Electric cars are becoming increasingly popular as petrol costs increase and environmental issues become more relevant. Therefore, the first thing people want to know — before buying an electric vehicle — is how much it will cost them to charge the EV at home.
The cost of charging an EV = the battery size (kWh) x the cost of electricity from your provider (pence per kilowatt hour). It can cost around $3 to $10 for a full charge. However, installation costs of the charger and the type of charging used also play a big role in the overall cost of charging your EV at home.
Although charging your EV at home isn’t too expensive, there are numerous hidden charges related to the installation of the charging station. Moreover, the type of charging you use also plays a huge role in determining the overall cost. This guide will explain the cost of charging an EV at home to help you better understand.
Cost Of Charging An EV At Home
The cost of charging an EV depends on the cost of electricity in your location and the time of day you charge. Generally, most electric providers have both peak and off-peak hours costs, whereas off-peak hours (overnight) tend to have lower rates.
For most EVs, the average cost of charging a battery at night from empty to full is roughly $2.50. However, this cost can increase if you live in an area with higher energy bills. The typical monthly expense is $25 to $35 in electricity bills (for 30 miles), but the more you travel, the higher your monthly expenditure will be.
Setting Up A Charging Station At Home
Various EV manufacturers offer to set up their charging stations at your place, costing somewhere between $1,000-$2,000. If you’re looking to set up a charging station, here’s a table to roughly help you with the charging station installation costs of some popular brands:
| Brand | Costs to install |
| Webasto | $1,000 to $1,300 |
| Tesla | $1,100 to $1,600 |
| Bosch | $1,100 to $1,600 |
| Siemens | $1,200 to $1,400 |
Types Of EV Charging
The most frequent approach to viewing electric vehicle charging is through charging levels. Electric vehicles have three charging levels: Level 1, Level 2, and Level 3. Generally, the higher the level, the greater the energy consumption and cost of a full charge.
Level 1 EV Charging
Level 1 EV charger is the charger that comes when you purchase an electric car, or you can purchase a replacement from the market for $300. These chargers can connect to a typical 110/120v household outlet and are the most convenient way of charging your electric vehicle in your residential complex.
The great thing about this type of charging is that it has no installation cost. All you need to do is plug the cord into the AC outlet and your vehicle, and you’re good to go.
The charging cost is the least expensive option among other levels, as it consumes the least amount of electricity. It is also the most convenient, as 120v outlets
are readily available. However, level 1 chargers have very incredibly slow charging speeds, adding only 3 to 5 miles to your battery per hour, and typically take 24 hours to fully recharge your car, which is very inefficient and not feasible for all.
Level 2 EV Charging
Level 2 chargers are significantly costlier than level 1 but are more efficient. A level 2 charger will provide around 80 amps of power, which translates to 30-40 miles of charging in about an hour. To enable its fast charging speeds, Level 2 stations need a 240-volt outlet.
A level 2 home EV charger usually costs $300 to $1200 to install. You can even buy a portable level 2 charger and mount them in your garage. You can also customize the Level 2 chargers and add features such as WiFi for your convenience but they will cost extra money. Generally, it is recommended to install a level 2 EV charger as they are sufficient to meet the energy needs of a typical household.
Level 3 EV Charging
Level 3 charger stations can range from $12,000 to $35,000 for the charger and hardware alone. They have exceptionally quick charging speeds, fully charging a car in under an hour, and can even charge multiple cars at once.
While these speeds are very attractive, level 3 EV chargers are not designed for residential use, instead, they are meant to be used at commercial charging stations. This is because most homes can not accommodate them as they require 480 volts.
| Level 1 Charging | Level 2 Charging | Level 3 Charging |
| Adds 3-5 miles per hour | Adds 30-40 miles per hour | Full charge in an hour |
| $300 Replacement cost | $300-$1200 installation cost | $12,000-$35,000 installation cost |
Permits
You need to get a local authority’s permit before installing a charging station in your home. These permits assure you are following the electrical code for your safety. Since you will most likely install a level 2 charger for your electric vehicle in your home, you need to get a permit to access the higher voltage.
You should expect the permit to cost roughly $150, and an electrician can handle the process.
Labor Costs
Labor plays another crucial role in the overall cost of installing a charging station in your home. Installing a charger for your electric vehicle does not always demand the use of an electrician, although it is strongly suggested to do so for your security.
Labor costs tend to be subjective, depending on the area you reside in. Most electricians require between $400 to $800 based on the required work for a level 2 charging station, while a level 3 charging station tanks up labor costs between $2500-$6000.
FAQs
Q) Can I Install A Level 3 Charging Station At Home?
No. Level 3 charging stations are only used in industrial or commercial environments since they are costly and require specialized equipment which cannot be installed in most homes.
Q) How Much Does It Cost To Charge An EV At a Public Station?
All charging stations have different fees. While some cost around $2.50 to $3.50 an hour, some charging stations are free of cost. The exact rate varies according to the electricity cost in that city and the charging station’s overhead costs.
Q) Is It Safe To Install A Home Charging Station?
Home charging systems are perfectly safe to install as long as you do it with the help of a professional. Attempting to install the charging station yourself or buying one that hasn’t been safety-tested can be dangerous.
Conclusion
While numerous factors determine how much it costs to charge an EV at home, you’re probably looking at a figure somewhere around $1500 for the installation costs (for a level 2 charging station) and around $3 to $8 for a full charge.
In the long run, however, this can end up saving you a ton of cost on gas along with the time spent looking for and waiting at public charging stations.
More Pages On FAQ
There’s a bunch of news about how electric car charging methods are constantly being enhanced. Despite how frequently such anecdotes are told, they don’t accurately portray the reality of how the...
Although charging an electric vehicle isn't as expensive as filling a car up with gas, it can still be costly. While charging your electric car at home is pretty convenient, you will still have to...