EV Charging Cost Calculator (Cost & Time)

EV Charging Cost & Time – Compact
Home/public tariff per kWh
Losses plug→battery
Energy = (Target − Start) × Battery / 100
Typical 14–20 kWh/100km
Energy to add
–
kWh (battery)
From grid
–
kWh incl. losses
Charge time
–
hh:mm
Cost to charge
–
to target %
Trip energy
–
kWh (battery)
Grid energy
–
kWh incl. losses
Trip cost
–
total
Cost per distance
–
/mi • /km

Electric Car Charging Cost Calculator (kWh, kW, Time)

Use this EV charging cost calculator to estimate how much a charge will cost and how long it will take. Enter your electricity price per kWh, charger power (kW) and either your battery % targets or trip distance and efficiency. Works worldwide with USD, EUR, GBP and more.

How to use the EV charging cost calculator

  • Enter your price per kWh (home or public rate).
  • Add charger power (kW) and set charging efficiency (90% default).
  • Choose a mode:
    • Battery %: set battery size (kWh), start % → target %.
    • Trip: enter distance (mi/km) and efficiency (kWh/100km, mi/kWh, or Wh/mi).
  • Press Calculate to see energy (kWh), charge time, total cost, and cost per mile/km.

What your results mean

  • Energy to add (kWh): Energy stored in the battery to hit your target or complete your trip.
  • Energy from grid (kWh): Battery energy plus charging losses (efficiency).
  • Charge time: Grid kWh ÷ charger kW (approx.; DC fast charging tapers at high SOC).
  • Cost: Grid kWh × price per kWh.
  • Cost per distance: Trip charging cost split per mile and per kilometre.

Quick example

  • Price: $0.30/kWh, Charger: 7 kW, Efficiency: 90%
  • Battery: 60 kWh, 20% → 80%
  • Energy to add = (80−20)% × 60 = 36.0 kWh (battery)
  • Grid energy = 36.0 ÷ 0.90 = 40.0 kWh
  • Time = 40.0 ÷ 7 ≈ 5 h 43 min
  • Cost = 40.0 × $0.30 = $12.00

Efficiency units explained (choose whichever your car/app shows)

  • kWh/100km: energy per 100 km. Lower is better.
  • mi/kWh: miles per kWh. Higher is better.
  • Wh/mi: watt-hours per mile. Lower is better.

Conversions

  • mi/kWh ↔ kWh/100km: kWh/100km = 62.137 / (mi/kWh)
  • Wh/mi ↔ kWh/100km: kWh/100km = (Wh/mi × 0.62137) / 10

Home vs public charging (typical considerations)

  • Home: usually cheapest, especially off-peak or EV tariffs; slower (3–11 kW).
  • Public AC: 7–22 kW; cost varies by network and parking rules.
  • DC fast: 50–350 kW; fastest but often priciest; expect tapering after ~60–80% SOC.

Ways to reduce your charging cost

  • Charge off-peak if your utility offers cheaper night rates.
  • Precondition the battery on cold days to improve efficiency and speed.
  • Avoid charging to 100% daily; stay within the efficient mid-range when possible.
  • Plan trips to minimise high-speed, headwind and elevation penalties.
  • Keep tyres at recommended pressure and remove roof boxes/racks when not needed.

Frequently asked questions (use these for FAQ schema)

Q1. How do I calculate EV charging cost?
Cost = (Energy from grid in kWh) × (Price per kWh). The calculator estimates grid energy from your inputs and charging efficiency.

Q2. Why is “energy from grid” higher than “energy to add”?
Because some energy is lost as heat and system overhead during charging. That’s why we apply charging efficiency (e.g., 90%).

Q3. Do I need charger kW for trip mode?
No. Trip mode estimates energy and cost. Charger kW is only required to estimate time in battery-% mode.

Q4. What charging efficiency should I use?
90% is a reasonable default for AC charging. Fast DC sessions and cold weather can reduce efficiency.

Q5. Can I compare home vs public prices?
Yes—run the calculator twice with your home rate and again with a public rate to compare cost and time.

Q6. Does charging slow down after 80%?
Often yes, especially on DC fast chargers. Time estimates at high states of charge can be optimistic.

Q7. Which efficiency unit is best?
Use whatever your car or app provides. The calculator supports kWh/100km, mi/kWh, and Wh/mi and converts internally.

Q8. Why do my real costs differ from estimates?
Temperature, speed, elevation, HVAC, tyres, wind and battery conditioning all affect efficiency and charging losses.

Q9. Does currency change the calculation?
Only the display. We calculate energy the same way and then show costs in your chosen currency.

Q10. Is any data stored?
Inputs are processed locally in your browser; recent values may be saved to local storage so you don’t have to retype them.

Related Calculators

Was this calculator helpful?

Rate your experience to help us improve.

Thanks for rating! See the average and total ratings above.

Not rated yet—be the first to rate this calculator.