Charging Your Electric Vehicle at Home: Cost-effective and Convenient

Living in the age of electric vehicles (EVs) offers a number of benefits, not least of which is the convenience and cost-effectiveness of charging at home. In this article, we'll explore the details of home charging, its costs, and how it compares to charging at public stations.

How People Charge Their EVs at Home

Installing a home charging station for your EV offers several advantages. Some owners install relays that allow the charger to activate when solar power is available, making the charging process free or significantly cheaper. For example, if you have a setup that triggers the charger when the sun is shining, you might spend around ￡50 for a very gradual but free charge that provides about 10 miles per hour.

Basic Setup

The fundamental requirement for charging your EV at home is a wall outlet with a suitable power rating. Following that, the only additional costs come in the form of your electricity bill. There are instances, like in certain parts of Finland, where electricity prices fluctuate hourly. Utilizing this could require additional automation to optimize charges.

The Cost of Charging at Home

The cost of charging your EV at home is generally quite low, especially when compared to gasoline. In the UK, the average cost of charging at home has been about ￡0.09 per mile over the last four years. This beats the price of petrol, which can be nearly double per mile, especially considering the additional taxes.

Calculation Example

For instance, driving an EV might cost you around ￡6.80 per gallon (￡1.50 per litre) for a vehicle that gets 35 miles per gallon, equating to ￡0.19 per mile. In contrast, petrol would cost approximately ￡0.38 per mile, which is about four times more costly for a long journey.

Charging Frequency and Automation

Your EV's charger operates at a Level 2 rate, typically plugging into a 240 V 3-prong outlet, similar to one used for a clothes dryer. Most owners set a routine that involves charging the vehicle at least once every three days, when they return home. Most EVs can be programmed to start charging at a specific time, like 10:00 PM, and will continue charging until the battery hits a certain percentage, usually around 80%, 90%, or even 100% if a longer drive is anticipated. In my case, my drive of about 1000 miles per month usually means the car charges for 4 to 6 hours before turning off.

Cost Breakdown

A typical power cost is about 17 cents per kilowatt-hour (KWH). Given the rate I mentioned, the charge takes about 1 dollar to add 25 miles to the vehicle. Over the course of a month, this adds up to approximately 40 dollars in total. This is significantly less than the cost of 1000 miles of driving with a traditional gasoline car, which would be much higher.

Comparing Home and Public Charging

Public charging stations can be costly, often around twice the rate of home charging. For instance, when traveling, you might incur about ￡30 for 250 miles of travel, which is equivalent to over 120 dollars at the typical US charging rates.

By managing your charging habits with automation, you can minimize your electricity costs and ensure your EV stays charged without incurring unnecessary expenses. The convenience of charging at home, combined with the lower costs, makes it a smart decision for many EV owners.