Electric Car Charging Cost Calculator
Written by Thierno Sadou Diallo, formula verified per our methodology • Last checked on 9/8/2026
The cost of a charge is calculated with battery capacity (kWh) × percentage to charge × price per kWh. For a 60 kWh battery charged to 80% at the regulated rate (€0.2001/kWh), the charge costs about €9.60.
Explanation
The cost of charging an electric car at home depends on three factors: the battery's total capacity (expressed in kilowatt-hours, kWh, and stated in the vehicle's technical sheet), the share of that capacity actually charged (charging from 20% to 100% only consumes 80% of the total capacity, not 100%), and the price paid per kilowatt-hour. This calculation assumes charging at home, on a personal outlet or charging point billed at the household's electricity rate — the most common and least expensive situation for most everyday trips. Charging at a public fast-charging station, on the other hand, often follows different pricing (subscription, per-session flat fee, per-minute rate, or a marked-up price per kWh), which can be noticeably higher than the default domestic rate used here: this calculator therefore gives a low, reference estimate, to adjust with the actual rate of the charging point used if it is not a home charge. Charging efficiency (the energy losses between the outlet and the battery, generally a few percent) is also not accounted for, which makes the estimate slightly optimistic compared with the consumption actually measured on the meter. To compare this cost with a more typical electrical use, see our electricity consumption calculator; and to not forget the residual consumption of a charger left plugged in between charges, our standby power cost calculator.
Example: a 60 kWh battery charged to 80%
Inputs
Battery capacity: 60 kWh. Charge: 80%. Price per kWh: €0.2001.
Calculation
Energy charged = 60 × (80 ÷ 100) = 48 kWh. Cost = 48 × 0.2001 ≈ €9.60.
Result
This charge costs about €9.60 at the regulated rate.
Frequently asked questions
Why not simply multiply the battery's total capacity by the price per kWh?
Because a charge rarely starts from a completely empty battery and rarely targets 100% every time: charging from 20% to 100%, for example, only consumes 80% of the battery's total capacity, not all of it. The percentage to charge lets you estimate the actual cost of the session, not that of a full charge from zero.
Why can the actual cost be higher at a public charging station?
Public charging stations, particularly fast-charging ones, often bill at a rate different from the domestic electricity price: a monthly subscription, a per-session flat fee, per-minute billing, or a marked-up price per kWh to cover the station's installation and maintenance costs. The regulated rate used by default in this calculator corresponds to a home charge, generally the least expensive option.
Does the calculation account for energy losses during charging?
No, this calculator estimates the energy delivered to the battery, without the losses related to charger efficiency (generally a few percent between the electricity drawn from the meter and the energy actually stored in the battery). The actual cost measured on the meter may therefore be slightly higher than the result shown here.