How much does it cost to charge an EV in Canada?

Last checked October 26, 2026

Charging at home costs most Canadians about $1.30 to $5 per 100 km, or roughly $20 to $85 a month for 20,000 km a year. Gas for a comparable car costs about $12 to $17 per 100 km at fall 2026 pump prices. Public fast charging sits in between, usually $5 to $14 per 100 km, depending on the network and the time of day.

Where you live matters most. Ontario's ultra-low overnight plan, Manitoba and Quebec are the cheapest; Alberta, Nova Scotia and the territories cost the most. Every rate below is dated.

Cost per 100 km and per month: EV at home vs gas

"Max" means the regulated maximum price, not an average. Gas is expensive this year: the national average for regular was reported at 184.3¢/L in September 2026, against 144.2¢ a year earlier. At 2025 prices the gap would be smaller, but home charging would still cost much less than gas everywhere south of 60.

For most drivers who charge mainly at home, the saving is about $130 to $240 a month, or roughly $1,600 to $2,800 a year. Rely mostly on fast chargers and the saving shrinks sharply.

Our assumptions

• Energy use: 18 kWh/100 km in the car, a fair year-round figure for a compact electric SUV.
• Charging losses: about 10% at home, so the meter sees 19.8 kWh per 100 km. Public fast chargers bill the energy they deliver, so we use 18 kWh/100 km there.
• Distance: 20,000 km a year (about 330 kWh a month at the meter). That matches the distance Natural Resources Canada uses for its annual fuel cost estimates.
• Gas car: 8.0 L/100 km, typical for a compact gas SUV.
• Prices: before GST/HST/PST unless noted. Fixed monthly charges are left out, since you pay them with or without an EV.

Want a rough figure for a specific model? Divide battery size by rated range: a Tesla Model 3 Premium RWD (64 kWh, 463 km) works out to about 14 kWh/100 km, a Chevrolet Equinox EV 2LT FWD (85 kWh, 513 km) about 17, and a Kia EV9 Land AWD (99.8 kWh, 455 km) about 22. It's a rough proxy, not an official rating. See the Model 3, Equinox EV and EV9 pages for full specs.

Home electricity prices by province and territory

The "EV price" column is what each extra kWh costs on the main residential rate. It is the number that matters for charging, because fixed charges don't change. The last column is an all-in average (fixed charges included, tax excluded) at 1,000 kWh a month from Hydro-Québec's annual city comparison, using rates in effect April 1, 2025.

BC Hydro's rate pages don't show a date; the April 1, 2026 date comes from the regulator's orders for BC Hydro's 2026-27 rates. Sources for each row are listed at the end of this page.

Ontario: use the ultra-low overnight plan if you can

Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) plan is the cheapest home charging in Canada. From November 1, 2026, the overnight price (11 pm to 7 am, every day) is 3.7¢/kWh, down from 3.9¢. The catch is the 37.7¢ on-peak price, weekdays 4 to 9 pm. If you plug in at 11 pm and avoid heavy use at dinnertime, it works well. Otherwise standard time-of-use (9.1¢ off-peak) may be safer.

Delivery is billed on top. In Ottawa, Hydro Ottawa adds about 2.7¢/kWh plus a 3.3% line loss, which puts ULO charging near 6.5¢/kWh and TOU off-peak near 12.1¢, before the rebate and HST. Check your local utility. The Ontario Electricity Rebate drops to 15.7% of the pre-tax bill on November 1, 2026, from 23.5%.

BC: you are probably paying Step 2

An EV adds 300+ kWh a month, so most homes that charge pass the Step 1 threshold: budget 14.08¢/kWh. Optional time-of-day pricing takes 5¢ off from 11 pm to 7 am, bringing overnight charging to about 9¢.

Quebec: cheap, but watch the 40 kWh/day line

Rate D charges 7.065¢ for the first 40 kWh per day, averaged over the billing period. Many electrically heated homes pass that in winter, so EV energy is billed at 11.142¢, still among the lowest prices in Canada.

