How Much Do Electric Cars Cost To Charge

Cost Of Charging Electric Cars At Public Stations

If you are a Tesla owner, then the Tesla Supercharger Network has points across the UK which are often free to use for older vehicles. Newer Tesla owners, who bought their vehicle after January 1st 2017, may only receive a set number of free hours of charge. According to Tesla, where possible, Tesla owners are billed at 26p per kWh . In other areas, they bill per minute. When billing per minute, there are two tiers to account for changes in charging speeds, called tier 1 and tier 2. Tier 1 is 60 kW and below and tier 2 is 60 kW and above. Tesla advise that tier 1 is half the cost of tier 2.

Certain Model S and X vehicles ordered before November 2, 2018 receive 400 kWh of Supercharger credits annually. Please consult the manufacturer if you are in doubt.

For non-Tesla owners, charging fees vary depending on the network you use. Registration, subscription and connection fees may apply. Take a look at Zap-Map or an overview of UKs main EV charging networks.

What Affects Charging Speeds

Electric car battery

The bigger the battery, the longer it will take to charge. Simple, right? The state of charge of an EV’s battery is measured in kilowatt-hours , which is similar to a liter or a gallon but for electricity, and each kWh equals the amount of energy you would use to run a 1,000-watt appliance for an hour. The vast majority of electric passenger vehicle batteries today can hold somewhere between 25 and 100 kWh when fully charged.

Charging capacity of the vehicle

The power output which a vehicle accepts differs from vehicle to vehicle and can even vary depending on the model of the car. Measured in kW, the charging capacity is shown for both AC charging and DC charging and each plays a large factor in how long it takes to charge. For instance, if two vehicles with similar size batteries are charging side by side at a high-power DC charging station, but one can only accept 50 kW of DC power and the other 250 kW, then the latter will charge much faster than the former.

Charging output of the charging station

The different output of the charging station plays a large factor in how long it takes to charge an EV. The higher the kW output on a charging station, the faster it will charge .

State of charge

The DC charging curve

Weather conditions

Another factor that will determine charging times is the weather. As batteries operate more efficiently in warm weathersay between 2025°C it will take longer to charge a vehicle in colder or extremely warm weather.

Cost To Charge An Electric Car At Home

Charging an electric car at home costs about £15.10 for a full charge* and is the most convenient and cost-effective way to keep your car fully charged. Most drivers will charge their electric car overnight, waking up to a full battery every morning.

• Average domestic electricity rate in the whole of the UK is about 28p per kWh**.
• Fully charging a 60kWh electric car will cost around £15 and give you about 200 miles of range.

By switching to an electricity tariff designed specifically for EV drivers, like EDF’s GoElectric Exclusive 35 you could reduce this to just 4.5p per kWh and charge up for under £5 while you sleep***.

*Costs calculated at 28p/kWh based on usable battery is ~54kWh .

**Please note, energy prices vary and can go up and down. To find your current cost per kWh, please check your electricity bill or contact your provider.

***EV charging based on using a 7kW home charger and EDFs GoElectric Exclusive 35 tariff at 4.5p/Kwh off-peak.

Find out more about the home charging options available and how fast you can charge your car.

Tip: Charging at home is best done through a dedicated home chargepoint, which comes with a one-off cost from £799. Find out more about the benefits of a home charger.

Cost of charging at home – 3 example electric cars:

Don’t see the model you were looking for in this table? Browse other EVs here.

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Figure On Adding $30 To $60 To Your Monthly Utility Bill

As gas prices rise and environmental concerns become more pressing, electric vehicles are gaining in popularity. In the 4th quarter of 2016, 3.0% of new cars financed were electric and hybrid vehicles, according to Experian. In the 4th quarter of 2020, that number jumped to 6.7%. If youre thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle, bear in mind that you will most likely be charging it at home. Depending on where you live and how much you drive, that can add about $30 to $60 per month to your electric bill.

How Much Does A Tesla Battery Cost To Replace

Its unlikely youll need a new battery any time soon. According to Inside EVs, Tesla battery capacity still averages 90% after 200,000 miles of use.

If you find yourself in need of a replacement battery, the price will depend on what model you have. For a basic battery replacement, Way estimates a cost of $13,000 or $14,000, while more expensive models can get up to $20,000.

Way also notes there are additional costs associated with a battery replacement, including replacing wiring and other parts around the battery, as well as labor costs.

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Ev Charging Plug Types

The charging plug is a connecting plug that you put into the charging socket of an electric car.

These plugs can differ based on power output, the make of the vehicle, and the country the car was manufactured in.

AC charging plugs

*These numbers represent the maximum power output that a plug can deliver at the time of writing this article. The numbers do not reflect actual power outputs as this is also dependent on the charging station, charging cable, and the receptive vehicle.

