While most electric vehicle charging takes place at home, there are times when charging at a public station is required. If you’ve never visited a public charging station, there are some general tips and information to know. We’ll cover those points in this article as well as answer some common questions.
EV charging basics
There are three charging connectors used at North American EV charging stations:
- NACS (North American Charging Standard): Also known as the Tesla charging standard and SAE J3400. The NACS is mainly used by Tesla models. However, Ford, GM, and Rivian have announced their EVs will start using NACS connectors starting in 2025. More manufacturers are expected to follow suit. And in 2022, Tesla updated the design to an open standard.
- SAE J-1772: This is currently the standard option for Level 1 and Level 2 charging for non-Tesla electric vehicles. Tesla vehicles can also use this connector with an adapter.
- CCS (Combined Charging Standard): Uses the J-1772 connector with two extra DC FAST Charging pins. CCS is considered the industry standard for DC Fast Charging (Level 3). However, it is not compatible with Tesla vehicles.
The CHAdeMO connector type is widely used in Japan, but it is rarely seen in North America. Before visiting a public charging station, ensure your EV is compatible with the charger type you plan on using.
When charging, be aware of your EV’s power intake. This is the power output pulled from the charger by the EV. This may be limited by how much power the battery can withstand. The power intake can also dictate which charging level you can use. Check your EV’s manual to see its power intake level.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at a public station?
There are several factors that affect your charging bill:
Charging level
Public charging stations use either Level 2 (Destination/Opportunity) or Level 3 (Fast/DC-Quick) charging. Both levels have different rates. Many Level 2 charging stations are free, but those that are pay-to-use typically charge either $1.00 or $2.50/charge. The average rate for a Level 3 charging station is $15/hour. While Level 3 stations have a higher rate, the charging time is usually faster. Therefore, you could end up saving more money.
Billing model used
Most EV charging networks use time-based billing; drivers pay for the amount of time spent at the station. Now some networks are switching to kWh-based billing. This system follows the gas station model. A rate is placed on the amount of kW an EV draws from the charging station. In other words, customers are charged based on the amount of electricity they put into their vehicles.
According to Electric Autonomy Canada, the two different billing systems have caused drivers to have uneven charging experiences. Drivers of EVs with faster charging speeds will see lower costs with time-based charging, while slow-charging EVs will rack up a higher bill. However, with kWh-based charging, fast-charging EVs will likely see higher costs. Drivers of slow-charging EVs have either seen little difference or slightly cheaper bills.
One challenge of kWh billing is inconsistent rates between charging stations. For example, a charging station in downtown Edmonton could have rates as low as $0.50/kWh, while a station on the southeast side of the city could charge a high of $0.85/kWh. This has caused confusion and frustration with many EV drivers. The upside of time-based billing is it has consistent pricing. The difference in the amount paid by each driver comes down to how fast their EV recharges.
As the new kWh model is introduced, some EV drivers have seen increased charging costs. For example, charging network Ivy changed their rates to $0.62/kWh. The previous rate was $21/hour, which came out to $0.18/kWh at 120kW and $0.53/kWh at 40kW.
Only a handful of charging networks have adopted energy-based billing. The only charging networks in Canada that have switched are Couche-Tard, Tesla Superchargers, Ivy Charge & Go, and BC Hydro EV. On November 10, 2023, Quèbec released draft regulations that will introduce kWh-based billing on DC fast chargers in the province in early 2024. In July 2024, FortisBC received approval from the B.C. Utilities Commission to bill customers using an energy-consumption model. The rate change comes into effect at FortisBC charging stations on August 1.
Demand charging
Demand charging is a fee incurred by EV charging when utilization is low. In other words, a demand charge is incurred when a utility customer is billed for electricity at a rate based on their peak energy usage if it passes a certain level. Since EV charging stations experience high levels of energy usage, many must pay the demand charge fee. This increases operational costs, leading stations to increase their rates in response. This scenario does not apply to every station in Canada (some charging stations are exempt from demand charges). But in jurisdictions where demand charges still apply, the costs are factored into charging station rates.
What impact does EV charging have on Canada’s electricity grid?
As more EV charging stations sprout up across Canada, the question is how this growth impacts the country’s electricity grid. Some organizations believe EV charging will have a noticeable impact on Canada’s grid. According to a 2022 report by the Canadian Climate Institute, Canada’s electricity generation capacity needs to expand to meet the demand for EV charging. The expected total annual load growth due to EV charging stations is as follows:
- 20.4 TWh (terawatts per hour) in 2030
- 104 TWh by 2040
- 156.5 TWh by 2050
Based on these projected numbers, Canada’s electricity demand will grow to be about two times larger by 2050 compared to 2023. To meet this demand, the country’s grid must be about 3.5 times bigger than it is currently.
However, wholesale system planners believe the demand level associated with EV charging growth will be relatively low. So far, the impact of EV charging has been minimal. B.C. and Ontario, two provinces with high EV registration, have only seen incremental demand growth from EV charging. And with solutions such as bidirectional charging and smart charging, the load increase on the grid should be manageable. With that being said, the federal government should still expect a demand increase due to EV charging. Failing to do so could pose problems for the country’s electrical grids.
How long does it take to charge an EV at a station?
This depends on the charging level available at the station. Level 1 charging takes the longest with an average time of 8-50+ hours. Because of their slow charging time, Level 1 chargers are not commonly offered at stations. Level 2 charging is substantially faster with an average charge time of 4-10 hours. Level 3 chargers are by far the fastest. It usually takes 25-30 minutes to recharge an EV with a Level 3 charger.
Still, the time to fully charge an EV at charging stations varies by vehicle and battery type, plus other factors like temperature, battery condition, and even tire pressure. In cold weather (e.g. -30˚C), charging slows down dramatically. In fact, some drivers have said a Level 1 charger will not keep up at all in frigid temperatures.
How many charging stations are there in Canada?
As of July 2024, there are almost 30,000 charging stations in Canada. This number is expected to increase over the next 10-20 years. While most major Canadian cities have numerous public charging stations, smaller towns and rural areas have little infrastructure. The federal ZEVIP program provides funding to install EV chargers in underserved areas.
