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The type and model of the vehicle, as well as the charging station being used, all affect how much kW/h is required to charge an electric vehicle fully. For example, smaller and lighter vehicles need less energy to go 100 km in an electric automobile, which typically requires between 11 and 19 kW/h.
Depending on the charging station, the price to charge an electric vehicle in Australia ranges from $0.20 to $0.50 per kW/h. Generally, charging at home is less expensive than public charging stations.
Electric car charging prices regularly fluctuate depending on different variables, including driving habits and the environment. In Australia, the top 10 electric vehicles in 2022 will be the Tesla Model 3, MG ZS EV, Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV, MG HS+ EV, Porsche Taycan, Hyundai Kona, Volvo XC40, Hyundai Ioniq 5, and Mercedes-Benz EQA.
How many kW/h are needed to charge an electric car?
This is a general question amongst electric car drivers requiring a detailed and thorough response rather than a simple and short answer. The type and model of the vehicle, as well as the charging station being used, affect how many kW/h is required to charge an electric car.
Before we explain the answer, let’s define the term kW/h. The term kW/h refers to kilowatt hours.
Watts is the unit of power which is a combination of amp and voltage measurements. It refers to how much power can run through any given power supply. Therefore, electric car batteries have their capacity measured in kilowatt-hours (kW/h).
In Australia, with current electricity prices, one should expect to pay between $0.30 – $0.45 per kWh when charging their electric car. This assumes one charges the electric car via mains power (PowerPoints) and not via free charging stations or a home solar system.
Suppose we use the statistic that the average electric car requires roughly between 11 and 19 kW/h energy to travel 100km. In that case, an Australian EV owner should expect to pay approximately $4.50 to $8 for 100km of driving.
As mentioned, the actual kW/h needed to depend on the brand of your electric car. As a rule, one can say – that the smaller and therefore lighter the battery of the electric car, and the smaller the vehicle, the less kW/h the car will require to travel 100 km.
How would the electric car user charge?
In saying all this, the most crucial factor to consider regarding the price of electric car charging is the charging station being used.
The most common way that most people would charge their electric cars is at home. These plug-in wall outlets are cheaper per kW/h to charge, ranging from $0.20 – 0.45 cents per kW/h. However, they take much longer than other options.
The next most common option available to electric car owners is public charging. The cost of this will vary on the charging station used, but on average, it costs $0.20 – $0.50 per kW/h. Also, free charging stations are available in some shopping centres.
Popular electric cars
Knowing these statistics, let’s now look at some of the most common electric cars in Australia and how many kW/h they require. The top 10 electric cars in Australia in 2022 are (in no particular order):
- Tesla Model 3 – Range: 491 km – uses 11.9kWh/100 km
- MG ZS EV – Range: 263 km – uses 17.3 kWh/100 km
- Nissan Leaf – Range: 270 km – uses 17 kWh/100 km
- Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV – Range: 54km using electric motors alone – uses 21 kWh /100 km
- MG HS +EV – Range: A combined cycle of up to 63km on the battery – tbc
- Porsche Taycan – Range: 369 km – 26.2 kWh/100 km
- Hyundai Kona – Range: 305 km – 14.3 kWh/100 km
- Volvo XC40 – Range: 418 km – 25.5 kWh/100 km
- Hyundai Ioniq 5 – Range: 451 km – 17.9 kWh/100km
- Mercedes-Benz EQA – Range: Up to 400 km – 17.1 kWh/100km
Knowing the ranges, we can use the statistics from above to work out roughly how much it would cost and how many kW/h would be needed to charge your electric car thoroughly.
For the Tesla Model 3, you would need roughly 92kW/h to have a whole range available.
Assuming you charge the Tesla at home, this would cost you roughly $28 for a fully charged electric car with a nearly 500km driving range, much cheaper than a fully charged petrol vehicle.
Cost of charging
The cost associated with charging your electric car is subject to various external factors, including driving behaviour and the driving environment. To obtain a general estimate, you can make use of our website calculator. This tool allows you to assess the anticipated cost for a full range and the kilowatt-hour (kWh) consumption of your EV
