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Bradford, West Yorkshire
Bradford, West Yorkshire

With Electric Vehicles (EVs) becoming increasingly popular in the UK, many people are wondering about the cost of charging them.

While the initial price tag for an EV may be higher than a traditional fuel-powered vehicle, the long-term savings on fuel and maintenance can be significant.

However, depending on the type of charger you use and where you are charging your car, the cost of charging an electric vehicle in the UK may vary.

Electricity prices in the UK have been rising in recent years, and are expected to continue to do so in the future.

However, there are still some ways to save on your EV charging costs. 

How much does it cost to charge my EV at home?

Charging an Electric Vehicle at home is one of the most popular ways to charge up, and it’s generally considered to be one of the cheapest options too.


To obtain a preliminary idea of how much an Electric Vehicle will raise your monthly electric cost, you must know the following:

  • The number of miles travelled each month.
  • The efficiency of the EV is measured in kilowatt-hour (kWh) per mile.
  • Cost per kWh in cents calculated locally

The price you pay for electricity will vary depending on where you live in the UK, but as a general rule you can expect to pay around 10p – 12p per kWh.

So, if your EV has a battery that’s around 30 kWh, it would cost between £3 and £4 to fully charge it at home.

To have more of an idea of how much it will cost, look at your home energy bill, and look at the kWh.

Take the whole cost of your previous power bill and divide by kWh used to obtain a precise cost per kWh.

This includes any fees or charges that come with supplying electricity to your home, so it will reflect all costs.

How much does it cost to charge my EV at public charging points?

The cost of charging an Electric Vehicle can vary depending on a number of factors;

  • the location
  • the type of EV you own
  • the network you use
  • the type of charger you use

Some motorway services are now providing charging stations for Electric Vehicles, which can be used for a charge.

The price of using these motorway chargers varies, but on average it costs around £6 to charge an EV per hour.

The cost of using a public charger to charge your Electric Vehicle is determined by the network you choose.

Some networks, like Ecotricity, offer free charging for members, while others charge a fee.

Slow chargers take longer to charge your EV and are less expensive to use.

Slow chargers, which can take four to six hours to fully charge a car, are available in most cities.

There are approximately 9,000 slow charger stations throughout the UK.

EV chargers are becoming increasingly common at workplaces, with many providing free charging to staff.

The Three Main Types of Chargers

Slow, rapid, and fast chargers are the three most common kinds of chargers.

A slow charger, for example, might supply 3kW of power and take six to eight hours to fully charge an electric vehicle.

There are three types of slow chargers:

1) Single-phase (3kW or 6kW)

2) Three-phase (up to 22kW, depending on the make and model)

3) CHAdeMO (500V DC, up to 50kW)

The fastest charging equipment, called quick chargers, can supply up to 22 kW of power and charge an electric car from 0% to 80% in 30 minutes.
 

Rapid chargers are even faster, taking just 10-15 minutes to provide a full charge.

Tips on how to SAVE money when charging an EV

With electricity prices set to increase again, here are some tips on how you can save money when charging your EV.

Use a smart charger


A smart charger will only charge your EV when electricity is at its cheapest.

This could be during the night, or at certain times of day.

Charge during off-peak hours


If you can’t use a smart charger, try to charge your EV during off-peak hours.

This is usually overnight, when there is less demand for electricity.

Find the cheapest places to charge

There are a number of websites and apps that can help you find the cheapest places to charge your EV.

Use a home charger

If you have a home charger, you may be able to get a discount on your electricity bill.

Check with your energy supplier to see if they offer this.

Take advantage of Government schemes

The UK Government offers a number of schemes to help EV owners with the cost of charging their vehicle.

These include the Electric Vehicle Home charge Scheme and the Electric Vehicle Workplace Charging Scheme.

By following these tips, you can save money on the cost of charging your Electric Vehicle.

With prices set to continue rising, now is the time to start saving.

Electricity vs Fuel Costs

While it may be true that electric vehicles are presently less expensive to operate than comparable fuel-powered cars, there are many variables and factors to take into account.

For example, the extra cost of purchasing an EV and installing home-charging equipment doesn’t guarantee a fast return right away.

With electricity prices rising, charging an EV could mean a sharp increase, but in most cases, the cost is considerably lower than fuelling a petrol or diesel powered car.

Want more knowledge about EV’s or Hybrid’s?

We offer a variety of courses that can give you the information you need about Electric and Hybrid vehicles.

Hybrid Training Course, Level 1 – Raise Awareness
Hybrid/ EV Training Course, Level 2 – Light Vehicles 
Hybrid Training Course, Level 2 – Buses 
Hybrid Training Course, Level 2 – HGV’s
Hybrid Training Course Level 3 – Cars

The Level 1 Hybrid and Electric Training Course, is to raise awareness of Hybrid and Electric Vehicles. This course is aimed at anyone that may come into contact with Hybrid and Electric Vehicles.

Level 2 Hybrid and Electric Light Vehicle Training Course, Level 2 HGV Training Course and Level 2 Buses Training Course. The Level 2 course is aimed at mechanics and car valeters.

The Level 3 Hybrid and Electric Training Course, is aimed at technicians and mechanics.

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