All 22 EVs completed the 230-km Ontario route without stopping to recharge.
Fifteen minutes of fast charging added an average of 110 km of displayed range.
Adding 100 km at a public fast charger cost an average of $13.45.
The CAA’s 2026 EV Drive put energy efficiency, fast charging and charging costs at the centre of its latest comparative test. A total of 22 electric vehicles travelled 230 km between Blue Mountain and Vaughan, Ontario, under conditions organizers described as optimal.
The vehicles selected represented more than three-quarters of all new EVs available for sale in Canada. Unlike the 2025 winter edition, when batteries were depleted completely, the 2026 event focused in part on measuring energy consumption and the charging experience.
All 22 vehicles completed the 230-km route without stopping to recharge. On average, they used 40% of their battery capacity during the trip. This figure includes the vehicle with the lowest rated range in the group.
Vehicles That Added the Most Range in 15 Minutes of Charging
| Make | Model | Range Added |
|---|---|---|
| Lucid | Gravity | 178 km |
| Hyundai | IONIQ 5 | 136 km |
| Mercedes-Benz | CLA with EQ Technology | 135 km |
| Nissan | LEAF | 126 km |
| Volkswagen | ID.4 | 125 km |
The charging test, however, revealed considerable differences. After 15 minutes at Tesla fast chargers, the vehicles had added an average of 110 km of displayed range. Nearly two-thirds gained at least 100 km. The Lucid Gravity recorded the largest increase at 178 km, followed by the Hyundai IONIQ 5 at 136 km and the Mercedes-Benz CLA with EQ Technology at 135 km.
Vehicles That Added the Least Range in 15 Minutes of Charging
| Make | Model | Range Added |
|---|---|---|
| Lucid | Air | 58 km |
| Chevrolet | Equinox EV | 71 km |
| Chevrolet | Silverado EV | 80 km |
| GMC | HUMMER EV SUV | 90 km |
| Tesla | Model Y | 97 km |
At the other end of the result spectrum, and strangely, the Lucid Air added 58 km, while the Chevrolet Equinox EV gained 71 km. Charging results were about 15% higher than those recorded during the 2025 winter test.
Virée Électrique 2026 CAA | Photo: CAACost was another significant variable. According to calculations from the event, adding 100 km of range at a public fast charger cost an average of $13.45. The Tesla Model 3 recorded the lowest figure at $7.28, compared with $24.39 for the GMC HUMMER EV SUV. Charging rates, power output and a vehicle’s charging abilities can all affect the final cost.
Lowest Charging Cost per 100 Kilometres
| Make | Model | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla | Model 3 | $7.28 |
| Tesla | Model Y | $8.23 |
| Nissan | LEAF | $10.13 |
| Kia | EV4 | $10.25 |
| Hyundai | IONIQ 5 | $10.68 |
Energy consumption measurements also showed substantial differences. The Toyota bZ recorded a remarkably low 11.43 kWh/100 km, followed by the Tesla Model Y at 11.81 kWh/100 km and the Model 3 at 11.85 kWh/100 km. The Lucid Gravity, by comparison, recorded 28.91 kWh/100 km.
Highest Charging Cost per 100 Kilometres
| Make | Model | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| GMC | HUMMER EV SUV | $24.39 |
| Chevrolet | Silverado EV | $19.05 |
| Rivian | R1T | $17.85 |
| Tesla | Cybertruck | $15.61 |
| Volkswagen | ID. Buzz | $15.48 |
“The results of this edition are very revealing. For most motorists, the question is no longer really whether an electric vehicle will get them to their destination, but rather how quickly it will recharge, how much that recharge will cost and how efficiently the vehicle will use its energy,” said Pierre-Serge Labbé, vice-president, mobility services, CAA-Quebec.
Source: CAA Québec
