How Much Does It Really Cost To Use a Home EV Charger?
Installing an electric car charger at home doesn't only give you more control over how and when you charge your car—you can also save a whole lot of money compared to public charging.
But how much money are we talking? What does it cost to charge an electric car at home, and why do some EV drivers end up paying more than others? We're breaking down the ins and outs of home charging costs in this guide.
How is EV Charging Measured?
First, let's look at how your home charger is measured in terms of electricity use, since this affects how much you'll pay to charge your electric car.
Energy use for an EV charger is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), which is the same unit your electricity provider uses when they calculate your bills. For some context, 1 kWh is the amount of energy needed to run a 1,000-watt appliance for a single hour.
That makes it pretty easy to work out how much energy is needed to charge your EV. Let's say your car has a 60 kWh battery—in this case, charging it from empty to full will use around 60 kWh.
In reality, you will rarely (if ever) charge your car's battery from empty, but we're just using this as an example as it's a simple way to estimate energy usage for charging.
What To Know About The UK's Electricity Rates
The biggest factor that'll affect the cost of charging an electric vehicle at home is your electricity tariff. The electricity rates in the UK are around 25p to 35p per kWh if you're on a standard variable tariff, but the exact price you'll pay depends on your supplier and where you live—and rates can change (read: increase).
For the sake of this example, let's keep it simple and assume that you're on a rate of 30p per kWh. In this case, charging your car's 60 kWh battery from 0 to 100% will cost £18.
If your energy supplier offers EV tariffs with cheaper off-peak rates, these are definitely something you should take advantage of. Essentially, you'll be able to charge your car during certain hours—usually overnight—for much less than you'd pay usually.
For example, if you're with a supplier that offers night rates of 7.5p per kWh, what would usually cost you £18 for a full charge will only cost you £4.50.
The easiest way to take advantage of these rates is to get your hands on a smart charger (alternatively, your car will need to be able to schedule charging). That way, you can plug your car in anytime rather than having to wait until electricity is cheapest, so charging will automatically start when you want it to without your input.
How Much Will You Actually Spend on Electric Car Charging Per Month?
The exact cost of home-charging an EV depends on a few things, including:
- How often your car battery needs charging, and how much charging it requires per charge
- The age of your car and its battery health (new electric cars have a better battery capacity, so they need charging less frequently and therefore cost less to charge per month)
- Your supplier's energy prices
- The size of your vehicle's battery
- Whether you can take advantage of an off-peak rate
We're also assuming here that you only charge your electric car at home, or you do occasionally succumb to public charging but just want to know the cost of home charging.
The average person drives around 100 to 250 miles a week, so assuming you drive around 200 miles a week and your car uses 4 miles per kWh, you’ll use 50 kWh of electricity.
Sticking with the same rate of 30p per kWh, that means you'll spend around £15 per week, or around £60 per month, to charge your EV. If you're only ever charging when you can take advantage of a cheaper off-peak rate like 7.5p, the same driving costs under £4 per week—around £16 per month. That's a lot cheaper than the cost to run a petrol or diesel car (which comes to around £220 a month on average).
The more efficient your car is, the lower your cost per mile. So if you've got a compact EV, it might manage 5 miles per kWh, but if you own a larger SUV, this could use closer to 3.5 miles per kWh.
How Much Does it Cost to Get a Home Charger Installed?
If you haven't yet installed a dedicated electric car charger, your first question might be: "How much does installation cost?"
The price of a wall box charger depends on the charger model, as well as a few variable features (like cable length), and how difficult the installation process will be; for instance:
- Installing a home charger on a wall near your electricity supply will be easier than a distance from your home at an off-street parking spot
- You might need parts of your electrical system upgraded, depending on the current state of your fuse box, which will add to the up-front costs
- Your installer might also deduce that you need a load management system to prevent the charger from overloading the circuit, which you'll also need to pay for upfront
That said, most people spend between £800 and £1,200 on a standard electric car charging setup. If you want a more accurate quote based on your specific situation, contact us today. We're more than happy to discuss what you're looking for and provide you with a free estimate for home charging point installation.
More on Electric Vehicle Home Charging Costs: FAQ
Want to know even more about how much it costs to charge an electric car with a home charger? You'll find all the additional info in our FAQ section.
Are There Any UK Government Grants For Charging an Electric Car At Home?
Yes, if you're an individual homeowner, there are a couple of niche grants that you may be able to apply for to partially or fully fund installing a home charging point. The Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme used to exist, but this ended in early 2022. Now, there's just the OZEV scheme, which offers several different grants, including for flat owners and those who rent their homes, and for people who need to install a cross-pavement charging solution for off-street parking.
How Can I Charge My Electric Car As Cheaply As Possible?
To charge your EV as cheaply as possible using a home charger, you'll want to switch to an energy supplier that offers EV tariffs with lower energy prices during off-peak hours, then charge your car only during these times. Failing that, some businesses offer workplace charging points in their staff car parks, which will give you access to heavily discounted or even free charging (although we're not suggesting you switch careers specifically for this perk).
Does EV Charging Speed Affect Price?
Let's say you get your own charger installed at your home that's specifically designed for EVs. Given the faster charging speeds, will you spend less to charge your car because it's plugged in for less time? Unfortunately, no: the price you'll pay is based on how much energy is used during the charging process, not how long your car is plugged in. A 60 kWh charge will cost the same whether it takes two hours or ten. The only thing that changes is how long it takes to deliver that energy. So, even the most rapid charging solution you can get your hands on will have the same energy cost.
How Does the Cost of Home Charging Compare To Using Public EV Charge Points?
Different chargers have different costs, but in nearly every case, charging your electric car at home is going to be a lot cheaper than using a public charging station. Public chargers generally cost between 40p and 85p per kWh, with ultra-rapid public chargers usually expecting you to fork out the most for the convenience. You might come across a non-rapid charger every now and again, but many of these have some kind of restriction (like customer use only) that means they're not technically "free".
Making the switch from a petrol or diesel car to electric driving is much easier when you have your own cost-effective charging setup at home. Whether you're after a standard installation or your situation is a bit more complex, we're here to install the right OZEV-approved electric car charger for you.
Get a quote for your EV chargepoint installation here.
