How the EV Charging Cost Calculator Works
Our formula-based EV charging cost calculator provides estimates based on your vehicle's usable battery capacity, current state of charge, and target charge percentage. It factors in AC charging losses to calculate how much electricity your charger will pull from the grid, allowing you to estimate session costs using your local electricity rate.
EV Charging Cost Formula
To estimate the grid-energy cost of a charging session, the calculator accounts for energy added to the battery and the applicable charging-efficiency factor.
- Battery energy added: Usable battery capacity Γ (target charge % β current charge %) Γ· 100
- Wall energy required: Battery energy added Γ· charging efficiency
- Charging cost: Wall energy required Γ electricity rate per kWh
How to Calculate EV Charging Time
This estimator uses a linear AC charging-time calculation suitable for preliminary home and Level 2 charging estimates.
Estimated charging time = Required wall energy Γ· charger power
Note: Actual AC charging speed may be limited by your vehicle's maximum AC acceptance limit. This calculator assumes your charger output is the primary limiting factor.
Full Charge Versus Partial Charge
Calculating a charge from 20% to 80% requires significantly less energy and time than a 0% to 100% calculation. For daily driving, many drivers charge partially to cover their commute rather than fully charging every night.
EV Charging Cost Per Kilometre or Mile
When an EV model is selected, the calculator uses its the efficiency value associated with the selected EV model to determine the cost per distance. The formula is:
- Cost per 100 km (or miles): (Vehicle efficiency consumption Γ· charging efficiency) Γ electricity rate
This allows you to calculate your electricity rate and appliance cost in equivalent terms of vehicle operation.
What Affects EV Charging Cost and Time?
The calculator models several core factors:
- Battery capacity: Larger batteries require more energy.
- Charge levels: The difference between your starting and target percentages.
- Electricity rate: The price per kWh from your utility.
- Charger power: Higher kW reduces estimated time.
- Charging efficiency: Modelled using the calculatorβs applicable efficiency factor. For example, 90% efficiency means approximately 10% of the wall energy is lost during charging.
Real-world factors not modeled include extreme temperatures, battery conditioning overhead, and DC fast-charging tapers.
Estimating Home and Public EV Charging Costs
You may manually enter a public or DC fast-charging price to estimate the energy-cost component. The charging-time calculation is designed primarily for AC charging. It does not model DC charging taper, dynamic power curves, session fees, membership fees or idle fees. Therefore, the cost input may be used for a preliminary public-charging estimate, but the calculated charging time should not be presented as a complete DC fast-charging prediction.
Understanding Your Results
- Estimated Session Cost: The estimated price for the single charging session.
- Estimated Charging Time: Approximate hours and minutes based on the entered charger power and the calculator's charging assumptions.
- Estimated Range Added: Estimated driving range gained, based on the efficiency value associated with the selected EV model.
- Grid Energy: The total kWh drawn from the wall, including charging losses.
- Estimated Monthly / Annual Cost: Extrapolated costs based on your specified annual mileage.
What the Estimate Includes and Excludes
Included
- Usable battery capacity
- Charge-level difference
- Electricity rate per kWh
- Charger power
- AC charging efficiency factor and estimated losses
Excluded
- Utility fixed charges & taxes
- Public session or idle fees
- Battery temperature variations
- DC fast-charging tapers
- Vehicle internal power limits
Worked Example
This is a hypothetical example using illustrative values; enter your local currency and electricity rate for a personalised estimate.
Suppose you charge a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% at home, using a 90% efficient charger, and your electricity rate is $0.15 per kWh:
- Energy needed: 60 kWh Γ 60% = 36 kWh
- Grid energy drawn: 36 kWh Γ· 0.90 = 40 kWh
- Total Cost: 40 kWh Γ $0.15 = $6.00