--- title: "CAA's 2026 EV Circuit: What Matters Beyond Range" description: Discover key insights from CAA's 2026 EV Circuit, emphasizing efficiency and charging costs over range when choosing the right electric vehicle for your needs. image: https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/DSC_1232.jpg --- [![CAA\_Niagara\_Master\_Logo\_Horizontal\_RGB](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png?width=160&height=41&name=CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png)](https://caaniagara.ca/) [![CAA\_Niagara\_Master\_Logo\_Horizontal\_RGB](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png?width=165&height=41&name=CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB.png)](https://caaniagara.ca/) - [My Account](http://caaniagara.ca/redirect/redirect_myaccount.jsp) - [Find a Branch](https://caaniagara.ca/contact-us) - [Careers](https://caaniagara.ca/careers) - [CAA Niagara Blog](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/) ## Search Search Search - [Membership](https://caaniagara.ca/membership) - 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[Find a Branch](https://caaniagara.ca/contact-us) - [Join CAA](https://caaniagara.ca/membership/compare) - [Get Roadside Assistance](https://caamobile.ca/CAA-console/AddSubmitRRA.action?request_locale=en&club=288) # CAA's 2026 EV Circuit: What Matters Beyond Range November 2, 2026 | CAA Niagara   CAA's 2026 EV Circuit: What Matters Beyond Range 3:36 In September 2026, CAA hosted its EV Circuit, a real-world road test comparing electric vehicles on range, charging time, cost and efficiency. As EV technology advances, the Circuit helps consumers look beyond range when puchasing an EV, and provides key insights to consider. All 22 EVs completed the 230-kilometre journey from Blue Mountain to Vaughan, Ontario, without stopping to charge. But charging performance, cost and efficiency varied between models, showing that driving range is only a small part of the picture. ![DSC\_1232](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hs-fs/hubfs/DSC_1232.jpg?width=638&height=425&name=DSC_1232.jpg) ### Charging Time and Cost The results found that EVs can certainly go the distance. On average, the EVs completed the circuit while only using 40 per cent of their battery. After completing the circuit in Vaughn, ON, every vehicle plugged in at a fast charger in for 15 minutes to gather further data on charging efficiency. On average, this short charging timing showed to add a good amount of range, with the average vehicle gaining 110 kilometres. How much each EV gained varied a lot, from 58 kilometres to 178 kilometres. The average cost to add 100 kilometres of charge at a public fast charger was $13.15, with results varying widely between vehicles. Information to consider when comparing charging costs: - Each EV has a different battery size, weight, and design.  So when your looking at battery percentage you need to consider energy consumption and the distance travelled. - Larger batteries can provide more total range but can also require more energy, time or money to recharge. ### Efficiency of EVs outshined Gas-Powered Vehicles The EV Circuit showed more than the ability of electric vehicles to affordably drive far distances, it found that they can do this efficently. The average Canadian passenger vehicle uses roughly eight to 10 litres of fuel per 100 kilometres. By comparison, the EVs tested in the 2026 EV Circuit used electricity equivalent to the energy in approximately two litres of gasoline over the same distance. Efficiency varied between models, but the takeaway is simple: a more efficient EV needs less electricity to travel the same distance. That can help lower charging costs and time spent charging. *CAA EV Circuit analysts established equivalency data for gas-powered and electric-powered vehicles based on the standard energy conversion method referenced by Natural Resources Canada.* ### Considering Weather Impact Temperature plays a big role in how an EV performs. Compared with the vehicles in CAA’s February 2025 EV Winter Test, this September group used about **40 per cent less energy** and added about **15 per cent more range** in the 15-minute charge. The tests used different vehicles and conditions, but the gap is a good reminder that a mild September day isn’t the same as a Canadian January. ### The Takeaway EVs have come a long way. All 22 vehicles finished the route on a single charge, they used less energy than the average gas car, and a short charging stop added a meaningful amount of range. At the same time, efficiency, charging speed and cost varied a lot from model to model. So when you’re shopping for an EV, look beyond range. Consider charging speed, cost, efficiency and winter performance alongside your daily commute, longer trips and access to charging. Weighing what matters most to you can help you choose with confidence. The best EV is the one that fits how and where you drive. *Want the full breakdown for every vehicle? Check out CAA’s* [*2026 CAA EV Circuit: Complete Vehicle Findings*](https://www.caa.ca/app/uploads/2026/09/2026-CAA-EV-Circuit_Complete-Vehicle-Findings-EN.pdf)*.* ### Recent Posts     [Tweets by CAA Niagara](https://twitter.com/caaniagara) ### Recent Posts - [Contact Us](https://caaniagara.ca/contact-us) - [About CAA Niagara](https://caaniagara.ca/about-caa) - [Annual Report](https://caaniagara.ca/AnnualReport2024) - [Board of Directors](https://caaniagara.ca/theboard) - [News & Media](https://caaniagara.ca/news) - [Careers](https://caaniagara.ca/careers) - [Terms & Conditions](https://caaniagara.ca/terms-and-conditions) - [Privacy Policy](https://caaniagara.ca/privacy-policy) - [Consumer Email Policy](https://caaniagara.ca/consumer-email-policy) - [AODA Customer Service Policy](https://caaniagara.ca/accessibility-standard) ![tico.ca](https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/Caaniagara_September2017/pdf/TICO-Logo.png) Ontario  Registration  #01381980 **Member Service** 1-800-263-7272 **Roadside Assistance** Niagara Region: 1-800-263-3616 Canada & US: 1-800-222-4357 or \*222 CAA Niagara serves Members in the Regional Municipality of Niagara. 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Accessible formats and communication supports are available upon request. ® CAA, CAA logo and CAA Dollars trademarks owned by, and use is authorized by, the Canadian Automobile Association. © Copyright 2025 CAA Niagara, Canadian Automobile Association. ® All rights reserved. ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "CAA Niagara", "url" : "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/author/caa-niagara" }, "dateModified" : "2026-11-02T16:13:45.743Z", "datePublished" : "2026-11-02T16:13:23.000Z", "headline" : "CAA's 2026 EV Circuit: What Matters Beyond Range", "image" : [ "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/DSC_1232.jpg" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/caas-2026-ev-circuit-looking-beyond-range-when-purchasing-an-ev", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://blog.caaniagara.ca/hubfs/CAA_Niagara_Master_Logo_Horizontal_RGB-1000x250.png" }, "name" : "CAA Niagara" } } ```