How much does it cost to charge an electric car in South Africa?

by

 

Charging At Home

If you are charging at home, the price can vary between R0.00 per kilowatt if you have to a fully off-grid solar power system, to R4.01 per kilowatt hour if you are using prepaid electricity at your house.

Price of EV Charging Stations in South Africa

The service provider with the most EV charging stations in South Africa is Grid Cars so we’ll use their pricing as a reference. The price for level 3 charging is currently R7.35 per kWh.

For practical examples, to fill up an Ora Funky Cat, which has a 63kWh battery, would cost about R370. A BMW iX3, as another example has an 80kWh battery so to fill that up from zero to 80% would cost approximately R470

Car Charging at home AC Charging DC Fast Charging
Volvo
BMW R470
Ora R370

Calculating Your EV Charging Costs

The cost to charge an electric car in South Africa can vary based on several factors, including the electricity tariff, the charging infrastructure used, and the specific electric vehicle (EV) model. In South Africa, electricity tariffs are typically measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh).

To estimate the cost of charging, you can follow these general steps:

  1. Determine the Energy Consumption of Your EV: Check your electric car’s specifications or manual to find its energy consumption rating, usually given in kWh per 100 kilometers (kWh/100 km) or in miles if it’s an international standard.
  2. Find the Electricity Tariff: Check with your local electricity provider to find the current tariff rate. Tariffs can vary based on the time of day, residential or commercial rates, and other factors.
  3. Calculate the Cost: Multiply the energy consumption of your EV per kilometer (or mile) by the distance you plan to drive. Then, multiply that by the cost per kWh from your electricity provider.

    Cost=(Energy Consumption (kWh/100 km) \timesDistance (km)100)×Electricity Cost per kWh

Remember that this is a rough estimate, and actual costs can vary based on charging losses, fluctuations in electricity prices, and other factors.

Additionally, if you are using public charging stations, there might be different pricing models such as per kWh or per minute of charging. It’s essential to check the specific pricing structure of the charging station you plan to use.

Keep in mind that electricity prices and charging infrastructure can change, so it’s a good idea to check with local providers for the most up-to-date information.

Leave a Comment