EV charging costs: what is really cheaper
Electricity vs. fuel – the honest comparison
The charging costs of an electric car depend on three factors: the vehicle’s electricity consumption (kWh/100 km, per the WLTP standard), the electricity price (€/kWh), and the distance driven. The formula: charging costs = distance / 100 × kWh/100 km × electricity price. At 500 km, 18 kWh/100 km, and €0.40/kWh (home electricity), this results in €36 – compared to around €63 for a petrol car with 7 L/100 km at €1.80/L.
The main cost driver for an EV is the charging location. Charging at home (wallbox or household socket) costs €0.28–0.40/kWh, depending on your household electricity tariff. Public standard chargers cost €0.35–0.55/kWh, fast chargers up to €0.79/kWh. Anyone who charges exclusively at fast chargers often pays more than with a comparable combustion engine car. Charging 80–90% at home achieves the biggest savings. A household electricity tariff with an EV-specific rate (night charging) can push the price below €0.25/kWh.
The WLTP consumption (Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicle Test Procedure) has been the type-approval value for new vehicles in the EU since 2018 and is more realistic than the older NEDC figure. Nevertheless, real-world values are typically 10–20% higher than the WLTP figure due to heating, air conditioning, motorway speeds, and cold weather. It is therefore advisable to enter a slightly higher value to obtain realistic costs.
For a complete cost calculation, in addition to energy costs you should also consider vehicle tax (EVs are tax-exempt in Germany for the first 10 years after first registration, up to 2030), car insurance (often more expensive for EVs), maintenance costs (EVs have fewer wear parts: no oil changes, less brake wear thanks to regenerative braking), and depreciation. Pure energy costs are generally significantly lower for an EV.