How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Imagine filling up for the price of a restaurant meal. That is roughly what a full home charge costs: under €10 for 350 to 400 km. Yet between the home rate, the station rate and the motorway rate, it is hard to see clearly. And 2026 shifted the dials: electricity edged down while fuel prices soared past €1.90/L. The gap widened, and it tilts the right way. Here are the up-to-date figures, and the method to work out your real budget.

The cost of a charge in 2026: the orders of magnitude

How much an electric car really consumes

It all starts here. An electric car consumes between 12 and 20 kWh to cover 100 km, depending on its size, your speed and the season. It is the electric equivalent of 'litres per hundred': an efficient city car sits around 13-15 kWh, a family SUV on the motorway can exceed 20 kWh.

The two-to-one gap has an explanation. Speed weighs the most: above 100 km/h, your car spends most of its energy pushing the air in front of it. As a result, a trip at 130 km/h can consume 40% more than the same one at 110. Then come the cold, which calls on the heating and numbs the battery, followed by weight and driving style. In town, by contrast, regenerative braking recovers energy at every slowdown.

Working out the cost is then disarmingly simple:

Cost = consumption (kWh/100 km) × distance ÷ 100 × price per kWh (€)

The price per kWh, from cheapest to most expensive

Electricity prices: EDF regulated tariff (Tarif Bleu, 6 kVA), in force in July 2026. Electra rates: France grid on the app, July 2026. Calculations based on 15 kWh/100 km.

Two takeaways. The gap between home and a fast station is real: about three times the price. But even at the highest public rate, charging stays cheaper than a tank of petrol.

Home charging: the reference rate

What you really pay

At the July 2026 regulated tariff, the kWh costs €0.1940 on the base option, and €0.1579 off-peak (versus €0.2065 at peak). Charging a 60 kWh battery from 0 to 100% therefore costs between €9.47 and €12.39 depending on your tariff option. That is 350 to 400 km of range for the price of a set lunch, while you sleep.

The off-peak option pays off as soon as you shift 30% of your consumption to the night. With a car plugged in every evening, it is almost automatic.

Watch the time slots, they have changed

Since November 2025, the eight off-peak hours have been split between 11pm-7am and 11am-5pm, to match solar output. The afternoon window suits home workers. From November 2026, these hours will vary between winter and summer.

The charger tax credit is gone

If you are thinking of installing a charger, some bad news: the €500 tax credit ended on 31 December 2025. What remains is the reduced 5.5% VAT on the equipment and installation by an IRVE-certified professional.

Station charging: what it really costs

Understanding variable pricing

At Electra, the price per kWh now varies with the time of day and how busy the station is. In France, it ranges between €0.39 and €0.61/kWh on the app. The principle is simple: you pay less at off-peak times, which spreads demand and keeps stations available.

Two useful clarifications. More than half of stations keep a single rate all day, because they are less busy. And the rate is shown in the app before the session, then locked: no nasty surprise mid-charge.

The subscription, and when it pays off

Electra+ France grid, July 2026. No commitment. The preferential Smart rate applies on ChargeLeague partner networks: Atlante, Fastned and IONITY.

The maths is quick: with Electra+ Smart at €4.99/month, the €0.20/kWh saving is recouped from 25 kWh charged in the month, a single session on a mid-size battery. Essential at €1.99 pays off from 20 kWh. Both are commitment-free, and the app includes a calculator that compares your sessions over the last 30 days to point you to the best plan.

One detail that matters: without the app, by bank card or a third-party pass, expect at least €0.61/kWh. The app is not a gadget, it is the entry rate.

Worked examples: three profiles, three budgets

Marie, 50 km a day in a Renault Zoe

Her Zoe consumes 17 kWh/100 km. She charges at home off-peak, at €0.1579/kWh. Her sum: 17 × 0.5 × 0.1579 = €1.34 a day, about €30 over 22 working days. With a petrol Clio consuming 6 L/100 km at €1.90/L, the same trips would cost her €125 a month. Saving: about €95 a month, or €1,150 a year.

Paul, 15,000 km a year, mixed charging

Mix assumption: 70% at home (€0.1940/kWh), 20% at a public station (€0.50/kWh) and 10% fast charging (€0.55/kWh), i.e. €0.29/kWh weighted. Fuel prices: national average SP95-E10 recorded on 1 July 2026 (source: official data, data.economie.gouv.fr).

The gap reaches €1,450 a year, nearly €7,300 over five years. Enough to offset a good part of the higher purchase price.

A driver with no home solution

This is the case least often addressed, yet common in town. Charging exclusively at fast stations with Electra+ Smart, the rate falls between €0.19 and €0.41/kWh depending on how busy it is, i.e. €2.85 to €6.15 per 100 km. At off-peak times, that comes to the price of a home charge; at the busiest times, it stays well below the €11.40 per 100 km of an equivalent petrol car. You can locate the stations and their rates before setting off.

How to cut the bill

The three levers that really count

Charge off-peak. It is the most powerful lever: €0.1579 versus €0.2065/kWh, nearly a 24% difference. A smart charger schedules the session automatically overnight.

Take out a subscription if you charge in public. Worthwhile from one session a month, it costs nothing to try since it is commitment-free. Our pricing is shown before every session, and the fast-charging network is accessible with the same app everywhere in Europe.

Compare your contract. Some suppliers offer deals dedicated to electric vehicles, with very aggressive night-time off-peak hours. The gap with the regulated tariff is counted in cents per kWh, and in tens of euros a year.

Avoid occupancy fees

At Electra stations, parking fees of €0.40/min apply above 80% battery when the station is saturated, after a 5-minute grace period and capped at €50 per session. They are entirely avoidable: turn on notifications and unplug when your vehicle is charged. Above 80%, charging slows sharply anyway.

Frequently asked questions about charging costs

'Concretely, how much does a full charge cost?'

For a 60 kWh battery: €9.47 at home off-peak, €11.64 on the base option, and €23 to €37 at a fast station depending on how busy it is. Against that, a 40-litre tank of petrol costs you around €76. The comparison speaks for itself.

'Is electric really cheaper?'

Yes, and the gap widened in 2026. A petrol car consuming 6 L/100 km at €1.90/L comes to €11.40 per 100 km. In electric: €2.37 at home off-peak, €5.85 to €9.15 at a fast station. You divide your bill by 1.2 to 4.8 depending on where you charge. Even in the worst case, you come out ahead.

'Does charging every day damage the battery?'

Not at all, quite the opposite. Modern batteries prefer regular small charges to big 0-to-100% cycles. Keep it between 20 and 80% day to day: it will pay you back over time.

'Does the charger tax credit still exist?'

No, it ended on 31 December 2025. What remains is the reduced 5.5% VAT on the equipment and installation by an IRVE-certified professional. Installing one is still a good call, but you have to redo the sums without that help.

'Why does the price change from one time to the next?'

Like a train ticket: at quiet times, it is cheaper. Pricing adjusts to how busy the station is, which spreads demand and limits waiting. Rest assured, the rate is shown before the session and locked for its whole duration. And more than half of our stations keep a single rate all day.

'And in winter, does it change everything?'

Expect 20 to 30% more consumption in hard frost, and the cost follows. Your €2.37 trip rises to about €3. Which is to say you stay well below the price of petrol. Preheat the car while it is still plugged in: you set off with a battery at temperature and a warm cabin, without eating into your range.

Work out your own savings

Take the formula from the start with your mileage and your electricity price: you will have your real budget in thirty seconds. And to compare before you decide, our per-station rates can be viewed at any time from the app, with the price shown before every session. Charge at a station, pay like at home.

Written by Nicolas - EV mobility expert at Electra