Download Bonnet

Scan the QR code to download the app

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

Published on
April 18, 2023

Are you wondering how much it costs to charge an electric car? Making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) from internal combustion engines is smart, but how much can you expect to spend on charging your EV?

Key Points

  • The charging costs of electric cars depend on factors such as battery size, where you charge, and what type of charger you use.
  • Charging your EV at home costs between £15 - £16 on average, and is cheaper in the long run even though it comes with a higher upfront cost.
  • Variances in the choice of energy provider and plan will also play a part in determining charging costs. You’ll sometimes be able to charge your EV for free at work or in public spaces like malls, certain motorway stations, and so on, so you don’t always have to pay to charge your EV.
  • If you’re planning a long-distance trip, it’s best to plan ahead by using an EV charging service app like Bonnet. This way, you’ll have an idea of where to charge and you’ll know exactly how much it’ll cost you.
  • You can save money on charging your EV by installing a charging pod at home, choosing an EV-friendly energy plan, and using Bonnet to lock in on prices for when you do need to use a commercial charging service.

The costs vary depending on a few different factors. Principally, how much electricity your EV uses, where you charge, and what type of charger you use are the key factors to consider. 

How Much Electricity Does an Electric Car Use?

The average EV battery size for 2022 models will be around 40 - 60 kWh. For this guide, we’ll work with 60kWh as an estimation.

That said, the specific answer to this question differs by the make and model of the EV. Each EV has a unique battery size, and the amount of electricity you’ll need to charge it fully depends on how large the battery is.

But while knowing the battery size of your EV is important, there are other factors to consider in determining how much it will cost to charge it fully.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

In addition to battery size, you’ll need to factor in charging speed and energy rates:

Charging Speed

The charging speed of the charger you use can affect just how much you’ll pay for charging, with faster chargers generally costing more per kWh.

In the UK, there are four main classes of charging units defined by their charging speed. These are: 

  • Slow charging units: These types of units are typically suited for home use. They usually take 6-24 hours to fully charge an electric car at the average UK electricity cost of 28p per kWh. 
  • Fast charging units: These are more frequently used in parks, workplaces and malls. These units take anywhere between 2-12 hours to charge an electric car to 80% or more and are usually free or subsidised.
  • Rapid charging units: These units can top up an electric car by 80% in half an hour or less at the cost of approximately 45p per kWh.
  • Ultra-rapid charging units: These units are quite powerful and can charge an EV to the 80% mark in as little as 10-15 minutes at the cost of approximately 51p per kWh.

Energy Rates

Most energy providers offer dual-rate tariff plans, with one rate for the day, and another for the night. What this means is that your EV charging rates might differ based on the energy provider you use, and the time of the day when you charge your EV.

Just How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

Going by the average UK electricity cost of 28p per kWh, it costs an average of £16.80 to give a 60kWh battery a full charge at home. But EV batteries are rarely completely empty, so a more practical figure would be around £15.

If you’re charging your electric car exclusively at home, this will generally be one of the cheaper and more convenient long-term options. You’ll need to install a home charging point to get started, though, so there’ll be a significant initial outlay.

Ordinarily, you can expect this to be in the region of £800 - £1,100, but with government support for EVs, this could be cut by as much as a 75% discount. Once your home charging system is installed, you can then expect a recurring expenditure of about £15 to completely charge a 60kWh electric car.

That said, you can’t always charge your electric car at home. Even with a full home charging setup, you might occasionally need to use a public or commercial charging station.

But do you always have to pay to charge an electric car? Let’s find out!

What is the Cost of Charging an Electric Car at a Public Charging Station?

If you’re worried about charging costs for your EV, here’s some good news: you don’t always have to pay to charge your EV. In many cases, using public charging ports may require you to pay little to nothing for the duration of your stay.

To use a commercial charging service, though, there will be more significant costs. These costs vary based on factors such as your choice of charging point, the charging station speed, the make and model of your car, and so on. 

With over 420,000 charge points in the UK, according to EDF Energy, each with somewhat different pricing, getting precise pricing can be tricky. But that’s where services like Bonnet come in handy. 

The app helps by mapping a network of commercial charging services in an area and locking you in on a fixed pricing schedule so the variances in their pricing won’t affect you.

How Much Electricity Does an Electric Car Use Per Mile?

At an average range of 211 miles on a full charge, the average cost per mile for EVs would be approximately 8p.

