EV Charging Cost Calculator
Calculate charging costs and compare them directly with fuel costs
Calculated in your browser – your inputs are not transmitted and are kept on this device only if you choose
WLTP figure per manufacturer (real-world consumption often +10–20%) · home electricity approx. €0.28–0.40/kWh, public fast charger €0.50–0.79/kWh
Charging losses and public chargingLoss 0 %, public 0 %
If the consumption comes from the on-board computer, charging losses are missing – then add a surcharge (assumption 10–15 %). For manufacturer figures usually leave at 0.
Example value – enter the price of your charging tariff.
Charging costs
€36.00
€36.00500 km at 18 kWh/100 km cost you €36.00 in electricity.
Savings compared with combustion car+€27.00
Combustion car: €63.00 at 7 L/100 km and 1.8 €/L.
How this was calculated
RZ-26 · headon.pro
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 first registered by the end of 2030 are tax-exempt in Germany for 10 years from first registration, at the latest until the end of 2035, § 3d KraftStG), 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.
Consumption and charging costs at a glance
Typical values by vehicle category
- Small cars: 13–16 kWh
- e.g. Fiat 500e, VW ID.3 – very efficient, ideal for the city
- Compact class: 15–19 kWh
- e.g. Tesla Model 3, BMW i4 – well-balanced
- SUV: 18–25 kWh
- e.g. VW ID.4, Audi Q4 e-tron – higher consumption due to weight
- Home electricity: €0.28–0.40/kWh
- The cheapest way to charge; a wallbox or special tariff is recommended
- Fast charger: €0.50–0.79/kWh
- Convenient on the go, but significantly more expensive than charging at home
- Night charging: under €0.25/kWh
- EV-specific tariffs or heat-pump tariffs enable low prices
Calculation examples
- Distance
- 500 km
- EV consumption (WLTP)
- 18 kWh/100 km
- Electricity price
- €0.40/kWh
- EV charging costs
- €36.00
- Combustion engine (7 L, €1.80/L)
- €63.00
- EV savings
- €27.00
- Distance
- 300 km
- EV consumption
- 20 kWh/100 km
- Fast charger price
- €0.65/kWh
- EV charging costs
- €39.00
- Combustion engine (6.5 L, €1.80/L)
- €35.10
Frequently asked questions about the EV charging cost calculator
Everything about charging costs, consumption, and the combustion-engine comparison
How do I calculate my electric car’s charging costs?
The formula is: charging costs = (distance in km / 100) × consumption in kWh/100 km × electricity price in €/kWh. At 500 km, 18 kWh/100 km, and €0.40/kWh, this results in: 5 × 18 × 0.40 = €36. Charging at home is significantly cheaper than at public fast-charging stations, where prices of €0.50–0.79/kWh are common.
Is an electric car really cheaper than a combustion engine car?
In terms of pure fuel costs, yes: charged at home (approx. €0.30–0.40/kWh), an EV costs around €5–8 per 100 km, while a combustion engine car with 7 L/100 km at €1.80/L costs €12.60. That is a saving of around €4–7 per 100 km. Over 15,000 km/year, that amounts to €600–1,050 less in energy costs. Charging exclusively at expensive fast-charging stations (€0.75/kWh) can, however, cancel out this advantage.
How much electricity does an average electric car consume?
The WLTP consumption of modern EVs ranges between 13 kWh/100 km (small cars like the Fiat 500e) and 25 kWh/100 km (large SUVs like the Audi Q8 e-tron). Popular models: Tesla Model 3 approx. 14–16 kWh, VW ID.4 approx. 17–20 kWh, BMW i4 approx. 16–19 kWh. In real-world driving, consumption is typically 10–20% higher than the WLTP figure due to heating, air conditioning, and driving style.
What does charging at a public charging station cost?
Prices vary considerably. Standard chargers (AC, 11–22 kW): €0.35–0.55/kWh. Fast chargers (DC, 50–150 kW): €0.50–0.69/kWh. Ionity and other high-power chargers (up to 350 kW): €0.69–0.79/kWh (with a subscription) or up to €0.99/kWh without one. Some providers also charge a per-minute fee. Anyone who charges almost exclusively in public should factor the higher costs into their calculation.
Is a home wallbox worthwhile for an electric car?
Yes, in most cases. A wallbox (11 kW) including installation costs around €1,000–2,000. In return, you charge safely and significantly more cheaply than at public stations. Charging 10,000 km/year at home, with a €0.30/kWh difference between home electricity and a fast charger (e.g. €0.35 vs. €0.65) and consumption of 18 kWh/100 km, you save around 18 × 100 × 0.30 = €540/year. The wallbox therefore pays for itself in 2–4 years.