Hello! Thank you for checking out this week’s EV North Newsletter!

Welcome to The EV North - a weekly newsletter that brings together some of the biggest EV news stories and delivers them to your inbox. There is a focus on Canada & North America but you’ll also find EV news from around the world!

Also, be sure to check us out on X / Twitter and LinkedIn!

EV Charging: What you need to know

Many first-time EV buyers have doubts and questions about charging when considering an electric vehicle purchase. Range, cutting carbon emissions, cost savings, and other benefits are nice… but what about charging? How does it all work?

In this edition, we will attempt to clarify some of the misconceptions about EV charging and provide a simple summary of EV charging in 2024.

In reality, transitioning from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to an EV is a behavior change as much as a technology change. Old habits must be rewired. You used to visit a gas station once a week (or more). Now you plug in when you get home in the evening. Once these habits are ingrained, CAA has found that the ownership experience and charging become a non-issue for the majority of drivers.

Now, for those who are considering adding an EV to their driveway - how does charging work and what are the options available today?

Home Charging that everyone has: Level 1 (120V AC)

The first type of charging is ‘Level 1’ - essentially trickle-charging your vehicle battery by connecting it to a standard 120V AC household outlet. This low-power charging can add 4-11 kilometers of range per hour and take more than 24 hours to fill the average EV battery.

Many EV owners move beyond Level 1 quickly after getting their vehicle, however, don’t discount this charging option for power-constrained long-stay areas such as airport parking lots, apartment buildings, and other locations. The average Canadian drives only around 41km per day. The range added overnight from a Level 1 outlet can be all many people need in their home set-up as well!

Of course, if cost is a major factor, Level 1 charging is great as many owners can use an existing outlet without any modification or upgrades to their home.

Home Charging that can be installed: Level 2 (240V AC)

Stepping up to Level 2 charging gives EV drivers a significant boost in power. Level 2 chargers use 240V AC power similar to your oven, dryer, or electric water heater.

The units operate on a dedicated circuit, delivering between 3 to 19 kW of power, compared to Level 1 power outputs of around 1 kW.

Installing a Level 2 charging connection at home is the best choice for most drivers that have this option, enabling virtually any EV battery to be fully recharged overnight.

How long does it take to charge?

With the average EV battery size of around 70kWh and a Level 2 home charging setup (240v @ 32amps), the vehicle will charge from 0-100% in 10 hours.

In daily use, charging from 0-100% is exceedingly rare. Most owners only use 20-30% of their battery per day, taking only 2-3 hours to charge.

How much does a charger cost?

The cost of installing a charger can depend on your home’s electrical layout.

Your installer or electrician will typically be able to recommend what capacity you can accommodate for Level 2 charging.

In many cases, you can avoid expensive electrical service upgrades by using a charger that can adjust the charge rate based on available capacity. Several popular models including Tesla’s Wall Connector offer this functionality.

Level 2 chargers range from basic units ($400) to more expensive units with internet connectivity and smart scheduling features ($600 - $1000).

Once you purchase the charger, you will need it to be installed by a licensed electrician. This can also range in cost, mostly depending on how far from your electrical panel you plan to install the charger.

Where can I install my charger?

Many new EV owners ask whether they need a garage or indoor parking to charge their EVs. Good news: Level 2 chargers are built to be installed outdoors.

How will charging impact my monthly bill?

For most EV drivers, charging at home will be the most cost-effective way to charge their battery. However, it is important to understand the costs associated with installing the charging equipment and the ongoing electricity costs.

The two most basic forms of electricity tariff available widely in North America are the ‘flat rate’ and the ‘off-peak’ or ‘time-of-use’ tariff.

• Flat Rate: Each kWh of energy is billed at the same rate, regardless of the time of day.

• Off-Peak / Time of Use: At least two rates on offer, one for ‘peak’ times - when the grid is near capacity, and one for ‘off-peak’ times when the grid has extra capacity.

Off-peak / time-of-use tariffs are becoming more common around the world as grids seek to more closely match supply with demand. Although they consume a lot of electricity, EVs can be a resource for the grid as they can be scheduled to charge when there is low demand - usually overnight.

In Canada, the average electricity cost is about $0.19 per kWh. Some regions like Ontario and Quebec have abundant hydropower electricity and can offer cheap overnight rates. For example, the Ultra-Low Overnight (ULO) rate offered in Ontario means EV owners can charge for $0.28 per kWh!

In summary, there are several options for home EV charging and the costs can vary depending on your local utility. If we take the average EV battery size (70kWh) and the average Canadian electricity price ($0.19), then filling the battery from 0-100% will cost about $13. But if off-peak rates are available in your area, costs could be substantially lower.

Public Charging: Level 3 (400V+ DC)

When most people think about EV charging they immediately picture chargers located near busy highways at gas stations or other convenient locations, offering a quick stop and high-power charging.

This type of EV charging station is known as Level 3 or ‘DC Fast Charging’ (DCFC) and is the highest power form of EV charging meant for minimizing charge time.

These chargers are physically large and involve significant infrastructure. This is because, unlike Level 1 & 2 charging, they deliver power in Direct Current (DC) to a vehicle’s battery.

The electricity grid operates in Alternating Current (AC). To charge a battery, it needs to be converted into Direct Current (DC).

With Level 1 & 2 charging, the conversion from AC to DC occurs within the vehicle’s charging system. But when you plug into a Level 3 charger, the conversion from AC to DC occurs within the charger to deliver higher output power to the vehicle. More energy, less time!

Level 3 charging is the fastest way to juice up, but also the most expensive.

There are several different Level 3 network operators across Canada and the USA. The largest is Tesla, which has been building out its Supercharger network since 2012. Tesla has a significant lead in reliability, site locations, and integration with Tesla vehicles.

Other networks include Electrify America, Electrify Canada, Chargepoint, and Flo. These network operators charge drivers a fee to charge, billed by the kWh or the amount of time connected to a charger.

For most public Level 3 stations across Canada, the cost can be more than $0.50 per kWh or $15 per hour of charge time. If using a Level 3 station, charging an EV with the average size battery (70kWh) will cost approximately $35 if billed per kWh.

Cost Comparison: Driving 100km Gas vs EV

For a practical example, lets assume that you want to drive 100km. Our options are a 2024 Tesla Model 3 or a comparable 2024 BMW 330i.

The Tesla Model 3 will consume about 150 watt-hours per kilometer traveled. This equates to about 15kWh of energy to travel 100km. If charged at home using the average Canadian electricity cost ($0.19 per kWh), this trip will cost $2.85.

If charged using the Level 3 Supercharger network ($0.50 per kWh), the 100km trip will cost about $7.50.

The gasoline BMW consumes approximately 8.6 litres per 100km with a mix of highway and city driving. Using the Canadian average gasoline price of about $1.70 per litre, this trip would cost $14.62.

Summary

In summary, there are three main options for charging your EV:

Level 1: Slowest & cheapest option using a standard 120v outlet (24+ hours to charge).

Level 2: Mid-range option which is most cost and time effective for most drivers (2-10 hours to charge).

Level 3: Fastest and most expensive way to charge when time is of the essence (10 minutes - 1 hour to charge).

Are you on Reddit? Check out our subreddit at https://reddit.com/r/evcanada 

👋 Hello, one quick thing. If you’re enjoying this, can you do me a favour and forward it to a friend? Thank you!