What Are the Real-World Costs of Quick Charging an EV?

It's no longer news that electric vehicles (EVs) have more than enough range for most drivers. One driver even took an EV from Markham, Ont., all the way to the Arctic Circle and back. While it's safe to assume most buyers aren’t taking their EVs on such extreme long-distance journeys, many will likely need to recharge during long road trips using public fast charging. But how practical is it to stop and recharge your EV, and what will it cost?

Automakers release estimates for fast-charging times, with most EVs typically rated between 20 and 40 minutes to go from 10 to 80 per cent battery under ideal conditions, depending on the model. While these figures are promising, real-world conditions like weather and charging-station speeds pose challenges.

CAA set out to test how effective a 15-minute fast-charging pit stop can be by testing 22 different EVs to see how much range they gain, along with the associated costs.

To produce accurate results, all vehicles were bound by strict driving conditions: no car could go more than 5 km/h over the speed limit, and no heated or ventilated seats, cruise control, or other drive modes were used. Every vehicle had to remain in standard drive mode, with the climate control set to exactly 21 degrees and the windows closed to reduce drag.

These restrictions were in place to bring all vehicles as close as possible to what manufacturers consider ideal driving conditions for the same 230-km route from Blue Mountain to Vaughan, Ont. Naturally, battery consumption varied by model, as each vehicle has a different-sized battery and estimated driving range, resulting in different consumption figures.

Battery Consumption

At the end of the route, vehicle battery consumption averaged around 40 per cent. Some outliers included the Chevrolet Silverado EV, which used only 20 per cent of its battery, followed by the Lucid Air and GMC Hummer, both of which consumed 32 per cent of their total charge. At the high end, the Lucid Gravity consumed a hefty 55 per cent of its charge, followed by the Volkswagen ID.Buzz, which consumed 50 per cent.

Charging Results

After completing the 230-km route, every model had 15 minutes to recharge at the same Tesla Supercharger. Of all the models tested, the three that gained the most range during the charging session were the Lucid Gravity, which gained 178 km, the Hyundai Ioniq 5 (+136 km), and then the Mercedes-Benz CLA (+135 km).

The models that added the least range were the Lucid Air (+58 km), the Chevrolet Equinox EV (+71 km), and the Chevrolet Silverado EV (+80 km).

In terms of efficiency, the lighter, more entry-level models used far less energy. The most efficient vehicle tested was the Toyota bZ, achieving 11.43 kWh per 100 km, followed by the Tesla Model Y at 11.81, and the Model 3 at 11.85.

Unsurprisingly, the least efficient models were the large, heavy SUVs, with the Lucid Gravity being the least efficient model tested, consuming a whopping 28.91 kWh per 100 km, by far the worst of all models tested. The second-least-efficient model was the Hummer EV at 23.55, followed by the Tesla Cybertruck at 23.41.

Costs

Charging costs varied widely, regardless of range gained. The Tesla models unsurprisingly fared best, as Teslas get a discounted rate for the Supercharger network. The Model 3 and Model Y were the only models that cost less than $10 to recharge, with the Model Y at $8.23 and the Model 3 at $7.28.

Most other models came in between $10 and $15 to recharge. The only outliers were the larger-battery SUVs and pickup trucks that support faster charging speeds (which cost more), such as the Rivian R1T (+123 km), Chevrolet Silverado EV (+80 km), and the Cybertruck (+98 km), with the most expensive vehicle to charge being the GMC Hummer, requiring a hefty $24.39 to recharge for 15 minutes despite only gaining 90 km of range.

Tesla Supercharging speeds vary by generation, with the oldest versions offering 120 kW and the newest up to 325 kW. CAA didn’t provide charging-speed data for this test, but Supercharging rates and speeds vary by location, time of day, and the charging speeds individual vehicles accept.

Real-World Results

Taking an EV on a road trip isn’t nearly as difficult as some make it out to be. Sure, the consumption figures produced during the test came from sticking to very strict driving limitations, but drivers should note that using additional features, such as different drive modes or autonomous driving technology, results in greater battery consumption. This is why drivers should keep in mind that their individual driving habits will reflect their EV's battery consumption.

Despite advertised charging times, drivers should account for the fact that different chargers vary in their electricity outputs, which affects a vehicle's charge time. The same is true for costs, as different stations have different costs.

As long as drivers can account for these variables on a road trip, and be prepared to stop for a little longer than the manufacturer advertises, then they can comfortably take an EV on a road trip while still benefiting from avoiding hefty gas pump prices. An EV has to stop for a longer period to recharge compared to a gasoline-powered vehicle, but a quick 15-minute stop can still be extremely effective and cheaper than gas by the kilometre.