July 14 2023,
Although sales of all-electric vehicles are soaring, many people who drive gas-powered vehicles are still wondering about the convenience of charging an EV. Compared to simply pulling up at your nearest gas station, the theory goes, keeping an EV powered up takes a little more planning. But the good news is that with the increasing number of EVs on the road, charging is now simpler, more widely available, and cheaper than ever before. Here’s what you need to know if you’re thinking of making the switch to an EV.
How Widespread Are Charging Facilities in Canada?
According to the latest figures, close to 9,000 charging stations are now spread across Canada, providing more than 20,000 individual charging points. Those numbers are increasing rapidly, with major companies like Mercedes-Benz announcing thousands more charging points under their own brands, as well as the federally funded expansion carried out by specialist charging companies.
Standardization efforts mean that most EVs can use virtually any charging facility, unlike in years gone by when EV manufacturers, such as Tesla, provided their own exclusive stations. In short, you can find charging facilities almost anywhere in Canada today, and with the new developments already pencilled in, it won’t be long until EV charging options match or even outnumber regular gas ones.
How Long Does Charging Take?
There are three common types of charging facilities available on the road. The oldest and least efficient is known as Level 1 charging, which uses 120V to add around 10 km of driving in an hour. Level 1 charging is now largely obsolete for public chargers and is mostly used for charging older EVs overnight at home.
Level 2 charging ups the voltage to between 208V and 240V and can add up to 130 km per hour. However, the majority of new charging facilities are Level 3 ones, and with voltages of up to 900V, they can add up to 32 km of driving per minute. This speed brings modern charging times down almost to gas-refill levels.
How Much Does a Typical Charge Cost?
The cost and convenience of charging depend on the type of charging station as well as the recharging ability of your particular EV. Many public Level 2 charging stations are free to use and are often provided as a benefit at retail facilities, for example. For Level 2 chargers with fees, expect to pay around one Canadian dollar per hour or $2.50 for a full charge.
Level 3 facilities often cost a set amount per visit, or levy a small fee per minute of use, with a typical cost reaching $15-20 per hour. But with the speed of Level 3 charging, it can now cost as little as half the price of a gas-tank refill to provide the same amount of mileage.
Time to Make the EV Switch?
Considering the easy availability of charging stations in Canada today, along with super-quick charging at a lower cost than gas, it’s clear that EVs now rival and even improve on the convenience and economy of gas-powered models. If you’d like to explore your EV options, visit your nearest Dilawri dealership today, and we’ll be happy to guide you through each EV’s range and unique features.