EVs use up electricity at different rates. So even when you know how much electricity it takes to charge an EV, you still have to account for differences in energy expenditure. 

As this differs from car to car, we can’t give a uniform figure. That said, there’s a helpful formula that works for all electric cars. 

  • Take the cost of electricity, measured in pence per kilowatt-hour. In this guide, we’re working with the national average of 28p/kWh.
  • Multiply this by your vehicle’s battery capacity, also measured in kilowatt-hours. This will give you the total cost of a full battery’s worth of electricity. Using the figure of 60kWh, this will be 1680p.
  • You then divide this by the number of miles your EV is capable of at full-battery strength. This will be 1680p divided by the average range of 211, which gives a figure of 7.96p or 8p rounded up.

Remember that these figures are estimates that do not take into account the true useable battery life.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an EV on a Road Trip?

The cost of charging your EV while on a road trip depends on where you choose to charge. If you’re travelling in the UK or Europe, you might be able to charge your EV at fuel stations, train stations, motorway service areas, and so on.

The best thing to do, though, is to plan ahead. Knowing where to find a commercial charging service ahead of time will save you much time and spare you the stress of running low on battery life with no idea where to find the next charging station.

As we mentioned previously, Bonnet helps with this by providing access to a huge network of charging service providers across the UK and Europe at locked-in prices. 

How to Save Money on Charging an EV: 

You’ll almost certainly be interested in learning how to save money on charging your EV. Here are a few tips:

  1. Install a Home Charging Pod

You can’t rely on the free charging offered at public places like your workplace or the mall. And paying for rapid charging at a commercial charging service can be costly. We’d recommend that you make the investment in a home charging pod instead, which will save you much time and money in the long run.

  1. Use a Two-Tiered Energy Plan

Your choice of tariff plan can affect the cost of charging at home. Some energy providers offer dual-rate tariff plans that help to reduce the cost of charging your EV at night. 

  1. Lock in Prices with Bonnet

If you’ll be travelling longer distances away from home, within the UK or Europe, it’s smart to use an EV charging app like Bonnet that helps you lock in on EV charging prices.

  1. Consider Buying a Tesla

Tesla is one of the industry-leading producers of electric cars, so if you’re considering buying an EV, you’ll probably be looking at a few Tesla models.

But how much does it cost to charge a Tesla? The Tesla Supercharger Network has more than 35,00 Superchargers around the world, including in the UK, and offers free charging to Tesla owners. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Long Does it Take to Fully Charge an Electric Car?

There are a lot of factors that affect the amount of time that it takes to fully charge an electric car. On average, for 60kWh powered EVs, it takes about 8 hours when you use a 7kW charging point. But some electric cars with higher kWh and slower charging points will require 10-12 hours for a full charge.</p>

Is it Free to Charge Up an Electric Car?

This depends on the location of the charging point. Some fast charging points located at public spaces offer free or subsidised fees for charging, which are only valid through the duration of your stay. Free charging should be treated as a supplement to other charging methods, however, since they’re generally less convenient to use.


Is it Cheaper to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

In certain situations, it’s cheaper to charge your electric car at home. If you’re on an EV-centered tariff plan, or are subscribed to a dual-rate service, charging at home is the most affordable way to charge an electric car. But keep in mind the fact that you’ll still need to charge on public networks from time to time.</p>
       

How Long Does it Take to Charge an Electric Car at a Charging Station?

Since most charging points found at charging stations are usually rapid or ultra-rapid charging points, it takes about 30 minutes when using a rapid charging point unit and 10-15 minutes when using an ultra-rapid charging point unit. Again, this is dependent on how well-charged your car battery is at the time of charging. It’s faster to charge an electric car with some battery in it than an empty one.</p>

October 12, 2022

Are you wondering how much it costs to charge an electric car? Making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) from internal combustion engines is smart, but how much can you expect to spend on charging your EV?

The costs vary depending on a few different factors. Principally, how much electricity your EV uses, where you charge, and what type of charger you use are the key factors to consider. 

How Much Electricity Does an Electric Car Use?

The average EV battery size for 2022 models will be around 40 - 60 kWh. For this guide, we’ll work with 60kWh as an estimation.

That said, the specific answer to this question differs by the make and model of the EV. Each EV has a unique battery size, and the amount of electricity you’ll need to charge it fully depends on how large the battery is.

But while knowing the battery size of your EV is important, there are other factors to consider in determining how much it will cost to charge it fully.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

In addition to battery size, you’ll need to factor in charging speed and energy rates:

Charging Speed

The charging speed of the charger you use can affect just how much you’ll pay for charging, with faster chargers generally costing more per kWh.

