EV Charging Cost Calculator
About this estimate:
The charging cost shown above is an estimate of electricity cost, based primarily on home charging using residential electricity rates.
Actual costs may vary depending on your local utility rates, charging efficiency, and vehicle characteristics
What About Public Charging Pricing?
Public EV charging stations do not charge drivers at residential electricity rates.
Unlike home charging, public charging is provided by commercial charging networks that operate and maintain charging infrastructure. These operators set retail prices, which reflect not only the cost of electricity, but also equipment, installation, maintenance, software, land use, and network operations.
As a result, public charging, especially DC fast charging, is typically more expensive per kWh than charging at home.
Most common billing methods include:
Per kWh: .
You pay for the energy delivered (transparent, fair)
Per minute:
You pay for time, which can lead to higher effective $/kWh if your car charges slowly.
Idle / parking fees:
Extra charges when a vehicle stays connected after charging.
Session or membership fees:
Fixed fees, subscription discounts, app plan pricing.
Hybrid pricing:
per-kWh + idle fees + dynamic pricing by location/time.
British Columbia
BC Hydro Public Charger Rates (example of a large public network)
- Level 2: ~$0.2972 /kWh
- Fast (25 kW+): ~$0.3609 /kWh
- Idle fee (after 5-minute grace period on DCFC): $0.40/min
By contrast, typical residential BC Hydro electricity rates are around 11–14 ¢/kWh depending on tier and TOU, i.e., home charging is much cheaper.
>> Public fast charging in BC is roughly ~2.5–3× higher than typical home electricity costs.
Public EV Charger Pricing Models:
- BC Hydro bills per kWh on most chargers.
- Idle fees help encourage turnover at busy stations.
- Some pilot programs may offer discounted kWh rates at select sites.
Public Charger Operators in BC:
- BC Hydro EV Charger network
- ChargePoint, Flo, Tesla Superchargers, and other private hosts (pricing varies widely, often per kWh or per minute depending on owner).
Ontario
Network pricing models:
Public charging in Ontario can vary significantly by operator and station. Many public DC fast charger stations in Ontario use either per kWh or time-based billing depending on station hardware and operator. Here is a range based on user data:
- Typical public DC fast charging: around $0.50 /kWh when power supplied ≥20 kW
- When supply <20 kW, some stations use hourly pricing (~$18.48/hour) and prices double above ~90% battery charge to discourage lingering.
Example of Public EV Charger Operator in Ontario:
Petro-Canada “Canada’s Electric Highway” network often charges per minute, commonly $0.50/min.
Compared with home rates like Hydro Ottawa/Toronto Hydro residential (~11–12 ¢/kWh), the DC Fast Charger networks are typically ~4–5× more expensive.
Level 2 Public Charging In Ontario:
Many Ontario Level 2 stations charge per hour or low flat fees (common range $1–$5 per hour)
Quebec
Residential electricity rates in Quebec are low, which makes home charging the most economical option. For most households, EV charging typically falls into the second residential tier, with an effective electricity cost of around ~12¢/kWh (including energy and standard fixed charges).
By comparison, public charging is priced differently and often costs ~3–5× more per kWh than home electricity.
Public Fast Charging (DC Fast Chargers):
Typical fast-charging prices in Quebec range from about $0.37 to $0.61 per kWh, depending on the charger’s power level (such as 50 kW, 100 kW, or 150 kW+), how much power your vehicle is actually able to draw, and the battery’s state of charge, as charging naturally slows as the battery fills.
Major public charging networks in Quebec include Electric Circuit (Hydro-Québec’s network; most widespread), FLO, ChargePoint, Tesla Supercharger. Pricing varies by network, location, and charger type, and is always shown in the charging app or on the charger screen.
Level 2 Public Charging:
Level 2 public chargers are often priced by the site host (such as municipalities, workplaces, hotels, or parking operators) and may be:
Free
Hourly (commonly $0–$3 per hour)
Flat session fee (e.g. $2–$10 per session)
Costs vary widely depending on location and parking policies.
Alberta
Public charging in Alberta is typically priced using time-based or per-kWh billing, depending on the provider, but generally significantly higher than home charging due to commercial electricity rates and infrastructure costs.
Public Fast Charging in Alberta (DC Fast Chargers)
Typical DC fast-charging costs in Alberta fall into the following ranges:
- Petro-Canada: Charges $0.50 per minute. The effective cost per kWh depends on how fast your vehicle is charging.
- Tesla Supercharger: Uses per-kWh pricing, with rates that vary by location and time of day. Typical prices in Alberta are roughly $0.40–$0.55 per kWh.
- Shell Recharge: Commonly bills per kWh, often in the range of about $0.40–$0.55 per kWh, with possible idle fees once charging is complete.
- FLO and ChargePoint: Pricing is set by the site owner and may be per kWh, per minute, or per hour, depending on location.
Overall, DC fast charging in Alberta typically costs ~3–6× more per kWh than charging at home, depending on the network and your vehicle’s charging speed.
Level 2 Public Charging in Alberta:
Level 2 public chargers in Alberta are usually priced by the site host (municipalities, workplaces, hotels, parking operators) and are commonly:
- Free
- Hourly, typically $1–$3 per hour
- Flat session fee (e.g. $2–$10 per session)
Costs vary widely by location and parking policies.
