How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car
in Australia? Charging a small electric car to full capacity for a
100-kilometer range costs between $11.50 and $22.50, depending on where you
charge the EV, battery capacity, and charger type.
Australia is joining the rest of the world in
electrifying its roadways and migrating away from polluting internal combustion
engines in favor of cleaner, quieter, and more efficient electric vehicles.
The New South Wales Electric Vehicle Strategy
aims to have 52% of new car sales be electric by 2030, as the state aspires for
Net Zero emissions by 2050 to battle climate change.
You may also use the Electric Vehicle Council’s
cost calculator to see how much it costs to charge an EV vs a gas or diesel
engine.
According to leading electric car websites and
EV charging station operators, the cost of charging an electric vehicle is
governed by three key factors:
●
You can charge at home or a
commercial charging station.
●
What type of charging station do
you use?
●
The size of the battery in the
electric car
Calculate the cost of recharging
an electric vehicle at home.
The cost of filling up your tank in a
conventional gasoline or diesel car is straightforward to calculate. Simply
increase the tank capacity.
For example, a 60-liter gasoline tank at $1.50
per liter would cost $90.
Similarly, for an EV, multiply the battery size
by the cost unit to calculate the kWh rate.
Assuming a 60kWh battery and a power rate of
$0.50 per kWh, charging your EV would cost $35.75.
This is all dependent on the car’s model and
battery size.
You can also save money by installing rooftop
solar and charging your EV during low-rate periods, such as early in the
morning.
To summarize, the calculation is as follows:
Charging cost is calculated by multiplying the EV battery size (kWh) by the
electricity rate ($ per kWh).
Don’t forget to include the cost of obtaining
and installing an EV charging station in your home.
Most electric vehicles include a level 1
charger, which allows you to gradually charge your EV from a 240v plug over an
extended period (8 – 40+ hours, depending on the size of the car battery).
If you want a level 2 charger professionally
installed in your garage, the cost will increase. A level 2 charger is normally
priced between $900 and $2,000, with expert installation costing from $800 to
$2,000.
Charging an electric car at home in Australia
costs between $0.15 and $0.30 per kWh, according to standard residential power
pricing.
Here’s the cost of fully charging some of
Australia’s most popular electric vehicles at home (based on an average rate of
$0.20 per kWh):
●
Hyundai Ioniq Electric (290km /
38.3kWh): $7.66
●
Nissan Leaf (385km / 60kWh):
$12.00
●
Hyundai Kona Electric (450km /
65kWh): $13.00
●
Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD
(520km / 75kWh): $15.00
How much does it cost to charge
your electric vehicle at a charging station?
Businesses are also realizing the advantages of
hosting EV charging stations. However, the cost of charging your vehicle varies
according to the charging station you select.
A rapid charging station will charge you faster
than a slower charging station. Charge your electric vehicle at a rapid
charging station.
Level 3 fast public charging stations typically
charge $0.30 to $0.60 per kWh.
These are the fastest EV chargers on the market,
and they are often found in public charging stations. They are designed for
those who want to charge their electric vehicle in minutes.
Jolt, an electric vehicle charging provider, did
research to evaluate the costs of charging the following EVs at a fast-charging
station (based on an average rate of $0.55 per kWh):
●
Hyundai Ioniq Electric (290 km,
38.3 kWh): $21.07
●
Nissan Leaf (385 kilometers/60
kWh): $33.00
●
Hyundai Kona Electric (450 km, 65
kWh): $35.75
●
Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD (520
km/75 kWh): $41.25.
Level 2 Charging stations
Level 2 public charging stations typically
charge $0.20 to $0.25 per kWh. Level 2 charges are usually available in
shopping malls and office buildings (although be aware that extra expenses,
such as paid parking, may apply).
They are meant for drivers who want to charge
their electric vehicles over an extended period (often 5 to 12 hours).
At an average of $0.225 per kWh, it costs:
●
Hyundai Ioniq Electric (290 km,
38.3 kWh): $8.62
●
Nissan Leaf (385 kilometers/60
kWh): $13.50
●
Hyundai Kona Electric (450km /
65kWh) costs $14.63.
●
Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD
(520km / 75kWh) costs $16.88.
Free charging at rapid stations
EV drivers can benefit from free, rapid charging
services. Some providers will give you a free charge, especially if you charge
your vehicle to capacity.
What factors influence the cost
of charging an electric vehicle at home?
1. Vehicle battery size
The unit of measurement is kilowatts (kWh).
A kilowatt equals 1000 watts.
Higher kilowatts result in a longer range,
however, larger batteries require longer charging periods.
Larger batteries require more energy to fully
charge.
Smaller batteries demand more frequent charging.
Smaller batteries are best for short-distance
driving in towns and cities, whereas larger batteries are better for
long-distance commuting.
2. Usage & Daily miles
driven
●
The farther you drive, the more
kWh you’ll consume.
●
The length of your daily commute
affects frequency.
●
Stop-start journeys consume more
energy than constant speeds.
●
Properly maintained tires generate
less frictiHowhich you drive your vehicle, such as rapid acceleration, affects
the amount of kWh used.
3. Vehicle Weight and Design
Lighter automobiles consume fewer kWh, and
heavier vehicles use more. Smaller kWh batteries are lighter, and larger kWh
batteries are heavier.
Other considerations include wheel size and tire
quality, battery life, circuit efficiency, heat loss, aerodynamics, and shape.
How much does it cost to run an
electric car in Ireland?
The average cost of charging an electric car
from empty to full, based on 54 kWh, is around €9.10, while the average monthly
cost of keeping an electric vehicle charged is around €36.00.
This information is based on your EV being fully
charged at home once each week. Another advantage of electric vehicles is that
they require far less maintenance and are not subject to road tax.
Can I save money by driving an
EV?
Electric car owners may expect to save an
average of €57 per month on petrol alone, or €804 per year because EVs are
generally less expensive than fossil fuel vehicles.
It’s also worth noting that oil and filter
changes, which add €116 to the cost of an annual service for electric vehicles,
are not required.
Eliminating the combustion engine vehicle’s
fossil fuel-based parts and components results in a €920 savings.