In the UK, there are four main classes of charging units defined by their charging speed. These are: 

  • Slow charging units: These types of units are typically suited for home use. They usually take 6-24 hours to fully charge an electric car at the average UK electricity cost of 28p per kWh. 
  • Fast charging units: These are more frequently used in parks, workplaces and malls. These units take anywhere between 2-12 hours to charge an electric car to 80% or more and are usually free or subsidised.
  • Rapid charging units: These units can top up an electric car by 80% in half an hour or less at the cost of approximately 45p per kWh.
  • Ultra-rapid charging units: These units are quite powerful and can charge an EV to the 80% mark in as little as 10-15 minutes at the cost of approximately 51p per kWh.

Energy Rates

Most energy providers offer dual-rate tariff plans, with one rate for the day, and another for the night. What this means is that your EV charging rates might differ based on the energy provider you use, and the time of the day when you charge your EV.

Just How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

Going by the average UK electricity cost of 28p per kWh, it costs an average of £16.80 to give a 60kWh battery a full charge at home. But EV batteries are rarely completely empty, so a more practical figure would be around £15.

If you’re charging your electric car exclusively at home, this will generally be one of the cheaper and more convenient long-term options. You’ll need to install a home charging point to get started, though, so there’ll be a significant initial outlay.

Ordinarily, you can expect this to be in the region of £800 - £1,100, but with government support for EVs, this could be cut by as much as a 75% discount. Once your home charging system is installed, you can then expect a recurring expenditure of about £15 to completely charge a 60kWh electric car.

That said, you can’t always charge your electric car at home. Even with a full home charging setup, you might occasionally need to use a public or commercial charging station.

But do you always have to pay to charge an electric car? Let’s find out!

What is the Cost of Charging an Electric Car at a Public Charging Station?

If you’re worried about charging costs for your EV, here’s some good news: you don’t always have to pay to charge your EV. In many cases, using public charging ports may require you to pay little to nothing for the duration of your stay.

To use a commercial charging service, though, there will be more significant costs. These costs vary based on factors such as your choice of charging point, the charging station speed, the make and model of your car, and so on. 

With over 420,000 charge points in the UK, according to EDF Energy, each with somewhat different pricing, getting precise pricing can be tricky. But that’s where services like Bonnet come in handy. 

The app helps by mapping a network of commercial charging services in an area and locking you in on a fixed pricing schedule so the variances in their pricing won’t affect you.

How Much Electricity Does an Electric Car Use Per Mile?

At an average range of 211 miles on a full charge, the average cost per mile for EVs would be approximately 8p.

EVs use up electricity at different rates. So even when you know how much electricity it takes to charge an EV, you still have to account for differences in energy expenditure. 

As this differs from car to car, we can’t give a uniform figure. That said, there’s a helpful formula that works for all electric cars. 

  • Take the cost of electricity, measured in pence per kilowatt-hour. In this guide, we’re working with the national average of 28p/kWh.
  • Multiply this by your vehicle’s battery capacity, also measured in kilowatt-hours. This will give you the total cost of a full battery’s worth of electricity. Using the figure of 60kWh, this will be 1680p.
  • You then divide this by the number of miles your EV is capable of at full-battery strength. This will be 1680p divided by the average range of 211, which gives a figure of 7.96p or 8p rounded up.

Remember that these figures are estimates that do not take into account the true useable battery life.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an EV on a Road Trip?

The cost of charging your EV while on a road trip depends on where you choose to charge. If you’re travelling in the UK or Europe, you might be able to charge your EV at fuel stations, train stations, motorway service areas, and so on.

The best thing to do, though, is to plan ahead. Knowing where to find a commercial charging service ahead of time will save you much time and spare you the stress of running low on battery life with no idea where to find the next charging station.

As we mentioned previously, Bonnet helps with this by providing access to a huge network of charging service providers across the UK and Europe at locked-in prices. 

How to Save Money on Charging an EV: 

You’ll almost certainly be interested in learning how to save money on charging your EV. Here are a few tips:

  1. Install a Home Charging Pod

You can’t rely on the free charging offered at public places like your workplace or the mall. And paying for rapid charging at a commercial charging service can be costly. We’d recommend that you make the investment in a home charging pod instead, which will save you much time and money in the long run.

