How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Of course, the prices vary, but with the grant, you can expect to pay around £400 for a home charger.

The not-so-good news is that the government pulled the plug on the funding for this scheme for home-owners who reside in single-unit properties (bungalows, detached, semi-detached and terraced housing) in April 2022. As a result, you’re now only eligible for the grant if you’re the owner of a flat or apartment with dedicated off-street parking or live in rented accommodation (and have the landlord’s permission).

If you live in Scotland, bear in mind that the authorities there will add an extra £400 on top of the OZEV funding.

Also keep in mind that if you’re a homeowner in a single-unit property and still haven’t bought your EV, a number of manufacturers are still offering a free wallbox and installation when you buy one of their electric models.

How much will it cost at a public charging station?

It’s possible to use the factory-supplied three-pin plug charger when refilling your EV’s cells, but charging times are lengthy and most manufacturers claim this device is for emergency use only. Either way, if you’re committed to EV ownership and you have access to a driveway or garage, it’s always best to use a dedicated wall-mounted unit, which can charge at up to 7kW, more than twice as fast as the three-pin alternative.

There are a number of different manufacturers to choose from, plus a choice of tethered (with a charging cable permanently attached) or untethered (allowing you to choose different sockets and cables for different cars) layouts.

Regardless of which one makes most sense for your EV, you will need a qualified electrician to check your household wiring is up to the task and then to install the box.

Again, this is dependent on your car and the way you use it, because there are numerous options when it comes to public charging stations. For instance, if you only need to charge when out and about infrequently, then a pay-as-you-go method is possible, costing between 20p and 70p per kWh, depending on whether you’re using a fast or rapid charger, the latter costing more to use.