Estimate what charging an electric car costs: battery capacity times the percentage you charge, divided by charger efficiency, times your electricity price. Works for home, public AC, and DC fast charging.
EV charging cost
Work out what a charge costs: battery size × charged percentage × your electricity price, adjusted for charging losses. Cost = kWh drawn from the grid × price per kWh.
Energy from the grid: 50 kWh
Cost of this charge: 15
Full 0–100% charge would cost: 25
Uses whatever currency your price is in. Home tariffs, public AC, and DC fast charging often have very different per-kWh prices—run the numbers per charger.
How to use EV charging cost
- Enter your battery size in kWh (check your car’s spec sheet).
- Enter the price you pay per kWh for this charger or tariff.
- Set the charge window (for example 20% to 80%) and efficiency.
- Read the energy drawn from the grid and the cost.
Example: A 75 kWh battery from 20% to 80% at 0.30 per kWh and 90% efficiency costs about 15.
Frequently asked questions
- Why is the energy from the grid more than what goes into the battery?
- Charging loses some energy as heat in the onboard charger and cables—typically 5–15% on home AC charging. You pay for the grid side, so the calculator includes it.
- Why do people charge to 80% instead of 100%?
- Charging slows sharply above roughly 80%, and staying between about 20% and 80% is gentler on battery longevity for daily use. Charging to 100% before a long trip is fine.
- Does this work for any currency?
- Yes. Enter the price in whatever currency you pay and the cost comes out in the same currency—the math does not care about the symbol.