Do Electric Cars Lose Charge In Cold Weather

Before we answer this, its essential to note that traditional gas-powered cars also struggle in cold weather, and owners need to plan for such occasions.

People in cold regions most likely carry ice scrapers, flashlights, extra clothing, and battery jumper cables in their vehicles. Combustion-engine cars burn through more fuel with the heaters or air conditioning working. As such, its not uncommon for drivers to get caught out by cold snaps, run out of fuel, and require rescuing.

Electric car batteries, like most batteries, lose performance when dealing with sub-zero temperatures. Most experts agree that anEVs range reduces primarily because of the extra demands on the battery and less by the cold weather slowing the battery down. Running heaters and difficult driving conditions like new snow take their toll on battery life.

The Norwegians know a thing or two about cold weather and electric vehicles. The Scandinavian country leads the world with81 EVs per 1,000 residents, compared to 8.5 in Germany and 5.2 in the United States.

In 2020, the Norway Automobile Federation tested 20 different electric vehicles in its winter conditions to gauge how EV batteries react to cold weather. The Federations principal findings were:

• On average, EVs lose 20% of their average driving range
• EVs dont just shut down they give their drivers multiple warnings before slowing down and stopping
• EV batteries charge more slowly in cold conditions

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What Is The Cost To Charge An Ev In Kwh

A conservative rule of thumb is that an electric car gets 3 to 4 miles per kWh, Voelcker says. So divide the total miles you drive each month by 3 to get the kWh you would use monthly. Multiply that number by your cost per kWh. The dollar amount you get will most likely be lower than what you pay each month to buy gasoline.

To put this into perspective, lets give an example. Lets say you drive about 1,183 miles per month . For an EV, you will use about 394 kWh in that timeframe. Using the U.S. household average from June 2022 of about 15 cents per kWh, it would cost about $59 per month to charge an electric car.

Installing Charging Equipment In Your Home

EV owners may install Level 2 charging equipment in their homes for a faster charge, or opt for the Level 1 cordset provided with the vehicle as shown here.

Many EV owners are able to meet their daily driving range requirements by charging overnight with Level 1 equipment, requiring no additional cost or installation, provided that a power outlet on a dedicated branch circuit is available near their parking location. Level 2 charging equipment can be installed for drivers with less regular schedules, longer commutes, or EVs with large batteries that require more than overnight to fully charge. State and utility incentives may be available to help offset the cost of charging equipment.

Most Level 2 products have standard safety features and status lights. More advanced, “smart” Level 2 products have features such as data collection, user interface systems, enhanced displays, charging timers, communications capabilities, and keypads. Purchasing safety-certified equipment is recommended, such as the products certified under the ENERGY STAR label, which are tested by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, along with having a certified electrical contractor.

Electricians can inform homeowners whether their home has adequate electrical capacity for vehicle charging. Some homes might have insufficient electric capacity for Level 2 equipment. However, a qualified electrician can add circuits to accommodate the capacity needed for Level 2 charging.

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How Environmentally Friendly Are Electric Vehicles

While electric vehicles generally dont have tailpipe emissions, they can still indirectly contribute to emissions and pollution depending on how the electricity used to power electric vehicles is generated. Electricity grid power that was generated by fossil fuels going to fuel electric vehicles is only marginally better than gasoline fuelled vehicles emitting exhaust into the air.

Without investment towards cleaner energy sources, theres a limit to how much electric vehicles can benefit the environment.

Additionally, as stated by a CBC article, electric vehicle batteries require lithium mining, which is connected to environmental harm such as water supply contamination as well as emissions from processing.

Corporate Knights Inc. released a report where a modelling study found that all new cars and SUVs sold by 2030 were 100% electric, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 33 million tonnes per year. Additionally, if 75-80% of all new trucks were electrified by 2030, GHG emissions could be reduced by 30 Mt per year.

Are Public Electric Car Charging Stations Free

Were teaming up with @Hyundai on the pathway to electric mobility. Electrify America is providing 250 kilowatt-hours of complimentary charging at our stations for 2021 Kona and Ioniq Electric owners. Long drives in the #EV era are officially here to stay.

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There are many places you can charge your EV while on the road. According to EV Charging, there were 17,500 charging stations in 2019. Compare that to 168,000 gas stations. That is 1 in 74 public charging stations to 1 in 1600 gas stations.

The cost of charging can vary depending on where you live. California tends to be the most expensive state regarding kWh, which means you will be charged more for the same amount. The prices can also vary depending on the time. The best way to get up-to-date information about pricing is from the station you are at.

To combat this, most places offer various memberships. Some companies like Nissan, Hyundai, and Volkswagen have been including two years of membership with the purchase of an electric vehicle. With the purchase of the new ID.4, you get complimentary Level 2 fast charging at participating stations.

