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Find out moreHow much does an electric car cost per month?
Electric vehicles are showing up in greater numbers on our roads, but how much does an electric car cost per month?
Your Complexe VW 440 dealership in Laval, near Terrebonne, Montreal-North and the North Shore of Montreal, answers this question for you with concrete examples.
Electric vehicles are showing up in greater numbers on our roads, but how much does an electric car cost per month?
Your Complexe VW 440 dealership in Laval, near Terrebonne, Montreal-North and the North Shore of Montreal, answers this question for you with concrete examples.
Overview
How much does an electric car cost per month? The demonstration shows the monthly cost to charge at home will be about $36.25, the monthly spend on a public charger will depend on your usage, maintenance expenses will be 25% lower than if you were driving a gasoline vehicle, and so on. The main savings with an electric vehicle come from maintenance and fuel consumption.
How much does an electric car cost, on average, per month?
Many people believe electric vehicles are more economical than gas-powered models, but what does that look like in practice? We answer this by focusing on different factors you should include when calculating how much an electric car costs per month.
The main monthly costs of an electric car
Home charging cost
For 2026, Hydro-Québec's residential rate is $0.1114/kWh. An electric vehicle consumes an average of 19 kWh/100 km.
Using the 2025 Volkswagen ID.4 as an example, we get the following:
- Range of 468 km with an 82.0 kWh lithium-ion battery.
- If you drive 2,000 km per month with an estimated 20% loss, it will be about $36.25 per month.
In short, the cost of charging an electric car at home in Québec is not excessive.
Public charging cost
Let's go a little further and look at charging costs on public stations.
The table below shows estimated 2026 data:
| Public charging station type | Average rate | Time required |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 (240 V) | $2.50 to $3.50 per hour | 4 to 8 h |
| Level 3 (400 V) | $0.37 to $0.61 per minute | 20 to 40 minutes |
From the above, for an urban driver with 80% of charging done at home, expect to budget between $10 and $28 per month on public stations. If you need to rely on a fast charger (400 V), plan for $70 to $90 per month.
In short, when asking how much electricity an electric car can cost per month, the amount will vary according to the type of charger used.
Vehicle payment (financing or lease)
To get an idea of the cost of an electric vehicle, let's look at the two scenarios below:
2025 Volkswagen ID.4 – $40,750 (base price at your VW Complexe 440 dealership)
- 84-month financing (0,99 % rate) = $502.67 /month
- 48-month leasing (0,0 % rate) = $411.67 /month
The price shown includes government incentives for driving an electric vehicle.
Insurance
To start, it is important to know several factors are considered when setting your electric vehicle auto insurance policy. Your insurer will consider where you live, how you use the vehicle, your driving record, the type of vehicle you drive, and more.
In recent years, premiums for driving electric have been about 15% higher than for gas-powered vehicles.
On average, you can expect to pay between $1,300 and $2,000 per year for electric vehicle insurance. Monthly, that works out to between $108 and $167.
Maintenance
One of the biggest advantages of electric vehicles lies in maintenance costs. Electric vehicles have fewer components. In addition, electric vehicles do not require oil changes, replacement of various filters, spark plugs, and similar items.
Annual maintenance is estimated at about $350, which equals $29.17 per month.
Concrete example: monthly cost of an electric car
Based on the data gathered in the previous example, the average monthly cost of a leased electric car would be $734.09, considering the high end of the ranges highlighted in this article.
Comparison: electric car vs. gas car
To make a logical comparison, two aspects will be considered:
- Fuel consumption
- Vehicle maintenance
A compact SUV such as the Volkswagen Tiguan from Volkswagen Canada uses 9.3 L/100 km. For 2,000 km per month at $1.84/L of gasoline, it will cost you $342.24.
For maintenance, many experts mention that the upkeep costs of a gasoline vehicle are 25% higher than those of an electric vehicle.
Is an electric car really cheaper per month?
The short answer: yes. In the vast majority of cases, the savings achieved on combined fuel consumption and maintenance will allow you to reduce your monthly payments.
An electric car costs less than a gasoline vehicle.
How to reduce the monthly cost of an electric car?
Eco-responsible driving will lower your monthly costs. In addition, by charging your car at home during off-peak hours, you will save more than if you use Level 2 and Level 3 public stations. Aim to complete about 80% of your charging at home to achieve substantial savings.
Come test-drive your next electric vehicle at your Volkswagen dealer, Complexe VW 440 in Laval, near Terrebonne, Montreal-North and the North Shore of Montreal. Take advantage of flexible Volkswagen financing solutions as well as Volkswagen special offers in Laval. A professional team answers all your questions.
2025 VOLKSWAGEN ID.4
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