EV Charging Time and Cost Calculator

EV charging time and cost

Battery size

kWh

Start charge

End charge

Available time (optional)

hours

Charging power

Charger type

⚡AC wall charger

Your charging time 10 hr 70.0 kWh · ~438 km

Estimated cost $21.00 at $0.30/kWh

Rate comparison

Typical EV charging time and cost in Australia

The table below shows estimated charging time and cost across all charger types, each paired with a typical electricity price for that charging method.

How this calculator works

This calculator estimates both how long it takes to charge your EV and how much that charge will cost. The hero card shows your charging time on the left and estimated cost on the right, using a typical electricity price for the selected charger type. The charger cards below compare time and cost across all common charger types at a glance.

Home charger cards include tappable price chips so you can compare EV off peak, off peak and standard rate costs for the same charger. Public and DC charger cards use fixed typical prices for those charger types.

If you enter an available time, the cards add context showing how much energy and range each charger type would add in that time window, what charge level you would reach, the cost for that partial charge, and whether the charger finishes early or needs more time.

Formulas

Energy needed (kWh) = Battery size × (End charge − Start charge) ÷ 100

Charging time (hours) = Energy needed ÷ Charging power

Charging cost ($) = Energy needed × Electricity price

Energy in available time (kWh) = Charging power × Available time (capped at energy needed)

Worked example — charging time and cost

Battery size: 100 kWh
Start charge: 10%
End charge: 80%
Charging power: 7 kW (AC wall charger)
Electricity price: $0.30 per kWh (Home standard rate)

Energy needed: 100 × (80 − 10) ÷ 100 = 70.0 kWh

Charging time: 70.0 ÷ 7 = 10 hr

Charging cost: 70.0 × $0.30 = $21.00

Worked example — available time

Available time: 6 hours
Charging power: 2.3 kW (Portable charger)
Battery size: 100 kWh, starting at 10%
EV efficiency: 16 kWh per 100 km
Electricity price: $0.08 per kWh (EV off peak)

Energy added: 2.3 × 6 = 13.8 kWh

Charge reached: 10% + (13.8 ÷ 100 × 100) = ~24%

Range added: 13.8 ÷ 16 × 100 = ~86 km

Cost: 13.8 × $0.08 = $1.10

Real-world note

This calculator assumes a constant charging rate across the full charge window. In practice, most EVs throttle charging speed above 80% state of charge to protect the battery. Each charger card shows cost using a typical electricity price — use the price chips on home charger cards to compare different home rates.

Price preset guide

Each charger card uses a typical electricity price for that charger type. Home charger cards include price chips so you can compare different home rates.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to charge an EV?

Charging time depends mainly on the charger power, the vehicle and how full the battery already is. For DC fast charging, many EVs can charge from about 10% to 80% in roughly 20 to 40 minutes under good conditions. Home AC charging is slower but convenient. A typical home charger may add around 30 to 60 kilometres of range per hour depending on the vehicle and charger power.

Why does EV charging slow down when the battery gets fuller?

EV batteries usually charge fastest when they are at a lower or mid state of charge, then slow down as they approach full. This slowdown helps manage heat and protect the battery. As a result, the final portion of a charge, such as going from 80% to 100%, usually takes much longer than the earlier part of the charging session.

Is home charging cheaper than public charging?

Charging at home using a residential electricity tariff is typically much cheaper than public charging. Public charging includes the cost of installing, maintaining and operating charging infrastructure, which increases the price compared with home electricity. Because of this, most EV owners do the majority of their charging at home and use public chargers mainly for convenience or long distance travel.

Does weather affect EV charging?

Yes. Temperature can affect charging speed, battery performance and how drivers manage charge levels. In colder conditions the battery may charge more slowly until it warms up. Many EVs use battery preconditioning to bring the battery to an optimal temperature before charging, which improves charging performance, particularly for high power DC charging.