How Can I Charge My Electric Car at Home?

People new to electric cars often ask, ‘How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?’. Understanding the cost of charging an EV at home is crucial, as you need to ensure your vehicle of choice fits your budget before applying for a new car finance deal.

At Car Finance 247, we pride ourselves on being a premier car finance broker with expert knowledge about the world of vehicle financing. We believe in breaking down the barriers to car ownership, aiming to provide our clients with all the information they could ever need to source the right vehicle for their needs.

Read on to find out more about the cost of electric car charging at home.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?

So, how much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?

It's difficult to give an exact answer to this question, as the cost of charging an electric vehicle depends on several factors:

• The EV efficiency of your car - Usually quoted as miles per kWh, your EV efficiency is similar to the miles per gallon (MPG) associated with petrol and diesel cars. The more efficient your vehicle is, the less it will cost you to use a charging point. 
• Charging losses - An electric car will usually require more energy to charge than the battery can hold, as energy is needed to move the electricity from the charger to the car's battery.
• Your battery size - The larger your battery, the more it will cost to fully charge your vehicle. However, you'll usually get a longer range with a larger battery.
• Your electricity provider and tariff - The electricity provider and tariff you use at home will also have an impact on the cost of charging an EV.

Whilst we can't state for definite how much it will cost to charge your car at a home charging point, we can provide an estimate based on average electricity rates. According to Pod Point, the average cost of charging an electric car at home is around £17 for a full charge, rising to around £26 for a public charge.

Hopefully, this information should give you a better idea of how much it costs to charge an electric vehicle from a home charging station. As you can see, charging from home tends to be cheaper than using a public charging station, costing an average of 24.5p per mile at the standard charging rate. 

Is it cheaper to charge electric cars at home or in public?

It's usually cheaper to charge an electric car from home than from a public charging point, although we understand that home charging might not always be possible from a practical standpoint. However, public charging points should still be cheaper than filling up a petrol/diesel car, so financing an electric car is still a viable option for budget-conscious drivers.

Rapid charging points can be rather pricey, but they're usually only found at motorway service stations and are unlikely to be part of your daily routine, so it's not worth worrying about. If you drive a Tesla, you may be able to access the Tesla Supercharger Network, which offers a range of free and pay-to-use charging options across the UK. 

You can find more information about your local Supercharger points here.

Is home charging cheaper than filling up a diesel or petrol car?

Whilst the cost of charging electric vehicles may seem high, it's usually cheaper than filling up a car with a traditional internal combustion engine (ICE). Your cost savings will depend on the type of charger used, but even with rapid chargers, it's likely that you'll spend less money in the long run. If you're primarily charging your car at home, it's unlikely you'll need to use rapid chargers that often. 

As previously stated above, the average cost of charging an electric car at home is around the £17 mark, which is clearly a lot cheaper than filling up the tank of a diesel or petrol car.

Of course, you also need to factor in the cost of getting a charging point installed at your house. However, many employers are now introducing electric car salary sacrifice schemes with lower finance payments and free charging point installation at home, so it's worth checking with your workplace first. Even if you don't have a driveway, there are plenty of ways to charge your car without using fast charging stations, so it's not something you should worry too much about.

How do I charge an electric car without a driveway?

Electric car charging points at home are usually situated in driveways, allowing greater access for your vehicle. However, if you don't have a driveway, there are several options available to you if you’re considering buying an electric car:

• Use charging stations at work - Of course, your workplace may not have a charge point for electric vehicles, but if it does, it can make the process of charging your car much easier. If your workplace doesn't have charging stations, it's worth speaking to your HR rep to see if they can get one installed.
• Use a residential car park or street parking - Some cities have public charge points on residential streets, often attached to lamp posts. If you live near a street or a residential car park with charging points, you may be able to use them regularly to charge your car.
• Share a charger with a friend - If you know someone with an electric vehicle, it's worth asking them if they'll let you share their charge point. 
• Use the public charging network - If you're unable to follow the other steps laid out above, you could still consider using a public charging point. Supermarkets, petrol stations and a range of other commercial businesses have started introducing charging points into their premises in advance of the 2030 ban on new electric cars. It may cost more to charge your car in a public place, but it should still be cheaper than filling up a traditional ICE vehicle.

As you can see, there are a range of options available to you, even if you're unable to charge your car at home. However, it's usually cheaper to use a home charging point, so we'd still recommend having one installed if possible.

Upgrade to an electric vehicle today

We hope that we’ve managed to answer your question about the cost of charging an electric car at home. Electric vehicles are the future of the modern car industry, so if you’re considering financing a new car, it’s definitely worth considering an EV for your new ride. 

At Car Finance 247, we offer a range of Hire Purchase (HP) and Personal Contract Purchase (PCP) deals, with negative equity and bad credit car finance options also available.

To see what your new electric car finance deal could look like, get your free quote today!