  1. Use a Two-Tiered Energy Plan

Your choice of tariff plan can affect the cost of charging at home. Some energy providers offer dual-rate tariff plans that help to reduce the cost of charging your EV at night. 

  1. Lock in Prices with Bonnet

If you’ll be travelling longer distances away from home, within the UK or Europe, it’s smart to use an EV charging app like Bonnet that helps you lock in on EV charging prices.

  1. Consider Buying a Tesla

Tesla is one of the industry-leading producers of electric cars, so if you’re considering buying an EV, you’ll probably be looking at a few Tesla models.

But how much does it cost to charge a Tesla? The Tesla Supercharger Network has more than 35,00 Superchargers around the world, including in the UK, and offers free charging to Tesla owners. 

Are you wondering how much it costs to charge an electric car? Making the switch to electric vehicles (EVs) from internal combustion engines is smart, but how much can you expect to spend on charging your EV?

Key Points

  • The charging costs of electric cars depend on factors such as battery size, where you charge, and what type of charger you use.
  • Charging your EV at home costs between £15 - £16 on average, and is cheaper in the long run even though it comes with a higher upfront cost.
  • Variances in the choice of energy provider and plan will also play a part in determining charging costs. You’ll sometimes be able to charge your EV for free at work or in public spaces like malls, certain motorway stations, and so on, so you don’t always have to pay to charge your EV.
  • If you’re planning a long-distance trip, it’s best to plan ahead by using an EV charging service app like Bonnet. This way, you’ll have an idea of where to charge and you’ll know exactly how much it’ll cost you.
  • You can save money on charging your EV by installing a charging pod at home, choosing an EV-friendly energy plan, and using Bonnet to lock in on prices for when you do need to use a commercial charging service.

The costs vary depending on a few different factors. Principally, how much electricity your EV uses, where you charge, and what type of charger you use are the key factors to consider. 

How Much Electricity Does an Electric Car Use?

The average EV battery size for 2022 models will be around 40 - 60 kWh. For this guide, we’ll work with 60kWh as an estimation.

That said, the specific answer to this question differs by the make and model of the EV. Each EV has a unique battery size, and the amount of electricity you’ll need to charge it fully depends on how large the battery is.

But while knowing the battery size of your EV is important, there are other factors to consider in determining how much it will cost to charge it fully.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

In addition to battery size, you’ll need to factor in charging speed and energy rates:

Charging Speed

The charging speed of the charger you use can affect just how much you’ll pay for charging, with faster chargers generally costing more per kWh.

In the UK, there are four main classes of charging units defined by their charging speed. These are: 

  • Slow charging units: These types of units are typically suited for home use. They usually take 6-24 hours to fully charge an electric car at the average UK electricity cost of 28p per kWh. 
  • Fast charging units: These are more frequently used in parks, workplaces and malls. These units take anywhere between 2-12 hours to charge an electric car to 80% or more and are usually free or subsidised.
  • Rapid charging units: These units can top up an electric car by 80% in half an hour or less at the cost of approximately 45p per kWh.
  • Ultra-rapid charging units: These units are quite powerful and can charge an EV to the 80% mark in as little as 10-15 minutes at the cost of approximately 51p per kWh.

Energy Rates

Most energy providers offer dual-rate tariff plans, with one rate for the day, and another for the night. What this means is that your EV charging rates might differ based on the energy provider you use, and the time of the day when you charge your EV.

Just How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

Going by the average UK electricity cost of 28p per kWh, it costs an average of £16.80 to give a 60kWh battery a full charge at home. But EV batteries are rarely completely empty, so a more practical figure would be around £15.

If you’re charging your electric car exclusively at home, this will generally be one of the cheaper and more convenient long-term options. You’ll need to install a home charging point to get started, though, so there’ll be a significant initial outlay.

Ordinarily, you can expect this to be in the region of £800 - £1,100, but with government support for EVs, this could be cut by as much as a 75% discount. Once your home charging system is installed, you can then expect a recurring expenditure of about £15 to completely charge a 60kWh electric car.

That said, you can’t always charge your electric car at home. Even with a full home charging setup, you might occasionally need to use a public or commercial charging station.

But do you always have to pay to charge an electric car? Let’s find out!

What is the Cost of Charging an Electric Car at a Public Charging Station?

If you’re worried about charging costs for your EV, here’s some good news: you don’t always have to pay to charge your EV. In many cases, using public charging ports may require you to pay little to nothing for the duration of your stay.

