Electric car charging cost: comparison, how much will you spend charging at home compared to public charging stations?

Electric Vehicle Charging Costs: How Much Will You Spend Charging at Home or Public Stations?

More and more people in Lithuania are choosing electric vehicles, but many still wonder how much it costs to charge them at home and at public charging stations. EV charging costs depend on several factors: electricity price, battery capacity, vehicle energy consumption, and the chosen charging method.

Home Charging: The Cheapest Option

Charging an electric vehicle at home is the most economical option, especially when using a night-time electricity tariff. In Lithuania, electricity prices vary by provider and selected plan, but on average range between €0.14–€0.20/kWh during the day and €0.08–€0.12/kWh at night.

Example:
If your EV consumes 15 kWh/100 km and you charge it at night (€0.10/kWh), a 100 km trip will cost:
15 kWh × €0.10 = €1.50

If charged at the daytime rate (€0.18/kWh), the cost will be:
15 kWh × €0.18 = €2.70

A full charge of a 50 kWh battery will cost between €5 (night rate) and €9 (day rate).

Public Charging Stations: More Convenient but More Expensive

Public charging stations offer a more expensive but faster way to charge an EV. In Lithuania, the price at public charging stations depends on the charging power:

A full 50 kWh battery charge at a public station may cost from €10 (slow charger) to €35 (ultra-fast charger).

Real-World Charging Price Examples: “Ignitis ON” and “IONITY”
To better understand EV charging costs at different public stations, let’s look at the rates of two popular networks – “Ignitis ON” and “IONITY”.

“Ignitis ON” Charging Rates:

The rates in the “Ignitis ON” network depend on the type and power of the station:

Slow charging stations (AC): €0.35/kWh including VAT.
Fast and ultra-fast stations (DC): €0.45/kWh including VAT.
These rates are valid from June 1, 2023.
 

Example: If your EV consumes 15 kWh/100 km, the charging cost in the “Ignitis ON” network would be:

At a slow charger: 15 kWh × €0.35 = €5.25 per 100 km.
At a fast charger: 15 kWh × €0.45 = €6.75 per 100 km.
“IONITY” Charging Rates:

The “IONITY” network offers several charging plans:

Without subscription: €0.79/kWh.
“IONITY Passport” plan: monthly fee €17.99, charging rate €0.35/kWh.

Example: If your EV consumes 15 kWh/100 km, the charging cost in the “IONITY” network would be:

Without subscription: 15 kWh × €0.79 = €11.85 per 100 km.
With “IONITY Passport”: 15 kWh × €0.35 = €5.25 per 100 km (plus monthly fee).
Conclusion

Home charging is significantly cheaper, especially with night rates, but it takes longer. Public stations offer fast and convenient charging, but the cost can be 2–5 times higher. When planning trips, it's worth combining both options: use cheaper home charging for daily driving and fast public chargers only when needed.  

Links:

“Ignitis ON” Charging Rates 

http://www.ignitison.lt

“IONITY” Charging Plans:
WWW.IONITY.EU