Free calculator · Editable examples
EV Charging Cost Calculator Ireland
Estimate electricity costs for your mileage and tariff. Compare them with petrol or diesel, including an allowance for charging losses.
Example: 16 kWh/100km of battery energy at 90% charging efficiency and 10c/kWh costs €1.78 per 100km. Your car, driving conditions and tariff can change the result.
Calculate your running costs
Start with an illustrative scenario, then use your own prices and consumption. These are examples, not supplier offers or national averages.
Your energy cost estimate
Electricity: €1.78 per 100km, compared with €12.03 for petrol. Metered electricity: 17.78 kWh/100km at 90% charging efficiency.
- petrol per year
- €1,924
- Electricity per year
- €284
- Estimated annual energy saving
- €1,640
- Installation cost recovery estimate
- About 10 months
- Five-year energy difference, less net installation cost
- €6,899
Cost recovery divides the standard net installation cost by the fuel-to-electricity difference. That difference comes from switching vehicles; it is not a return created by the charger alone. Car purchase, finance, depreciation, tax, servicing and insurance are excluded. A negative five-year result means these energy savings do not cover the net installation cost.
Prefer to spread the upfront cost? See Humm monthly finance. Subject to approval; terms, fees and credit checks apply.
Start your photo assessmentWe assess your cable route and installation scope before you book and pay.
Compare example electricity prices
All scenarios use 16 kWh/100km of battery energy and 90% charging efficiency (17.78 kWh from the meter). These are editable illustrations, not supplier rates.
| Unit price | Per 100km | Per 16,000 km |
|---|---|---|
| 10c/kWh example | €1.78 | €284 |
| 20c/kWh example | €3.56 | €569 |
| 35c/kWh example | €6.22 | €996 |
| 60c/kWh example | €10.67 | €1,707 |
Annual energy comparison
Example petrol: €1.85/L at 6.5 L/100km. Example diesel: €1.78/L at 5.5 L/100km. EV: 10c/kWh with the consumption and efficiency above. These are energy costs before installation or vehicle costs.
| Annual mileage | Petrol | Diesel | Electricity |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 km | €962 | €783 | €142 |
| 16,000 km | €1,924 | €1,566 | €284 |
| 24,000 km | €2,886 | €2,350 | €427 |
How the calculator works
- Annual fuel cost
- (Annual km ÷ 100) × litres per 100km × price per litre.
- Annual electricity cost
- (Annual km ÷ 100) × battery kWh per 100km ÷ (efficiency % ÷ 100) × price per kWh.
- Installation cost recovery
- Net installation cost ÷ positive annual energy saving × 12 months. Vehicle purchase and other ownership costs are excluded.
- Five-year energy difference
- Annual energy saving × 5 − net installation cost. This holds inputs constant and can be negative.
Use your actual vehicle consumption and tariff. Weather, speed, driving style and charging conditions affect energy use. Solar electricity also has an opportunity cost if you would otherwise receive an export payment. This tool does not model emissions or total vehicle ownership costs.
For independent guidance, see SEAI on EV charging and SEAI’s vehicle comparison tool. Our example inputs are not SEAI averages or recommendations.
How to compare an EV electricity plan · Home charging costs explained
Calculator FAQ
- How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in Ireland?
- Multiply the electricity taken from your meter by your unit price. For an illustrative 16 kWh/100km of battery energy, 90% charging efficiency and 10c/kWh, the cost is €1.78 per 100km. At 16,000 km/year, that is about €284 per year. These are example inputs, not a supplier quote or a national average.
- How do I compare an EV with petrol or diesel?
- For the same mileage, compare litres per 100km multiplied by the pump price with metered kWh per 100km multiplied by the electricity price. The example petrol inputs (6.5 L/100km at €1.85/L) cost €12.03 per 100km; example diesel inputs (5.5 L/100km at €1.78/L) cost €9.79. Replace both with your own figures. This compares energy only, not the cost of buying or owning either car.
- Does the calculator include charging losses?
- Yes. Metered energy equals battery energy divided by charging efficiency. The editable 90% example means 10% of electricity drawn from the meter is lost. Actual losses depend on the vehicle and charging conditions. If your consumption figure already measures electricity at the meter or includes charging losses, set efficiency to 100% to avoid counting them twice.
- Which electricity price should I enter?
- Use the unit price including VAT from your current bill or a supplier offer for which you qualify. If charging spans multiple rates, use an average weighted by the kWh bought at each rate. Include public charging if you use it. Check time windows, meter requirements, standing charges, session fees, discounts and contract terms separately. The preset prices here are illustrations, not current supplier offers or a cheapest-tariff ranking.
- Does the installation cost recovery estimate include buying an EV?
- No. It divides the BENY example package cost after grant (€1,299, assuming eligibility and receipt) by the estimated fuel-to-electricity saving. The €1,599 package is paid upfront; the €300 grant is claimed separately. The estimate excludes the vehicle price and other ownership costs. The fuel saving comes from switching vehicles, so it is not a return attributable to the charger alone. If there is no positive saving, the calculator shows no recovery.
- What does the five-year figure include?
- It is five times the annual energy-cost difference, minus the assumed net charger installation cost. It holds prices, mileage and consumption constant. It excludes buying the car, finance interest, depreciation, insurance, tax, servicing, household standing charges and tariff changes. It is a scenario, not a forecast or guaranteed saving.
Check your home installation options
Standard BENY package: €1,599 paid upfront, or €1,299 after the €300 SEAI grant if eligible and received. Send your property details and photos so we can confirm the installation scope before you book and pay.