Electric cars fall into two categories. Firstly, there are those that are fully electric and, then, there are those which are plug-in hybrids or PHEVs. Either way, car manufacturers tend to use the same sort of battery technologies for both types. What this means is that the car charging cost for each type is comparable. In other words, although you would spend more charging up an all-electric car because has a bigger battery than a PHEV, the cost per mile will be similar. So, what is the car charging cost you’ll expect to face when switching from fossil fuel?
Factors to Consider With Electric Car Charging Costs
To begin with, there is more than one way to charge an electric car. You can use a standard three-pin plug outlet for most cars. This is the slowest way to recharge either an all-electric or a PHEV. If you invest in a 7 kW wallbox to speed the process up, then you’ll face some upfront costs but you can make the money back over time. Expect to pay about £625 for one of these.
If you opt for a 22 kW wallbox that is even more effective, then you can expect to pay in the region of £800. These tend to be installed at workplaces rather than in people’s homes. So, the best thing to do is to recharge your car when you’re at the office, of course.
Another option is to use a public charging station. These are becoming increasingly common at service stations and filling stations. According to Gridserve, the company that’s taken over many of these since September 2021, the car charging cost per kW ranges between 24 and 30 pence, depending on the location.
How Much Will You Spend Per Mile?
Remember that your electric car charging cost will vary depending on your utility supplier’s tariff. When charging from home, it is better to do so overnight since this is the time when electricity is cheaper and you can save the most. To compare:
- A VW ID.3 all-electric would typically cost about £13 to fully recharge at home. That equates to just under five pence per mile on the road.
- According to the latest research, a Tesla Model S will cost about £16 to full recharge while a Nissan Leaf’s smaller battery comes in at around £6. Either way, that still means driving at between four and five pence per mile.
- A typical PHEV, such as a Ford Kuga, would cost about £2.20 to charge its 14.4 kWh battery. For that, you’d get a reasonable 7.4 pence per mile.
- Another popular PHEV, the BMW 530e, costs aboue £2 to charge and offers fuel economy at 7 pence per mile.