There is no single answer to what it costs to charge an EV, because the price varies enormously with where and how you charge. The same car can charge almost for free at home overnight and at many times the price on a fast charger by the motorway. Understand the three levels and you always know when charging is cheap and when you are paying for speed.
The maths behind your price
The cost of a charge is simply the price per kWh times the number of kWh you draw. A 60 kWh battery charged from 10 to 80 percent takes about 42 kWh. If you know the price per kWh on the spot, you can multiply the two and know what the stop costs before you plug in.
The three price levels
- Home: almost always cheapest, especially on a night or hourly electricity tariff. This is where most EV drivers get the bulk of their power
- Public AC and slower DC: more expensive than home, but reasonable, often for stays where the car is parked anyway
- Rapid charging on the motorway: the most expensive power per kWh. You pay for the speed and for being able to charge right where you need it
Ad hoc or subscription
Beyond where you charge, the payment method matters a lot. Ad hoc with a card is easy but usually the most expensive per kWh. A subscription or roaming deal with a large operator gives a lower price per kWh for a fixed fee, and it quickly pays off if you charge a lot in public. If you charge rarely, ad hoc is usually best.
The hidden costs
The price per kWh is not always the whole story. Some chargers add a time fee, many charge an idle fee if the car stays plugged in after it is full, and in cities parking charges can add on top of the power itself. On a slow charger, parking can sometimes exceed the price of the electricity. So check both the charging price and the signage on the spot.
To keep the bill down, charge at home when you can, use the fast charger for the quick kWh on the trip, and stop at 80 percent, where it is both fastest and cheapest. Find the chargers and their power on FindCharger before you drive.