How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car
In Australia, it can cost anywhere from $0.30 – $0.60 per kWh to charge an electric vehicle (EV). This equates to around $11.50 – $23 to fully charge a small electric vehicle or about $22.50 – $45 to fully charge a larger long-distance electric vehicle.
The most important factor to consider when calculating charging costs is the type of EV charger you will be using. Typically, it costs more to charge an electric vehicle at a rapid charging station but the charging time is decreased to only a matter of minutes (as opposed to a matter of hours or days):
- Level 3 Public Charging Stations usually charge about $0.30 – $0.60 per kWh
- Level 2 Public Charging Stations usually charge about $0.20 – $0.25 per kWh
- Level 1 Home Charging Stations usually cost about $0.15 -0.30 per kWh
Better yet, EV drivers can save almost $3 per day by making the most of the free 7.5kWh charge available at JOLT rapid charging stations. With only a 7 kWh free charge, JOLT users can gain ~45km of range – enough for the average daily commute in Australia!
Below, we will discuss how much it costs to charge an electric vehicle at a level 1, 2 and 3 charging station. We will also provide more handy hints about how to save money while charging your electric vehicle and how to calculate charging costs for yourself.
Electric Vehicle Charging Cost
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Vehicle At A Public Charging Station
Much like traditional petrol service stations, the cost of charging your electric vehicle at a public charging station varies depending on:
- Which company provides the public charging station and the rates they charge
- The EV charger type and charging level
- The area in which the public charging station is located and the demand to use that charger (i.e. peak periods).
Level 3 Public Charging Station
It costs about $0.40 – $0.60 per kWh to charge your electric vehicle at a level 3 EV charging station.
To put this into perspective, we have calculated how much it costs to fully charge some of Australia’s most popular electric vehicles at a level 3 public charging station (based on an average rate of $0.55 per kWh):
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric (290km / 38.3kWh): $21.07
- Nissan Leaf (385km / 60kWh): $33.00
- Hyundai Kona Electric (450km / 65kWh): $35.75
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD (520km / 75kWh): $41.25
However, JOLT provides drivers with a free 7 kWh charge every day at our level 3 fast-charging stations. This means that you may save anywhere from $3.00 to $4.50 every time you choose to charge at a JOLT charging station.
Level 3 chargers are the fastest EV chargers on the market and are typically only found at public charging stations. They are designed for drivers who want to quickly recharge their electric vehicle in a matter of minutes. For example, a free 7 kWh charge at a JOLT EV charging station will provide your vehicle with on average 45km of range in only 15 minutes. That’s enough range to cover the average daily commute in Australia.
Level 2 Public Charging Station
Comparatively, it costs about $0.20- $0.25 per kWh to charge your electric car at a level 2 EV charging station.
Again, we’ll put this into perspective by breaking down how much it costs to fully charge some of Australia’s most popular electric cars at a level 2 public charging station (based on an average rate of $0.225 per kWh):
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric (290km / 38.3kWh): $8.62
- Nissan Leaf (385km / 60kWh): $13.50
- Hyundai Kona Electric (450km / 65kWh): $14.63
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD (520km / 75kWh): $16.88
Level 2 chargers are often found in shopping centres and office blocks (so be aware that additional costs such as paid parking fees may also apply). They are designed for drivers who want to charge their electric car over an extended period (i.e. 5 – 12 hours).
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Vehicle At Home
The cost of charging your electric car at home varies depending:
- Your electricity rates
- Whether you charge during peak hours
- The type of charger that you use.
It costs about $0.20 per kWh to charge an electric car at home. This is based on the average cost of residential electricity in Australia. However, be aware that rates vary depending on your location and hours of usage.
To put this into perspective, here is how much it costs to fully charge some of Australia’s most popular electric cars at home (based on an average rate of $0.20per kWh):
- Hyundai Ioniq Electric (290km / 38.3kWh): $7.66
- Nissan Leaf (385km / 60kWh): $12.00
- Hyundai Kona Electric (450km / 65kWh): $13.00
- Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD (520km / 75kWh): $15.00
Don’t forget to also account for the cost of buying and installing an EV charging station for your home. Most electric cars come with a level 1 charger included, which allows you to trickle charge your EV from a 240v socket over long periods (8 – 40+ hours depending on the size of the car battery). However, if you want to have a level 2 charger professionally installed in your garage, this will cost you extra. A level 2 charger itself usually costs between $900 – $2,000 whilst professional installation is typically around $800 – $2,000.
How to Calculate the Cost of Charging Your Electric Vehicle
Calculating how much it costs to charge your electric car is easy.
At traditional service stations, the cost of filling a petrol or diesel-powered car is found by multiplying the size of the tank by the petrol price (e.g. 80L x 1.40 per L = $112). Similarly, the cost of charging an electric car is found by multiplying the size of the battery by the applicable electricity rate (e.g. 65kWh x 0.55 per kWh = $35.75).
To calculate how much it costs to fully charge your electric car, simply check the electricity rate at home or your local charging station and multiply it by the size of your EV battery. The formula is:
EV Battery Size (kWh) x Electricity Rate ($ per kWh) = Charging Cost ($)
Join JOLT Today
JOLT is dedicated to building a free fast-charging network across Australia, powered by 100% certified green energy. Our mission is to accelerate the electrification of transport in Australia by removing the barriers to EV ownership (range anxiety and expense). Start using JOLT’s free fast chargers today by downloading our app on the App Store or Google Play.
