWh. These chargers also add an idle fee (about 40¢ per minute) if you stay plugged in after charging finishes. At 34.8¢ per kWh, a typical 40 kWh boost might cost around $14, possibly more if your car idles too long after charging. While this pricing is much higher than home charging, it does get you back on the road a lot more quickly.
Tesla Superchargers are one example of a fast-charging network in Canada and their pricing generally falls in line with other DC fast chargers. Many of these stations are now available through the Tesla app for non-Tesla EVs that have built-in Tesla’s standard (NACS) charge ports, like some new models from Hyundai and Kia or those with a manufacturer-approved NACS adapter.
Where you charge an electric vehicle and the rate you pay for electricity, are the two things that affect your costs the most. However, there are a couple of other things that can change what you pay:
The weather can affect how much electricity the car uses. In winter, the battery and cabin need heat. That uses more energy per kilometre, which means you’ll pay for more electricity over the same distance.
Higher speeds and hard acceleration use more energy than steady driving. While this doesn’t change the rate, it does increase your total usage, requiring you to charge up more often.
A larger battery capacity takes more electricity to charge than a smaller one, so a full recharge costs more. This is generally more noticeable when you charge up from low to full.
Consider doing the following:
Charge overnight when rates are lowest
Use fast chargers only when needed
Pre-heat or pre-cool while the car is plugged in
Avoid charging to 100% unless you need it
Charging is only one part of what it costs to own an electric car. Over time, you may also need to think about additional costs like repairs, parts and insurance. Here’s why:
Battery replacements are not common, but they are expensive when they’re needed. While most EV batteries are estimated to last around a decade, replacement costs are still much higher than those of a standard gas vehicle battery.
While EVs are known for needing less regular maintenance, repairs tend to cost more in some areas. Not every repair shop has specialized technicians who can work on electric vehicles and some parts can be more expensive or take longer to source.
Insurance costs can vary, as well. Electric vehicles often cost more to repair after a collision, which can affect your insurance premiums depending on the model and where you live.
If you’re switching to an electric car or you already drive one, insurance pricing can vary more than people expect. In some provinces, drivers of hybrids and electric vehicles may also be eligible for discounts, depending on the insurer and local rules.
To find out more about electric car insurance, contact BrokerLink today. Our licensed brokers can help you look at coverage and pricing based on how you actually drive, not just the type of car you own. You can reach us by phone, email or in person at any one of our locations throughout Canada. You can also try out our free online quote tool from the comfort of your own home to find a competitive quote in minutes!
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