How to Calculate Charging Cost?

Formulas and practical examples for calculating charging cost per kilometer at home, work, and public charging stations.

The Core Cost Formula

The cost of charging an electric vehicle depends on 4 core variables: battery capacity, charging ratio, kWh unit price, and charging efficiency.

Cost = (Capacity × Charging Ratio) × Unit Price / Efficiency
Battery Capacity (kWh)
The total energy storage capacity of your vehicle's battery (e.g., 88.5 kWh for Togg T10X, 75 kWh for Tesla Model Y).
Charging Ratio (%)
The percentage of charge to be added to the battery during the session (e.g., to charge from 20% to 80%, this ratio is 60%, or 0.60).
kWh Unit Price ($/€/TL)
The tariff for 1 kWh of electricity or service at the charging location (e.g., ~$0.15/kWh at home, ~$0.45-0.65/kWh at DC fast stations).
Charging Efficiency (%)
Compensates for the energy drawn from the grid but lost as heat during conversion (e.g., ~88-90% for AC, ~92-95% for DC).

Practical Charging Examples

A comparison of charging costs for a vehicle with a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% (60% charge, or 36 kWh of net energy) in 3 different scenarios:

Scenario 1: Home Charging (Single-phase AC)

Charging using home electricity rates (average ~$0.15 / kWh).
$6.00
36 kWh Net Charge
Accounting for 90% efficiency, 40 kWh is drawn from the grid. Total cost: 40 × $0.15 = $6.00. Cost per km is extremely low!

Scenario 2: Public AC Charging Station

Standard AC charging at streets or malls (average ~$0.35 / kWh).
$14.00
36 kWh Net Charge
At 90% AC efficiency, 40 kWh is drawn from the grid. Total cost: 40 × $0.35 = $14.00.

Scenario 3: Public DC Fast Charging

150+ kW DC fast charging on highways or city centers (average ~$0.55 / kWh).
$23.22
36 kWh Net Charge
At 92.5% DC efficiency, ~38.9 kWh is drawn from the grid. Total cost: 38.9 × $0.55 = $23.22.

3 Golden Rules to Reduce Costs

You can apply these strategies to minimize your charging costs in everyday EV use.

1. Charge During Off-Peak Hours

By switching to a time-of-use tariff and charging your vehicle during cheap night rates (typically 22:00 - 06:00), you can cut your home charging costs in half.

2. Stop Charging at 80%

Batteries charge much slower after reaching 80% capacity, and heat losses increase. Waiting past 80% at DC fast chargers is a waste of both time and money.

3. Leverage Membership & Subscription Benefits

Signing up to the mobile apps of the charging operators you use frequently or buying monthly subscription packages can save you 20-40% on kWh prices.

Calculate Your Cost Instantly

Use our interactive AC/DC calculators to see your exact charging cost in seconds based on your vehicle's make/model and the latest prices of your preferred operators.

EV Charging Analysis