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How Much Does It Cost To Charge A Tesla Model S

As of August 2022, there are two versions of the Model S: Standard Dual Motor All-Wheel Drive and Plaid. Both come with a 100 kWh battery.

If you have the standard variant – which has an impressive range of 405 miles – it costs $17.55 for a full charge based on electricity prices of $0.15 per kWh and 85% charging efficiency.

That gives you a charge cost of $0.043 per mile or $4.33 per 100 miles.

Charging Station Tax Credit

Electric vehicle charging stations are eligible for a federal 30% tax credit for purchase and installation costs, up to $1,000 for residential and $30,000 for commercial. Electric car owners may also qualify for incentives offered by state and local governments and utility companies:

• Rebates Most utility companies provide rebates of up to 50% on the purchase and installation of Level 2 home charging stations. Wi-fi enabled stations are more likely to be eligible because utility companies use the data to distribute electricity more efficiently.
• Discounted Registration and Title Fees Some states provide EV buyers with discounts on sales tax, registration fees, and title fees.
• Access to Carpool Lanes Many states give EV owners access to high-occupancy vehicle lanes.
• Discounted Parking Some cities and local businesses offer free public parking for EVs.

The U.S. Department of Energy has a searchable database of incentives to help EV owners find rebates, tax credits, and utility incentives theyre eligible for based on location.

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The Most Popular Method: Home Charging

In general, most electric cars can travel 3 to 4 miles per kilowatt-hour of energy, according to the US Environmental Protection Agency. In 2021, residential electricity cost 13.73 cents per kWh on average, per the US Energy Information Administration. At that rate, someone who drives 1,000 miles per month would spend anywhere from $34 to $46 charging at home.

Fully recharging an electric car with a healthy range of 300 miles would require 75-100 kWh and cost $10-$14.

There are also some potential up-front costs to charging at home. All EVs come with a home-charging cable that plugs into a wall outlet and provides an extremely slow trickle of energy, approximately 3 to 6 miles of range per hour. This type of charging is known as Level 1.

For a quicker charge, many owners choose to install a more powerful Level 2 charger, which uses an upgraded 240-volt circuit to deliver some 20-40 miles of range per hour. Tesla’s Level 2 charger costs $550, and the company estimates an additional $750-$1,500 for an electrician to hook it up.

Can I Use An Economy 7 Meter To Charge My Electric Car

All EV tariffs require a smart meter to be installed in order to be eligible. However, if you have an Economy 7 meter installed, this means you already pay 2 rates for your electricity, with a set 7 hour off-peak window which usually falls somewhere between 10pm and 8am.

If you have an Economy 7 meter and are upgrading to a smart meter, then you’ll still pay 2 rates for your electricity and will already benefit from cheaper overnight charging. Generally speaking though, an EV tariff will offer a lower rate per kWh of electricity than an Economy 7 tariff, but for fewer off-peak hours.

In short, you can still keep an Economy 7 meter to charge you electric car provided you install a smart meter. Though, if you have a smart meter, you can use it to keep track of how much electricity you’re using and when, which will be useful information when comparing the rates for an Economy 7 tariff and a specialist EV tariff.

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Other Factors: Battery Capacity Efficiency And Driving Habits

Much like a gas tank, the bigger the battery, the more it costs to fill up. Smaller battery packs cost less but yield less mileage per charge than larger-capacity options.

For a real-world example, lets look at Hyundais Ioniq 5 EV. The base model has a 58 kWh battery. So a driver in Texas, where weve established the rate per kWh is 12.8 cents, would need to pay around $7.54 to charge it from empty at home. At a paid level 2 public charging station like this one in Houston, theyd pay $12.18 to charge a depleted battery at the max rate of $0.21/kWh. At this DCFC station near a Walmart owned by Electrify America, our hypothetical driver would pay $0.32 per minute at the max rate of 350kW of power, which adds up to $9.60 for half an hour of charge time.

Odds are, though, that the battery wont be depleted every time someone goes to a public charging station to top off. The rate paid will depend on how much power they actually end up using or, in the case of per-minute rates, how long they spend charging. Some stations charge a session fee of a few dollars in addition to the per kWh rate. If youre paying a subscription fee through a provider like EVgos app, thats another cost.

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What Are The Pros And Cons Of An Internal Combustion Engine Car

The upfront cost of ICE vehicles is usually lower, and you can find a wide range of new and used vehicles. Secondly, gas stations are widely available everywhere you go, so you don’t have to worry much about running out of gas.

On the downside, gas cars are more expensive to operate in the long run, and those costs are subject to wild fluctuations without much warning. They also contribute to climate change and other environmental hazards.

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