To use a commercial charging service, though, there will be more significant costs. These costs vary based on factors such as your choice of charging point, the charging station speed, the make and model of your car, and so on. 

With over 420,000 charge points in the UK, according to EDF Energy, each with somewhat different pricing, getting precise pricing can be tricky. But that’s where services like Bonnet come in handy. 

The app helps by mapping a network of commercial charging services in an area and locking you in on a fixed pricing schedule so the variances in their pricing won’t affect you.

How Much Electricity Does an Electric Car Use Per Mile?

At an average range of 211 miles on a full charge, the average cost per mile for EVs would be approximately 8p.

EVs use up electricity at different rates. So even when you know how much electricity it takes to charge an EV, you still have to account for differences in energy expenditure. 

As this differs from car to car, we can’t give a uniform figure. That said, there’s a helpful formula that works for all electric cars. 

  • Take the cost of electricity, measured in pence per kilowatt-hour. In this guide, we’re working with the national average of 28p/kWh.
  • Multiply this by your vehicle’s battery capacity, also measured in kilowatt-hours. This will give you the total cost of a full battery’s worth of electricity. Using the figure of 60kWh, this will be 1680p.
  • You then divide this by the number of miles your EV is capable of at full-battery strength. This will be 1680p divided by the average range of 211, which gives a figure of 7.96p or 8p rounded up.

Remember that these figures are estimates that do not take into account the true useable battery life.

How Much Does it Cost to Charge an EV on a Road Trip?

The cost of charging your EV while on a road trip depends on where you choose to charge. If you’re travelling in the UK or Europe, you might be able to charge your EV at fuel stations, train stations, motorway service areas, and so on.

The best thing to do, though, is to plan ahead. Knowing where to find a commercial charging service ahead of time will save you much time and spare you the stress of running low on battery life with no idea where to find the next charging station.

As we mentioned previously, Bonnet helps with this by providing access to a huge network of charging service providers across the UK and Europe at locked-in prices. 

How to Save Money on Charging an EV: 

You’ll almost certainly be interested in learning how to save money on charging your EV. Here are a few tips:

  1. Install a Home Charging Pod

You can’t rely on the free charging offered at public places like your workplace or the mall. And paying for rapid charging at a commercial charging service can be costly. We’d recommend that you make the investment in a home charging pod instead, which will save you much time and money in the long run.

  1. Use a Two-Tiered Energy Plan

Your choice of tariff plan can affect the cost of charging at home. Some energy providers offer dual-rate tariff plans that help to reduce the cost of charging your EV at night. 

  1. Lock in Prices with Bonnet

If you’ll be travelling longer distances away from home, within the UK or Europe, it’s smart to use an EV charging app like Bonnet that helps you lock in on EV charging prices.

  1. Consider Buying a Tesla

Tesla is one of the industry-leading producers of electric cars, so if you’re considering buying an EV, you’ll probably be looking at a few Tesla models.

But how much does it cost to charge a Tesla? The Tesla Supercharger Network has more than 35,00 Superchargers around the world, including in the UK, and offers free charging to Tesla owners. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How Long Does it Take to Fully Charge an Electric Car?

There are a lot of factors that affect the amount of time that it takes to fully charge an electric car. On average, for 60kWh powered EVs, it takes about 8 hours when you use a 7kW charging point. But some electric cars with higher kWh and slower charging points will require 10-12 hours for a full charge.</p>

Is it Free to Charge Up an Electric Car?

This depends on the location of the charging point. Some fast charging points located at public spaces offer free or subsidised fees for charging, which are only valid through the duration of your stay. Free charging should be treated as a supplement to other charging methods, however, since they’re generally less convenient to use.


Is it Cheaper to Charge an Electric Car at Home?

In certain situations, it’s cheaper to charge your electric car at home. If you’re on an EV-centered tariff plan, or are subscribed to a dual-rate service, charging at home is the most affordable way to charge an electric car. But keep in mind the fact that you’ll still need to charge on public networks from time to time.</p>
       

How Long Does it Take to Charge an Electric Car at a Charging Station?

Since most charging points found at charging stations are usually rapid or ultra-rapid charging points, it takes about 30 minutes when using a rapid charging point unit and 10-15 minutes when using an ultra-rapid charging point unit. Again, this is dependent on how well-charged your car battery is at the time of charging. It’s faster to charge an electric car with some battery in it than an empty one.</p>

Ready to boost
your charging game?

Let's do this!Let''s do this!