How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Cost of a full charge is battery size × charging losses × your electricity price. Cost per 100 km and per year follow from the car's consumption and how far you drive. Defaults are typical figures; change them to your car and your tariff.

Where to find the numbers

Battery size (kWh) and rated consumption (kWh per 100 km) are in the car's specifications; the trip computer shows your real consumption. Your electricity price is the unit rate on your bill, or the off-peak or EV tariff rate if you charge overnight on one.

What the figure is based on

Charging losses of about 10% cover heat in the charger and battery; slow AC charging in cold weather loses more. Public rapid chargers are priced per kWh at several times a home unit rate and are not included. 32c/kWh is an example rate, not a recommendation.

What changes the cost

• Where you charge: home overnight rates are a fraction of public rapid-charger prices per kWh.
• Consumption rises with speed, cold weather, cabin heating, roof racks and hard acceleration; winter figures can be 20–30% above summer.
• Charging losses are higher on slow AC charging in the cold and when the battery is pre-conditioned for rapid charging.
• Tyre pressure and payload change consumption the same way they do in a petrol car.
• Keeping the charge between 20% and 80% is common practice, so a "full charge" is rarely what is actually added.

For a specific model or any other appliance, use the electricity cost calculator.