Diesel reached record highs in Canada in September 2026. In Quebec the average pump price was $2.903/L for the week of September 28, 2026, after a record $2.947/L the week before, 71% above a year earlier (Régie de l'énergie). In Ontario the average was $2.506/L, after a record $2.617/L, 78% above a year earlier (provincial survey).
What's driving it
The Canadian average passed $2.64 a litre at the end of September, a historic high that The Canadian Press attributes to supply disruptions from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, now about seven months long. The shock is specific to diesel: in Quebec it sells for close to a dollar a litre more than regular gasoline.
Dyed diesel is not spared
In Quebec, the coloured diesel used on farms and off road averaged $2.358/L before GST and QST the same week. The gap with clear diesel is small: the increase comes from the price of the product, not from taxes.
Will it come back down?
Probably in part. The US Energy Information Administration forecasts cheaper diesel in 2027 than in 2026, but we have found no forecast of a return to 2025 prices. Prices have moved a lot this year, in both directions. In Canada, the federal excise tax on diesel is suspended until January 31, 2027 and then returns in stages (Government of Canada). Every figure on this page is dated for that reason.
What a loader's fuel costs at these prices
Here is the estimated fuel saving for each of our loaders against a diesel machine of similar size doing light work.
| Model | Compared with | Quebec, per hour | Ontario, per hour | Quebec, 300 h/yr | Quebec, 1,000 h/yr |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| L880 | a diesel of about 25 hp, 3 L/h | $8.37 | $7.22 | $2,510 | $8,370 |
| L1400 | a diesel of about 35 hp, 5 L/h | $13.97 | $12.06 | $4,190 | $13,970 |
| L2500 | a diesel of about 50 hp, 7 L/h | $19.36 | $16.71 | $5,810 | $19,360 |
Estimated fuel saving only, week of September 28, 2026. Pump diesel, taxes included: $2.903/L in Quebec (Régie de l’énergie du Québec) and $2.506/L in Ontario (provincial survey). Electricity, taxes included: 12.8¢/kWh in Quebec (Hydro-Québec Rate D) and about 11.1¢/kWh in Ontario (off-peak, estimate). Diesel use is calculated for light work with a standard formula; it is not a measurement of a particular machine. The comparison holds for work a Nesher loader can do. Your results will vary with your hours, your work and prices.
Estimate your fuel saving
Change any number to match your own machine, hours and prices.
default for a diesel of about 25 hp
- Diesel per year
- $2,613
- Electricity per year
- $102
Estimated fuel saving per year
$2,511
$8.37 per hour of work
Estimate of fuel cost only. Diesel defaults are the provincial pump averages for the week of September 28, 2026; the default burn rate is a formula estimate for a diesel of the size shown, at light work. Electricity use assumes the battery is emptied in the shortest advertised run time. It does not cover purchase price, maintenance or financing.
What an electric loader changes, and what it doesn't
It plugs into a 120 V outlet. No fuel deliveries, no jerry cans, no tank. The L880 recharges overnight; the larger models take longer.
Its energy cost is predictable. Electricity rates are regulated and change once a year, on a known schedule.
It has no engine oil, no fuel filters and no engine coolant.
It has limits. Run time is 4 to 6 hours per charge. An electric loader suits short, frequent jobs near a building; for full days of heavy work, diesel is still the better fit.
Take one machine off diesel
Nobody controls the price of diesel, but you decide how many of your machines are exposed to it. The Nesher lineup has three 100% electric compact loaders: the L880, the L1400 and the L2500. Any business can deduct 100% of the cost in the first year, and corporations may qualify for a federal credit of up to 30%: see our guide.