Alberta: check your contract

The default RoLR energy price is about 12¢/kWh through December 31, 2026, plus delivery charges. The Calgary all-in average of 22.90¢ includes fixed charges, so we use it as an upper bound. Your retailer contract decides your real cost.

Public fast charging prices in Canada

Fast charging costs three to six times more than charging at home. Most networks now bill per kWh. Per-minute pricing hurts slow-charging cars: at $0.50/minute, a car pulling 50 kW pays about $0.60/kWh, but one pulling 25 kW pays about $1.20/kWh.

We couldn't confirm current Electrify Canada or Petro-Canada prices, so treat those rows as the last published figures and check the app before you plug in. Tesla prices change often: 240 Canadian sites changed in one September 2026 update. Tesla also charges congestion fees at busy sites once you pass 80% or stay after charging ends.

At 18 kWh/100 km, $0.40/kWh is $7.20 per 100 km, and $0.62/kWh is $11.16. That's close to gas in Alberta. Cars that charge faster also spend less time below a network's power thresholds. See fastest-charging EVs in Canada, EVs with a NACS port, and our Tesla Supercharger access guide.

What a Level 2 home charger costs

A Level 2 (240 V) charger is what makes home charging cheap and practical. Canadian installer guides give these typical ranges:

• Charger: $400 to $1,200, depending on power, hardwired or plug-in, and smart features.
• Typical total: about $1,000 to $3,000 including installation and permit, when your panel has room and parking is close to it.
• Panel upgrade (100 A to 200 A): $1,500 to $4,000 more. A load-management device can sometimes avoid it.
• Condo or strata: often $1,500 to $5,000+, and you need board approval.

Get two or three itemized quotes. If you drive under about 50 km a day, a standard 120 V outlet (Level 1) may be enough. Some provinces, utilities and cities offer charger rebates; see EV incentives in Canada.

Winter raises the cost

Cold weather uses more energy per km for heating. In our data, estimated winter range is about 72% of rated range for every trim, which means roughly 40% more energy per km in those conditions (see methodology). If that applies for four months of the year, your annual charging bill rises by about 13%.

Pre-heating while plugged in, a garage and a heat pump all help. See EV winter range in Canada and EVs with the best winter range.

FAQ

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in Canada?
At 20,000 km a year, most households pay about $20 to $85 a month. Ontario's ultra-low overnight plan, Manitoba and Quebec sit at the low end. Alberta, Nova Scotia and Yukon are higher, and remote northern communities are much higher.

Is it cheaper to charge an EV than to buy gas in Canada?
Yes, if you charge mostly at home. At fall 2026 prices, gas costs about $12 to $17 per 100 km for a compact SUV, while home charging costs about $1.30 to $5. Relying on fast chargers narrows the gap, and in Alberta peak fast charging can cost about the same as gas.

How much does a Tesla Supercharger cost in Canada?
It depends on the site and time of day. Reported September 2026 prices ranged from about $0.19/kWh off-peak in parts of BC to $0.75/kWh at peak in Nova Scotia, with non-Tesla drivers often paying more. Your car or the Tesla app shows the price before you plug in.

How much does it cost to install a Level 2 charger in Canada?
Installer guides put most installs at about $1,000 to $3,000 for the charger, electrician and permit. A panel upgrade can add $1,500 to $4,000. Check /incentives/ for current rebates.

What is the cheapest time to charge an EV in Ontario?
11 pm to 7 am on the Ultra-Low Overnight plan, at 3.7¢/kWh for the electricity itself from November 1, 2026. Avoid charging from 4 to 9 pm on weekdays on that plan, when the price is 37.7¢.

Does winter make EV charging more expensive?
Yes. Expect higher energy use per km in cold weather, which can add roughly 10 to 15% to a year's charging cost. Pre-heating while plugged in helps.