EVcharts

Category: Charging

  • IVY – Canada’s Worst Charging Network

    IVY – Canada’s Worst Charging Network

    British Columbia has BC Hydro EV, Quebec has Electric Circuit, and unfortunately, Ontario has IVY. Like poison ivy, it leaves you irritated and wondering why you even went near it in the first place.

    IVY is a joint venture between Hydro One (majority-owned by the Province of Ontario) and Ontario Power Generation (OPG), a provincial crown corporation. In theory, these companies should have everything they need to build a great network. Yet somehow, IVY’s charging stations manage to have almost nothing going for them.

    1. The Pricing is Ridiculous. $0.62 per kWh.
      • At $0.62 per kWh, IVY is essentially the most expensive network in Ontario, with the possible exception of Electrify Canada. However, Electrify Canada offers a subscription that reduces the price to below $0.62/kWh, and in Toronto, even without a subscription, it’s cheaper than IVY.
      • When something is expensive, it should at least deliver a good experience. But IVY manages to be expensive, unreliable, and frustrating.
    2. They Are Unreliable
      • The comments on PlugShare speak for themselves. Users frequently report issues with broken chargers, poor customer service, and failed charging sessions.:
    3. Many Chargers Are Only Rated For 50 kW
      • Many, if not most, of IVY’s chargers or dispensers max out at just 50 kW. In today’s EV market, where faster charging speeds are becoming the norm, this is unacceptably slow.
    4. Chargers Labeled 100+ kW Rarely Deliver Those Speeds
      • Even chargers labeled as 100 kW or higher often fail to deliver anywhere near their advertised speeds. For instance, on a 100 kW charger, my Tesla—one of the most popular EVs in Ontario—typically only reaches 66 kW. On one rare occasion, I managed to hit 88 kW.
      • This was with a preconditioned battery and a low state of charge, yet IVY still underperformed.

    A History of Decline

    Unfortunately, IVY doesn’t seem to be improving. In fact, it used to be cheaper to charge when they billed by the minute instead of per kWh. Back then, the network was far more affordable.

    What Needs to Change

    IVY desperately needs a management overhaul and a complete rethink of its approach to EV charging. If the Province of Ontario genuinely wants to encourage EV ownership, this is not the way to do it.

  • Ontario’s First V4 Supercharger Opens

    Ontario’s First V4 Supercharger Opens

    The first V4 Supercharger in Ontario has officially opened in Ingersoll, ON, featuring 16 dispensers. However, V3 power cabinets are being used at this site, limiting the maximum output to 250 kW per dispenser. This location stands out as one of the fastest-built and activated Supercharger sites in Ontario in recent years.

    Typically, it takes many months—sometimes over a year—for a Supercharger site to become operational. In contrast, this site was first listed as under construction on November 12, 2024, and went live just over two months later.

    Charging costs at this location are notably high: Tesla owners are charged $0.67 CAD per kWh, while non-Tesla EVs pay $0.90 CAD per kWh. As of now, the Tesla app indicates that 4 out of the 16 stalls are out of order.

    Superchargers along this stretch of highway are frequently busy, making this new location a welcome addition. It is expected to help alleviate some of the congestion at the London, ON Supercharger.

  • L3/Fast Charging costs in Toronto

    L3/Fast Charging costs in Toronto

    Understanding charging costs at various stations/brands can be a challenge, as prices depend on factors like station type, charging speed, and provider policies. Here’s a breakdown of charging costs at some of the most popular networks in Toronto:

    Superchargers

    Most Superchargers in the city cost $0.44/kWh while some locations have time of day pricing ranging from $0.26/kWh to $0.60/kWh.

    Flo

    Flo stations usually cost around $20/h and provide 50 kW. This ends up being around $0.40/kWh.

    Jule

    All their locations charge a $1 connection fee and then either charge a per minute or per kW fee. Per kWh it’s $0.50 and per minute it ranges between $0.37-$0.50 per minute.

    Green P/Chargepoint/Flo

    Green P has offers chargers through both Chargepoint and Flo at many of their locations at $15/h. Very reasonable price, but some locations are in paid parking lots.

    Petro Canada

    $0.50/minute – a great deal for fast charging cars.

    Electrify Canada

    $0.60/kWh – Expensive and few locations

    Shell

    $0.50/kWh

    IVY

    $0.62/kWh – Most expensive, unreliable, and slow.