What Is The Cost Of Charging An Electric Car At Home?
Energy prices in the UK have been at the forefront of discussion and of people’s minds since 2020 when we first saw the rise. More people are now adopting EVs and therefore, more people are looking at the most accessible and affordable charging solutions - which is where home charging comes into the picture. This blog explains how energy pricing works in the UK whilst giving you all the information you need to understand how home charging works.
Average Cost Of Charging An EV At Home
The cost of charging your EV will depend on the car you drive and the size of the battery - the larger the battery, the more expensive your charging will be. On average it will cost around £13 to charge an EV at home. This is the most cost-effective method because public charging stations use rapid or ultra-rapid chargers, consuming higher amounts of electricity to charge your car at a quicker rate.
We have compiled three different-sized cars with different-sized batteries to show you how much it would cost to charge your electric car at home. The three cars are Mini Cooper Electric, BYD Dolphin and the Hyundai Ioniq 6 electric saloon.
| Car Make & Model | Battery Size (kWh) | Range (Miles) | Fully Charge Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mini Cooper Electric | 33 | 143 | £8.91 |
| BYD Dolphin Hatchback | 60 | 265 | £16.51 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 77 | 323 | £20.79 |
Different Tariffs For Charging At Home
Fast chargers (7-22kW) are the most common home chargers and can charge a car in around 3-4 hours, depending on the battery size and current state of charge. Whereas DC rapid chargers, which you can find publicly and are rated at 50kW can charge an EV from empty to 80% in less than an hour. Most network rapid chargers cost 74p/kWh which is about £19 for 30 minutes of charging (as of May 2023).
There are two main types of home charging tariffs for electric vehicles:
Two-Rate ‘Time of Use’ Tariffs - These tariffs have cheaper off-peak rates at night and higher on-peak rates during the day.
Single-Rate Tariffs - These tariffs have consistent pricing throughout the day.
The Electric Car Scheme Has Partnered With OVO
At The Electric Car Scheme, we have partnered with OVO to offer customers 6,000 free miles of EV charging via their dedicated EV charging add-on. OVO’s Charge Anytime EV tariff uses smart technology which means drivers can always smart charge their car at the greenest times and at a super low rate. The app automatically charges your car when rates are lowest, costing just 2p per mile, meaning you could power your EV for as little as £200 a year.
How Fast Can You Charge Your Car At Home?
Electric car charging speeds are measured in kilowatts (kW). A standard 3-pin plug (for off-street or home charging) typically operates at 2.3 kW, adding up to 8 miles of range per hour. In contrast, dedicated home chargers—or long-stay public chargers—run at 7 kW, providing approximately 15-30 miles of range per hour.
Here are some typical home charging speeds and how long they take to charge a car:
3.6kW or 7kW - this is the most common home charger speed and can add between 15 to 30 miles of range per hour of charging. It would take a 7kW charger around 8 hours to charge a 60kWh battery!
Domestic socket (2.4kW) - it can take 10 hours to charge a car to 80%,
Refilling Your Petrol Or Diesel Car Vs EV Charging
EV charging is significantly cheaper than filling a petrol or diesel car, especially if you charge at home most of the time. Here are the kinds of savings you can expect:
| undefined | Powertrain | Approximate Cost per Mile | Approximate Annual Fuel Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Volkswagen ID.3 | Electric | 6.2p | £630 |
| Ford Focus | Diesel | 12.1p | £1,230 |
Electricity prices in the UK
The average cost of charging an electric car at home in the UK is approximately £13 per full charge, depending on battery size and local electricity rates. With an average rate of £0.30 per kWh, a typical EV costs around £10 for a 200-mile range.
The energy price cap in the UK is set by Ofgem, the body that regulates energy suppliers in the UK, and it limits the amount a supplier can charge for their default tariff. The price cap for a typical household that uses electricity and gas and pays by Direct Debit between October 1 and December 31st of 2024, is £1,717 per year. This is a 10% increase from the cap set between July 1 and September 30, 2024, which was £1,568.
