Editor’s note: This post was first published on August 12, 2022, and last updated on February 24, 2026.
Our Batteries 101 post was a primer on electric vehicle batteries: their size, charging speeds, and how far they’ll take you before they need recharging.
Today, we’re looking at the cost of charging EV batteries, using popular vehicles as examples.
We’ll begin by getting familiar with the most important factors that contribute to charging costs then show you how to estimate what you’ll pay for a full charge based on the type of charging station, a vehicle’s specifications, and typical charging fees.
Note: Our focus in this post is charging at workplaces, businesses, multi-unit residential buildings, and public charging stations. Drivers who have a dedicated charger at their single-family home most often pay through their electricity bill, at the kilowatt-hour (kWh) rates set by their provincial or state government plus taxes.
EV Battery Capacity
As explained in our Batteries 101 post, the amount of energy an EV battery can store is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
For example, the 2026 Polestar 4’s long-range single-motor model has a 100 kWh battery capacity that can power up to 499 kilometres on a full charge.
Generally speaking, the larger a battery’s capacity, the farther you can travel and the longer it takes to charge it, though this can be influenced by the other factors that follow.
Hypercharge Pro Tip: Check out our posts on how much you can save on fuel costs per year and per distance by going electric and how EVs dramatically cut maintenance costs.
Charging Station Output Rate
A charging station’s amperage (amps) is the maximum amount of electrical current it can supply.
When combined with the voltage of the power source, you get the charging station’s output rate, which is measured in kilowatts (kW).
This is not to be confused with kilowatt-hours (kWh)—the unit of energy for a battery’s storage capacity.
The output in kilowatts indicates the flow of energy from the charging station to the battery, while the capacity in kilowatt-hours tells us the total amount of energy the battery can hold.
With that sorted, figuring out how fast a charging station can add energy to a battery couldn’t be easier.
The sleek but mighty Hypercharge Halo Level 2 EV charging station, for example, has a maximum output of 11.5 kW.
To calculate the kilowatt-hours it will provide at this rate, simply multiply the kilowatts by one hour:
11.5 kW x 1 hour = 11.5 kWh
This means that if you plug a vehicle into the Halo for one hour, the charging station can add up to 11.5 kWh of energy to the battery. If you plug it in for two hours, it can add up to 23 kWh, and so on.
Looking for the Cost of Installing EV Chargers at Your Property?
EV Charging Capacity
The rate at which an EV can take in power is known as its “charging capacity” or “power acceptance rate,” and it’s determined by its onboard charger. No matter the output of a charging station, it can’t provide power faster than the vehicle can accept it and vice versa.
For example, the 2026 GMC Sierra EV Denali Extended Range pickup offers a 19.2 kW onboard charger, which is faster than the output rate of all Level 1 and many Level 2 charging stations.
To make the most of its charging capacity, choose a charging station that can achieve an output rate of at least 19.2 kW, such as the powerful Level 2 Autel MaxiCharger AC Pro and Autel MaxiCharger AC Ultra charging stations.
AC Versus DC
Level 2 charging stations use an alternating current (AC), which is converted to a direct current (DC) by the vehicle’s onboard charger before it sends the power to the battery.
DC fast charging stations, also known as Level 3 chargers, convert the current themselves then deliver it straight to a vehicle’s battery, vastly accelerating the charging speed. The ABB All-in-One series and Autel MaxiCharger DC family, for example, have maximum outputs of 400 kW and 640 kW, respectively, and can fully charge a battery in less than 20 minutes.
Every EV has a listed maximum DC fast charging rate. The 2026 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N has one of the fastest currently available, thanks to an 800-volt electrical system that can reach a charging rate of 350 kW and fully replenish the battery in as little as 18 minutes.
Hypercharge Pro Tip: Real-world charging times can be affected by a number of conditions, from the capacity of the local power grid to hot and cold temperatures.
Billing Methods
Drivers who have a dedicated charger at home pay for charging through their electricity bill at the kilowatt-hour (kWh) rates set by their provincial, territorial, or state governments plus taxes.
These rates can vary hugely, from as low as 7 cents per kilowatt-hour in Quebec to more than 5 times that in Hawaii!
Most multi-unit residential buildings (MURBs) and workplaces that offer EV charging have Level 2 chargers and often apply charging fees to recoup the cost of electricity and maintenance.
Public charging—at a rest stop, for instance—tends to cost more, and you may pay a premium to use a DC fast charger.
The most common EV billing models are based on energy consumed (per kWh) and time (per minute or per hour). We’ve assembled typical per-kilowatt-hour rates and per-hour rates in Canada:
| Type of charger | Operator | Per kWh | Per hour |
| Level 2 | Apartment, condo, or workplace | $0.20-0.25 | $1-2 |
| Level 2 | Public | $0.20-0.30 | $1-2.50 |
| DC Fast Charging | Public | $0.30-0.70 | $15-20 |
Hypercharge Pro Tip: For simplicity’s sake, we’ve based our calculations on charging an EV battery from 0-100% however most manufacturers recommend keeping the battery level between 20-80% of its full capacity.
Putting It Together
| Vehicle | Battery Capacity | Charging Capacity | Charging Time | $0.25 per kWh | $1.50 per hour |
| 2026 Polestar 4 | 100 kWh | 11 kW | 9.09 hours | $25.00 | $13.64 |
| 2026 GMC Sierra EV Denali Extended Range | 170 kWh | 19.2 kW | 8.9 hours | $42.50 | $13.35 |
| 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 N | 84 kWh | 10.9 kW | 7.7 hours | $21.00 | $11.55 |
Find Hypercharge Charging Stations
To find a Hypercharge charger near you, visit our Drivers page or download our industry-leading mobile app. Through the app, you can initiate, manage, and pay for charging, keep track of your transaction history, and monitor your average cost of charging per session.