One of the biggest advantages of driving an electric car is its low running costs. But how exactly do we calculate how much it costs to charge it?
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Charging cost calculation
The basis of the calculation is simple:
Charging cost (HUF) = Battery capacity (kWh) × Electricity price (HUF/kWh)
For example, if the car battery is 60 kWh and the electricity price is 70 HUF/kWh (home charging at market price), then:
60 × 70 = 4200 HUF is the price of a full charge.
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Comparison of home, public AC and DC charging
Home charging (market price):
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Electricity price: 70 HUF/kWh
- Charging cost: 4200 HUF
- With charging loss (5–15%): 4410–4830 HUF
Public AC charging:
- Electricity price: 170 HUF/kWh
- Charging cost: 10,200 HUF
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With charging loss: 10,710–11,730 HUF
DC lightning charging:
- Electricity price: 250 HUF/kWh
- Charging cost: 15,000 HUF
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With charging loss: 15,750–17,250 HUF
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Solar system advantage
If you charge your car with solar panels at home and use the energy directly during daytime production, the cost of charging can be as low as zero forints . This makes the investment particularly profitable in the long term, especially with high annual mileage.
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Hidden costs: charging loss
During charging, 5–15% of energy is lost, which must be taken from the network, but the car cannot utilize it. For example, charging a 60 kWh battery actually requires 63–69 kWh of energy. This is also worth considering in your calculations.
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Comparison with a gasoline car
An electric car requires an average of 14–18 kWh/100 km of energy. Based on this, the costs for different charging methods are:
|
Charging method |
Price (HUF/kWh) |
Cost per 100 km |
|
Home (normal market price) |
70 |
980–1260 HUF |
|
AC public (22kW) |
170 |
2380–3060 HUF |
|
DC lightning charging (up to ~100kW) |
250 |
3500–4500 HUF |
|
Gasoline (7.5 l / 100 km, HUF 600/l) |
— |
4500 HUF |
Critical note:
Electric vehicles are most economical when they are mainly charged at home or with solar panels . DC charging can reach the same price as gasoline vehicles , especially over long distances and with frequent use. Public AC charging can be an intermediate solution, but is not ideal for regular use.
