Cheapest way to Charge an Electric Car

One of the biggest benefits of driving an electric car, in addition to zero emissions, is lower running costs. There are fewer moving parts in an EV, so maintenance is naturally cheaper. However, the biggest talking point is how much it costs to charge and how driving electric is cheaper than an equivalent petrol or diesel car.

Something to keep in mind is that just like fuelling a petrol or diesel vehicle, there are expensive places to charge, and cheaper alternatives. Think of it as being like that pricey petrol station at a motorway services you tend to avoid versus your local supermarket – charging an EV is much the same.

Where is the cheapest place to charge?

Unless you can find a free public charger, or are lucky enough to have free charging facilities at work, you’ll find it’s cheapest to charge at home for most people. This is because you will pay a lower rate of tax on electricity at home and can charge at a slower rate for longer. A home wallbox charging at 7kW will serve you well, replenishing the battery in a few hours relatively cheaply. Schedule your vehicle to charge overnight at off-peak times and the savings can be even greater.

Public charging isn’t the worst option, and for those without access to off-street parking, it will be the normality. An increasing number of supermarkets are providing respectably priced rapid charging, meaning your EV can get a big battery boost in as little as 30 minutes. Slower chargers are typically cheaper, so there’s a balance to be found between the convenience of charging quickly and better value slow chargers. If your place of work has a charger, even if it isn’t free to use, destination charging could work out to be the perfect compromise.

The most expensive places to charge will be sites found on motorways or near seasonal tourist attractions. Just like pricey petrol stations, these chargers take advantage of their location and charge a premium. Sometimes it’s unavoidable on long trips that you’ll need to stop for a break and a top-up of electricity, but our advice would be to maybe leave the motorway and find a nearby café where the coffee will be cheaper as well as the charging.

The latest EVs such as the BMW i4, Mini Electric and Tesla Model Y come with excellent navigation systems that can easily find charging points in unfamiliar locations.

There are plenty of reasons to go electric, with cheaper running cost being just one of them. Find out more about Home Charging.