EV Charging Cost Calculator
Estimate what a charge costs, how much range it adds and the cost per mile.
Public fast chargers usually cost more per kWh than home charging; enter the price you actually pay.
An electric car’s running cost depends on your battery size, how much you charge and what you pay for electricity. Enter your numbers to see what a typical charge costs and what each mile costs.
How the calculation works
- Energy into battery = battery size × (end % − start %) ÷ 100.
- Energy from the wall = energy into battery ÷ (1 − losses). Charging is not perfectly efficient, so you pay for more than the battery receives.
- Cost = energy from the wall × price per kWh.
- Range added = energy into battery × miles per kWh.
- Cost per mile = cost ÷ range added.
Worked example
What changes the cost
- Where you charge. Home charging overnight is usually cheaper per kWh than public fast charging.
- Time-of-use tariffs. Charging off-peak can lower the price if your supplier offers it.
- Weather. Cold air and cabin heating reduce miles per kWh, which raises cost per mile.
- Speed. Higher speeds use more energy per mile.
- Charge limit. Charging from 20% to 80% is common because charging slows near full on many cars.
Common mistakes
- Forgetting charging losses and using the battery figure instead of wall energy.
- Using the manufacturer’s best efficiency figure for winter or motorway driving.
- Applying a home electricity price to a public charger session.
- Charging from 0 to 100 and expecting the same speed throughout. Many cars slow down near full.
- Comparing cost per charge between cars with different battery sizes instead of cost per mile.
Results are estimates for planning. Always check your owner manual or a qualified professional for decisions about your vehicle.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Multiply the energy you add in kWh by your price per kWh, and allow for charging losses of roughly ten percent.
Is charging at home cheaper than a public charger?
Usually. Public fast chargers tend to cost more per kWh, though prices vary by network.
Why is my winter range lower?
Cold weather reduces battery efficiency and heating uses energy, so you get fewer miles per kWh.
What are charging losses?
Some energy is lost as heat in the charger and battery, so the wall supplies more energy than the battery stores.