At present, many people are switching from internal combustion engine cars to electric cars. Electric cars are prevalent all over the world, and many car manufacturing companies are increasing the production of electric vehicles almost all over the world.
A lot of research is being done to make electric cars perform well at low cost so that their performance can be improved and maintenance costs can be reduced.
But the price of battery-charged electric vehicles remains a big question among people. People want to know how much cheaper the charging cost of electric cars can be compared to fuel-powered electric cars.
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An Electric Car?
Typically, the cost of charging electric cars depends on the storage capacity of the battery and the electric charge rates in the United States. A Level 1 charger can cost 15 cents to 18 cents per kWh, a Level 2 charger can cost between $0.25 and $0.30 per kWh, and a Level 3 charger can cost $0.45 to $0.65 per kWh.
Looking at the electricity bill, home electricity rates paid in the United States can range from 13 cents to 17 cents per kilowatt hour and it depends on where you live?
And do you have rates for peak and non-peak times of the day? Due to which your electricity rates can be more or less under hourly and it also depends on the Miles reading of your vehicle in the month. How many cars do you drive in a month? And how much do you charge your car’s battery in a month?
NOTE – The actual cost of charging an electric car depends on the electricity rates in different cities and the time of day or night, as well as the type of charging that can affect this cost.
Cost Of Charging An EV At Home
What do you pay to charge an electric vehicle? These charging costs vary depending on your location. This is because the cost of electricity varies from state to state.
For example, the average cost of electricity in California is about 18 cents per kilowatt hour.
That means that if you charge a Nissan Leaf, With a 40 kWh battery and a full charge from 0 to 100 percent, it will cost you around $7.20, keep in mind that it can range around 150 miles depending on the battery range of the Nissan Leaf.
Those figures from the Nissan Leaf can give you an idea of how much you’ll pay weekly on a charge. If you drive about 30 miles a day, that means that a $7.20 charging Nissan Leaf battery with 20K of power will last up to 5 days. Keep in mind that this calculation is based on California home and residential electricity tariff rates.
Level 2 & Faster Charging Cost
If you prefer to use public charging for charging an electric car battery, be prepared to pay more, no matter how you pay. This may vary from one charging network to another. For example, for some charging networks, you may be charged due to state rules and restrictions on the actual cost of the charge.
And how long does your charging take instead of paying the cost of electricity over multiple charging networks. Based on that, the cost of charging the electric car battery can be calculated. You can expect to pay up to 30 cents per kilowatt hour for charging an EV on the public charging network in California.
And up to 40 cents can be charged on a kilowatt hour or dc fast charge on a public level 2 charger. Using a Nissan Leaf as an example, a full charge of a 40 kWh battery from 0 to 100 percent can cost you around $12 to $16 for a full charge.
How You Can Reduce Your Charging Cost?
You can cut down on your charging costs by following these steps.
1. Opportunities To Charge For Free
Usually hotels, resorts and places of luxury offer free charge to their customers and guests. Ask the front desk, “Where is their charger located?”
And charge more, thus if you ever go on a long trip, or stay for a while in a resort or luxury hotel. And these places provide the facility of free charging. Then you can reduce the charging cost of your electric car to a great extent.
2. Set Charging Time
Scheduling your charging time can affect the charging cost to a great extent. Whenever the electricity rates of your state are cheap. For this, you can check electricity bill payment. And during off- peak periods happen. because utility companies encourage users to use their power.
when there is less demand on the grid, offering you lower rates per kilowatt hour. There are usually off-peak hours during the night.
So if you set your own time, you can save a lot of money by charging at night instead of during the day. And the rate per kilowatt hour can reach low.
3. At Least Use Dead Brakes
Use regenerative braking as much as possible while running off your battery. Because with regenerative braking, you are able to draw power from the movement of the wheels and transfer it back to the battery, which gives you a slightly longer distance. And this also helps your car’s brake pads last longer.
Because you are not too dependent on brakes. as many as you want. Doing so will cause some slowing down by regeneration number four, avoiding rapid acceleration and deceleration.
4. Avoid Rapid Acceleration
This is because, when you accelerate, you get a lot of power from the batteries. Therefore, the charging storage of the battery decreases very rapidly.
And when you suddenly slow down the car, again, you use more of the actual on-board brakes over regenerative braking. which means that you are looting the power battery. These tips will help you reduce your charging costs.
Types Of EV Charging Station Network & Charging Cost
There are three main types of charging networks for charging the batteries of electric vehicles. These different charging networks have different charging times and charging charges.
1. Level 1 Charging: 120-Volt
The slowest type of charger It may take a full 24 hours for your car to be fully charged. You can use this type of charge to charge your car battery at home. In Level 1 charging networks, you will be required to pay the charging cost based on the tariff rates for your state’s electricity.
For example, the average cost of electricity in California is around 15 cents to 18 cents per kilowatt hour, and a full charge of a 40 kWh battery will cost up to $7.20.
2. Level 2 Charging: 208-Volt to 240-Volt
Chargers in this category give you a charge of up to 28 mph. Level 2 costs between $1 and $5 per hour. But chargers in this category provide faster charging in less time.
Due to this, time savings are possible. These types of charging stations are usually found at shopping centers, although most are easily found in other public places.
3. Level 3 Charging: 400-Volt to 900-Volt (DC Fast Charge & Supercharging)
Also known as a direct-current fast charger (DCFC), Level 3 chargers are the fastest. They can charge your battery almost completely in about an hour.
And will cost between $8 and $25 per charge. These costs depend on the kilowatt-hour storage capacity of your vehicle’s battery.
FAQ’S
Q. Is it free to charge an electric car in a supermarket?
Yes, some supermarkets offer free electric charging. In these supermarkets, if you purchase useful goods at a fixed rate, then you get this facility. Fast charging is usually provided with 7- or 22-kWh chargers in supermarkets.
Q. Is charging an electric car cheaper than petrol?
Charging an electric car is about 60% to 80% cheaper than filling it up with gasoline. However, replacing batteries in electric cars after the warranty has expired can be a cost issue.
Q. How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Generally, the time taken to charge an electric car depends on the speed of the charging point. The minimum time for charging electric cars can be 30 minutes, and the maximum time can be up to 12 hours. Charging a 60 kWh battery electric car takes about 7 to 8 hours at 7 kW charging points.
Banty is the owner of Autorepairszone.com & is also a vehicle mechanic by profession. We have almost 12 years of experience in the field of automotive repair, and we strive to provide you with accurate information about vehicle malfunctions and repairs based on our experience.