The current cost of 1kWh of energy is 27p per kWh, but this can fluctuate depending on what region of the UK you are in.
Our Marketing Director, Gaurav, shares his experience charging the Tesla Model 3 Performance
“In the past 6 months, I’ve driven my Tesla Model 3 Performance almost 14,000 miles using 4,393 kWh of electricity, costing £806. Charging mainly at home on a smart EV tariff, I saved £1,440 on fuel, avoiding petrol stations and fuel costs entirely.
My 200-mile round trip commute from Warwickshire to West London is easily covered on a single charge, with some battery left over. Carpooling with my colleague, Cameron, further cuts our costs. Contrary to some beliefs, my Tesla handles long commutes and winter weather smoothly, making EVs a great choice for everyday travel.”
How To Choose A Home EV Charger
At The Electric Car Scheme, we have partnered with Smart Home Charge, so The Electric Car Scheme customers can also save on the cost of installing their EV home charger through salary sacrifice. There are five key factors to consider before choosing the right home charger for you and your circumstances, these include your budget, whether you need a tethered or un-tethered charger, connectivity, kerb appeal and their unique features.
Choosing The Right Charger For Your Budget
Low-Cost Chargers
waEV EV1i - capable but affordable home charger,
Ohme Pod - has the same features of the Ohme Home Pro, but doesn’t come with a cable attached.
Mid-Range Chargers
Easee One - offers both untethered and tethered functionality and has great features at a reasonable price,
Ohme Home Pod - good upgrade from the Ohme Pod, but without the need for an earth rod.
Premium Chargers
Andersen A2 - higher quality and comes in a range of stylish finishes!
For more details about choosing the right home charger for your circumstances, visit Smart Home Charge’s blog.
FAQs about charging your car at home
When clients switch to an EV, one of their top concerns is home charging. Here are some of the most common questions they ask:
How much does it cost to install an EV charger at home?
According to Boxt, an electric car charger has an installation cost of around £800 to £1,000, and you can expect to pay around £1,145 for a smart car charger.
At The Electric Car Scheme, you can include a new charge point as part of your salary sacrifice package. This allows you to pay for it out of your gross salary and enjoy full tax savings on the charger too, which can typically save between £300-£600!
What is the best time to charge my car at home?
Generally, it makes sense to charge your EV overnight because many utility companies offer lower rates for night-time electricity usage but also because there is less energy demand. Another perk to this is that charging efficiency increases overnight because as the temperature drops, your EV battery’s capacity increases.
Does charging your car at home increase your energy bill?
Yes, charging an EV at home will increase your electricity bill. According to EDF Energy, ‘on a standard tariff of around 28p/kWh, buying an extra 2,000kWh of electricity could mean you pay around £560 extra a year, or an increase to your monthly payment of around £47 per month.’
Is it worth getting a home charger installed?
Yes, it is worth getting a home charger installed (and we’re not just saying that because we’re slightly biased). Public charge points can be notably more expensive compared to home charging and having your own charger offers immense convenience.
Having a home charger will also add value to your house, because as EV adoption increases so will homes with chargers. Of 1,000 houses, 76% of UK homes with an EV charger showed an increase in value, when compared to the local average.
To find out more about The Electric Car Scheme’s all-inclusive bundle, visit our page about home charging. Or if you don’t have The Electric Car Scheme at your company and want to learn more about how it works, visit this page here.
Last reviewed: 06/11/2024
Our pricing is based on data collected from The Electric Car Scheme quote tool. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All prices above are based on the following lease terms; 10,000 miles pa, 36 months, and are inclusive of Maintenance and Breakdown Cover. The Electric Car Scheme’s terms and conditions apply. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The above prices were calculated using a flat payment profile. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of your salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608), is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender or insurance provider.
