How Much Does It Cost to Charge An EV

Everything You Need to Know

It's no surprise that gas prices continue to rise. And we're all used to paying $50 or even $150 to fill up our gas tank. But what will an electric vehicle cost to 'fuel up'? Let's take a peek.

Charging at Home

At home, you’ll pay about $2/100kms to charge your vehicle, regardless of whether you use a Level 1 or Level 2 charger.

A Level 1 charger is simply a cord that plugs into your home outlet and does not require anyone to install it.

A Level 2 charger will cost roughly anywhere from $400 to $1500+ to purchase, based on the style, model, and features that you're looking for. Depending on the amount of work required and your location, you can expect to pay an electrician anywhere from $300 to $1,500. Currently, single-family homes can get a rebate of up to 50% of the purchase and installation costs of an eligible Level 2 EV charger, to a maximum of $350 through BC Hydro.

Charging on the Go

CHARGING AWAY FROM HOME

FREE – As of August 2022, there are 236 charging stations in Victoria, BC. 83% are free. Most places still require you to sign into an app such as Flo or ChargePoint to charge your vehicle, whether you need to pay or not.

Pay-per-use Level 2 charging stations – these typically charge $1 or $2 per hour. This puts the cost at around $5 for 100 km of driving when you pay $2 per hour at an approximate rate of 30 km of range per hour. Beginning on January 4, 2021, a $1 per hour EV charging fee came into effect for all City-owned EV chargers in Victoria.  Parking and EV charging fees are combined and paid for using the FLO App or using your preloaded FLO purchase card on Broad Street and in the Johnson Street parkades.

Pay-per-use Level 3 fast charging stations – the cost charging varies wildly. You’re charged based on time, but how much charge your vehicle can accept in that time changes based on the temperature, your current charge level, and several other factors. Here’s an example of what to expect at a pay-per-use charging station: a BC Hydro run 50 kW Level 3 charger at the University of Victoria costs 21.13 cents per minute + GST. This Level 2 fast Charger can be activated by using the BC Hydro EV App/RFID Card, FLO App/RFID Card, or by calling 1 866 338 3369 to have the charge initiated remotely. Typically, pay-per-use chargers are installed and run by third parties such as BC Hydro, Flo, or ChargePoint. A 50-kW Level 3 fast charger like this one will add around 100 km of range in about 20 minutes, at a cost of approximately $4.50.

Pay-per-use Level 4 ultra fast charging stations – A 350-kW Level 4 charger, the fastest currently offered, can add 100 km in as little as four minutes, at a price of less than $3. There are zero Level 4 chargers in Victoria, currently.