Updated October 18, 2026. With gas near 188 cents a litre, more drivers are asking what it costs to run an electric car. The answer starts with one number on the label: kWh/100 km. That is how much electricity the car uses to go 100 km. This page shows how to read it and how to turn it into dollars.

If you are new to fuel ratings, start with how fuel consumption works in Canada. For prices, rebates and chargers, see the EV guide.

What kWh/100 km means

A kilowatt hour (kWh) is the unit on your power bill. An EV that uses 15 kWh/100 km needs 15 kWh of electricity to go 100 km. Lower is better, just like L/100 km on a gas car.

Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) also gives a number in litres equivalent (Le/100 km), so you can compare with gas cars. It uses 8.9 kWh for one litre of gas. A Tesla Model 3 Premium at 15.3 kWh/100 km works out to 1.7 Le/100 km.

These are NRCan's 2026 combined ratings. The recharge time is for a 240-volt home charger, from NRCan's list.

2026 model City Highway Combined (kWh/100 km) Le/100 km Range Recharge time
Tesla Model 3 Premium 14.6 16.1 15.3 1.7 463 km 8 h
Tesla Model Y Standard 14.6 16.3 15.4 1.7 463 km 8 h
Toyota bZ 14.6 17.9 16.1 1.8 380 km 6 h
Hyundai IONIQ 5 Long Range 15.2 18.9 16.9 1.9 504 km 8.2 h
Hyundai Kona Electric 16.3 20.3 18.1 2.0 420 km 6.7 h
Chevrolet Equinox EV 17.9 21.0 19.3 2.2 513 km 9.5 h
Chevrolet Silverado EV WT Ext Range 26.9 33.2 29.7 3.3 682 km 11.5 h

Two things stand out. First, the pickup uses almost double what the small SUVs use. Size and weight matter just as much on an EV. Second, look at the highway column. It is higher than the city column on every row. That is the opposite of a gas car, and the reason is simple. An EV gets energy back when it slows down, and wind drag grows fast with speed. The bZ uses about 23% more on the highway than in town. The Model 3 uses about 10% more. If your commute is long and fast, expect the high end of the range.

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

What it costs: the math

Cost per 100 km = kWh/100 km × your price per kWh.

Electricity prices change a lot from province to province. Here are three real examples.

  • Hydro-Québec, Rate D: 7.065 cents per kWh for the first 40 kWh a day, then 11.142 cents. These are the rates since April 1, 2026.
  • Ontario: From November 1, 2026, the overnight price on the Ultra-Low Overnight plan is 3.7 cents per kWh. The off-peak price on Time-of-Use is 9.1 cents. These are the price of the electricity itself. Delivery charges are extra.
  • NRCan's example: NRCan uses 18 cents per kWh when it works out annual fuel costs.
2026 model 7.065¢ (Quebec, first tier) 11.142¢ (Quebec, second tier) 18¢ (NRCan example)
Tesla Model 3 Premium $1.08 $1.70 $2.75
Toyota bZ $1.14 $1.79 $2.90
Hyundai IONIQ 5 Long Range $1.19 $1.88 $3.04
Chevrolet Equinox EV $1.36 $2.15 $3.47

All numbers are cost per 100 km. Over 20,000 km, multiply by 200. The Model 3 would use 3,060 kWh. That is about $216 a year at the first Quebec tier, and $551 at 18 cents.

Now compare with gas at 188.4 cents a litre. A Corolla Hybrid at 4.7 L/100 km costs $8.85 per 100 km. A gas Corolla at 6.7 costs $12.62. Even at 18 cents a kWh, the Model 3 costs about a third of the Corolla Hybrid. At Quebec's first-tier price, it is about an eighth.

One catch for Quebec homes. The 40 kWh a day is for your whole home, not just the car. If your winter use goes above that, the extra costs 11.142 cents. A cold month, with heating and charging together, can push you past it.

Public fast chargers set their own prices, and these are often higher than home charging. Check the price in the charger's app before you plug in.

What makes an EV use more

  • Speed. Wind drag grows with speed. Slow down on the highway and the number drops.
  • Wheels. The IONIQ 5 Long Range AWD is rated 20.1 with 19-inch wheels and 21.5 with 20-inch wheels. That is 7% more for bigger wheels. The Toyota C-HR AWD goes from 18.1 to 18.7 on its 20-inch wheels.
  • Tires. The bZ Woodland is rated 17.9. With all-terrain tires, it is 19.2.
  • Weight. Cargo and size both add up.
  • Cold. It is the big one. Our Toyota bZ winter guide and our page on winter consumption show how much.

For an EV, the label range is a starting point. See comparing electric range to sort models without a road test.

What about plug-in hybrids?

A plug-in hybrid uses both. The Toyota RAV4 Plug-in Hybrid SE is rated at 20.0 kWh plus 0.2 litres of gas per 100 km. It has 89 km of electric range. The Hyundai Tucson Plug-in Hybrid is rated at 27.2 kWh per 100 km, with 51 km of electric range. If your daily drive fits in that range, you can use almost no gas. See how the RAV4 hybrid and plug-in compare.

Thinking of a China-built EV? Read what happened with the Tesla Model 3 Premium orders and what is real about BYD in Canada. If you are weighing it against a hybrid, check the lowest fuel consumption cars. Some easy habits help any car, and you can find them in how to lower your fuel consumption.

FAQ

How many kWh does an EV use in a year? At 20,000 km, an EV rated 15.3 kWh/100 km uses about 3,060 kWh. Multiply the rating by 200.

Is it cheaper to charge at night? It can be. Some plans have lower overnight prices, like Ontario's Ultra-Low Overnight plan at 3.7 cents a kWh. Check your own plan.

Why is the highway number higher on an EV? Wind drag grows fast with speed, and there is less stop-and-go braking to recover energy.

How do I turn kWh/100 km into L/100 km? Divide by 8.9. That gives litres equivalent (Le/100 km).

Do public chargers cost the same as home? No. Public chargers set their own prices, and they are often higher. Check the app.

Sources

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