EV charging cost and time calculator
Choose your car and charging method to see how long it will take, what it will cost and how many miles it could add.
Your result
Choose your car to see the charging time, cost and range added.
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- Charging time
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- Estimated cost
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- Estimated range added
See calculation details
- Battery percentage added
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- Energy added to the battery
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- Electricity drawn from the charger
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- Pence per mile
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- Effective charging speed
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- Charging efficiency
- 90%
- Vehicle charging limit
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- Rate and price source
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Useful to know
Why can my car charge more slowly than the charger?
The charger and the car each have a maximum rate, and the lower one wins. A car that accepts 11 kW AC charges at 11 kW on a 22 kW charger. A 150 kW rapid charger is only the most it can supply: your car may accept less, and a cold battery or a shared charger can reduce it further.
Why does rapid charging slow above 80%?
A nearly full battery cannot safely accept energy as quickly, so the car steps the power down to protect the cells and control heat. That is why rapid-charging stops usually end around 80%, and why this calculator slows the rate as the battery fills.
What charging speed can I have at home?
A three-pin socket supplies about 2.3 kW. A dedicated home charger on a normal single-phase supply gives up to 7.4 kW, roughly three times faster. 11 kW or 22 kW needs a three-phase supply, which most UK homes do not have, and a car that accepts that AC rate.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
It depends on how much energy you add and the lower of the charger’s and the car’s maximum rate. Adding 36 kWh takes around 5 to 6 hours on a 7.4 kW home charger, 15 or more hours on a three-pin plug, and often 30 to 45 minutes on a rapid charger, because rapid charging slows as the battery fills.
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Multiply the electricity drawn from the charger by the price per kWh. Some energy is lost as heat, so the car draws slightly more than it stores. Home charging on a standard rate, an overnight EV tariff and public charging can differ several-fold for the same charge.
Can every electric car use a rapid charger?
Most modern electric cars can, using a CCS connector. Some older cars use CHAdeMO, which fewer new chargers provide, and some models had rapid charging as an optional extra. Check your car’s socket before relying on rapid charging.
Why does charging slow down after 80%?
As a battery fills, the car reduces the charging power to protect the cells and manage heat. The last 20% can take as long as the previous 50% on a rapid charger.
Is a 7kW home charger faster than a three-pin plug?
Yes. A three-pin plug supplies about 2.3 kW, while a dedicated home charger supplies about 7 kW, roughly three times faster, and it is designed for long, regular charging sessions.
Can an 11kW or 22kW charger work at home?
Only if your home has a three-phase electricity supply, which most UK homes do not. Your car must also accept 11 kW or 22 kW AC; many cars accept only 7.4 kW or 11 kW, whatever the charger can supply.
How much range can an EV add in an hour?
Roughly the charging power multiplied by the car’s efficiency, less losses. A car doing 3.5 miles per kWh adds about 23 miles an hour on a 7.4 kW charger and around 8 miles an hour on a three-pin plug.
Is charging at home cheaper than public charging?
Usually. Typical public prices were 54p/kWh below 50 kW and 77p/kWh for rapid charging (August 2026), well above most home rates, and far above overnight EV tariffs.
Assumptions and sources
Charging efficiency: three-pin 85%, AC 90%, DC 93%. Home rate from the Ofgem price cap. Public prices from the Zapmap Charging Price Index (August 2026).
Vehicle figures (battery, charging limits, official WLTP range, 10–80% times) come from manufacturer specifications and are checked before a car is listed. Range added is an energy.org.uk estimate: 80% of the official WLTP range, not a manufacturer figure. Rapid charging uses a generic taper curve, calibrated to the maker’s 10–80% time where published.
Estimates, not guarantees: temperature, battery condition and charger sharing all affect real sessions.
Related: EV charging guide · Home versus public charging · All calculators