EV home charging cost per year: a practical estimate
Use annual distance, energy per 100 km, charging losses and your electricity tariff to budget home charging.
Start with energy used on the road
Annual battery energy = annual distance ÷ 100 × consumption in kWh per 100 km. For 15,000 km at 18 kWh/100 km, the battery needs 2,700 kWh. Consumption changes with speed, weather, terrain and accessories; use a realistic figure rather than only a test-cycle rating.
Account for energy drawn from the wall
With a planning charging efficiency of 90%, grid energy is 2,700 ÷ 0.90 = 3,000 kWh. At 0.20 per kWh, annual energy cost is 600, or about 0.04 per km. This example does not include demand charges, standing charges, installation or public charging.
Compare scenarios fairly
Use the tariff that applies to the additional home usage, including time-of-use periods if relevant. If you regularly charge away from home, calculate those sessions separately. Compare a petrol vehicle on the same annual mileage and include maintenance and depreciation for a full ownership comparison.
Try it and keep reading
Try your numbers in ev charging cost, ev range. Then read the related guide for context and assumptions.