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Time and costs for charging electric cars in Quebec

Time and costs for charging electric cars in Quebec

April 05 2023

How much does charging an electric car cost? This question is not as simple as it seems, since several factors can have an impact on the cost and time required for a single charge.

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How much time does it take to charge a car?

Different factors can have a significant influence on the charging time for an electric vehicle, no matter the make or model.

Influential Factors

Here are certain factors that can influence how long your car will need to be plugged into a charging station.

Type of Charging Station

The factor that has the most significant impact on charging times is the charging station itself, and how powerful it is. In fact, for a fully electric vehicle, you will need between 19 and 48 hours if you are charging on a regular 120V outlet; this option is rarely used by EV owners, but much appreciated by those who have a plug-in hybrid, given that charging times are much lower (closer to 12 hours) with this type of vehicle.

close up view of a vehicle plugged in a charging station

The most popular method –and the most accessible to you during your commute- remains the level 2, 240V, charging stations. In fact, these charging stations can be installed directly at your home by a licensed electrician. You could also plug your vehicle into one of these public charging stations (there are over 3,000 for the Electric Circuit alone, without taking into account other suppliers).

In this case, for a fully electric model, full charge will be reached between 4 and 9 hours and this number drops to around 2.5 hours for a plug-in hybrid vehicle.

By opting for a level 3 charging station (also called fast or ultra-fast charging stations, depending on the power they offer), you will only need from 45 to 75 minutes in average to recover an 80 % charge on your vehicle. Take note that several plug-in hybrid models and some 100 % electric models are not compatible with these charging stations.

It is also possible for you to regain a range of around forty kilometers in 10 to 30 minutes on a fast charging station, depending on the power it offers.

Type of charging station	Charging Time
120 V	19 to 48 hours (100% electric vehicles) Around 12hrs (plug-in hybrid vehicles)
240 V (Level 2 charging station)	4 to 9 hours (100% electric vehicles) Around 2.5 hrs (plug-in hybrid vehicles)
24-100 kW (Level 3 charging station: Fast or Ultra-Fast)	80% in 45 - 75 minutes (100% electric vehicles)

The vehicle’s battery

An electric vehicle’s battery size also has an impact on the time you will need to charge it. The more voluminous a battery, the longer it will take for it to charge fully.

For example, the battery on the future Volkswagen iD.Buzz, which should hit the market in 2024, will have an 82 kWh capacity. Some electric models have a smaller battery.

Weather Conditions

The same way weather conditions can have an impact on the electric range offered by your vehicle, it can also influence the charging times, making them longer. It will be important for you to take this into account when planning longer trips and charging times, especially when mercury levels drop!

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How much does charging an electric vehicle cost in Quebec?

Here too, everything will depend on the type of charging station you use. The higher the power offered by the charging station, the more expensive charging will be… although it will always remain more affordable than filling up at the pump!

For example, if you are charging at home on a level 2 charging station, you will take advantage of electricity costs at the current rate. Let’s take, for example, an electric vehicle used 80 % of the time on highway, and 20 % in an urban setting.

The calculation tool on the Hydro-Quebec website shows that for a 0.112 09$/kWh rate, your vehicle would cost you only $ 430 annually for 20,000 kilometers, which translates into $ 2.15 for 100 kilometers.

If we compare this to a fuel vehicle with a 10.0 L/100 km average consumption number, you would spend over $ 3,000 annually on fuel for the same use and driving distances, if the price of fuel per liter is $ 1.55.

Public Charging Stations

Charging costs vary a lot, depending on the power offered by the charging station itself. Here is a sample of costs, according to the data found on the Electric Circuit website.

A level 2 (240V) charging station: between $ 0 and $ 3/hr, or a fix rate of between $ 0 and $ 10 per charge, regardless of charging times.
24 kW Fast charging station: $ 7.53/hr, billed by the second
50 kW Fast charging station: $ 12.77/hr (less than 90 % charge), $ 25.52/hr (90 % and more)
100 kW Fast charging station: between $ 15.73/hr and $ 36.87/hr (less than 90 %), depending on power levels, and $ 31.45/hr for 90 % and more.

These prices are only given to you for informational purposes only, given that depending on the charging station supplier, these rates can vary.

lit up charging station at night being used by a few vehicles

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Charging times and costs, at a glance

Here are the charging times and costs according to the different types of charging stations, at a glance.

Charging Station Type	Speed	Charging Times	Charging Costs (data from the Electric Circuit)
120V (very slow)	Very slow	19 to 48 hours
240V (level 2): Recommended for domestic use	Normal	4 to 9 hours	$ 0 to $ 3 / hr or $ 0 to $ 10 / charge
24 kW	Fast	45 to 75 minutes	$ 7.53/hr
50 kW	Fast		Between $ 12.77/hr and $ 25.52/hr
100 kW	Ultra Fast		Between $ 15.73/hr and $ 31.45/hr

Would you like to find out more about current and future electric vehicles offered by Volkswagen Canada, about our Volkswagen financing options, or our current special offers in Laval? Come and visit us today at Complexe VW 440, your Volkswagen dealership in Laval, close to Terrebonne, the North Shore of Montreal and Montreal North!