Interactive guide · Cost calculator

EV Charging
every plug explained

Home wallboxes, public fast chargers, connectors and the real cost per km — everything you need to charge an electric car with confidence.

AC & DC charging Charge at home Lowest cost per km

Global EV adoption

Share of new car sales: 22,0%

2026 data

BEV Share of new car sales

14,0%

EVs sold in 2025

17M

Public chargers

5.5M

World leader

China (≈60% of sales)

Start the guide

Part 1 · The basics

How EV charging works

Charging an EV is like filling a giant battery: the car’s battery accepts DC power, but most buildings supply AC power. The difference defines everything about speed and cost.

There are three broad levels: slow home sockets, AC wallboxes, and DC fast chargers. Most daily charging happens overnight at home — that is where the savings are.

1 AC charging

1.4–22 kW. Home and work. The car’s onboard charger converts AC to DC. Perfect for overnight.

2 DC fast charging

50–350 kW. Motorways and hubs. DC goes straight into the battery — 20–80% in 15–30 min.

3 Connectors

Type 2 (Europe), CCS, CHAdeMO, NACS. Adapters exist, but standards are converging.

The 80% rule : Fast charging slows down above ~80% to protect the battery. On road trips, charge 10→80% and move on — it is faster than waiting for 100%. See calculateur to model it.

Part 2 · How it works

The charging journey

What actually happens when you plug in, from home socket to ultra-fast charger.

1

Plug in

The car and charger negotiate power and safety checks before any current flows.
2

Convert

On AC, the onboard charger converts to DC. On DC fast chargers, conversion happens inside the station.
3

Charge curve

Power is highest in the middle of the battery. Charging tapers as it fills — that is why 10→80% is quick.
4

Stop

The session ends automatically at your target. Many cars pre-condition the battery on the way to a charger.

Part 2 · The demonstration

Charging time & cost calculator

Pick your charger, battery and electricity price — see exactly how long and how much.

Battery size (kWh)

Electricity price ($/kWh)

Start (%)

Target (%)

Charger power (kW) 7 kW

Time to charge

7 h 42 min

Energy added

36 kWh

Estimated cost

$5.40

Part 3 · The data

The EV market in 2026

Key adoption figures and the most popular electric cars. Data is indicative 2026.

22,0%

EV + PHEV

The electric transition is accelerating. Key 2026 indicators.

Model	Price	Range (WLTP)	0–100 km/h	Fast charge	Battery
Tesla Model Y Tesla	$44,990	480 km	5.0 s	250 kW	75 kWh
Tesla Model 3 Tesla	$40,990	513 km	4.9 s	250 kW	60–75 kWh
BYD Dolphin BYD	$23,990	420 km	7.5 s	60–80 kW	60 kWh
BYD Seagull BYD	$10,990	305 km	10.0 s	30 kW	30–38 kWh
Hyundai Ioniq 5 Hyundai	$42,990	507 km	5.1 s	350 kW	77.4 kWh
Kia EV6 Kia	$43,990	528 km	5.2 s	350 kW	77.4 kWh
VW ID.4 Volkswagen	$41,990	515 km	7.0 s	135 kW	77 kWh
Renault Mégane E-Tech Renault	$38,990	450 km	7.4 s	130 kW	60 kWh

Charging guide →

Levels, connectors, cost and time.

EV vs petrol →

The honest cost & CO₂ comparison.

Buying guide →

Budget, rebates and checklist before you sign.

Crypto converter →

Live prices for 20+ cryptocurrencies.

Part 5 · The models

Charging levels & speeds

From the slowest to the fastest, here is what each level delivers.

Level 1 — socket

Standard wall socket
1.4–2.3 kW
~8–15 km per hour
Overnight only
Emergency use

Level 2 — wallbox

Home / work box
7–22 kW
~40–110 km per hour
Recommended daily charging
Best price per kWh

Level 3 — DC fast

Public fast chargers
50–350 kW
Up to 1,200 km per hour
Road trips
20–80% in 15–30 min

Part 6 · The uses

Where people charge

The reality of EV charging today — and why home is king.

Home (80%)

Most EV charging happens at home overnight. A wallbox costs $500–1,500 installed.

Work & destination

Workplaces, hotels and shopping centres add range while you are parked.

En route

Fast chargers on motorways add 300+ km in ~20 minutes for long trips.

Ultra-fast hubs

150–350 kW hubs near motorways are the petrol-station equivalent for EVs.

Public networks

Tesla Superchargers, Ionity, Electrify America, ChargePoint and more.

Smart charging

Time-of-use tariffs and apps charge you when electricity is cheapest.

Part 7 · The verdict

Advantages & Challenges

Advantages

✔Home charging is dramatically cheaper than fuel.
✔Overnight charging means always full in the morning.
✔Fast charging keeps road trips practical.
✔Smart tariffs can make electricity nearly free at night.
✔No petrol station detours for daily driving.

Challenges

✕Public fast charging is more expensive than home.
✕Infrastructure is uneven across regions.
✕Charging a flat battery to full takes longer than a fuel fill.
✕Apartment dwellers without parking need public options.
✕Connector and payment fragmentation.

Part 8 · The vocabulary

Quick glossary

The charging terms you need to know.

Alternating current — the standard in buildings. Converted by the car’s onboard charger.

Direct current — what batteries store. Fed directly on fast chargers.

Type 2 / Mennekes

The standard AC plug in Europe.

CCS

Combined Charging System — the standard DC plug in Europe and North America.

CHAdeMO

An older Japanese DC standard, mostly superseded by CCS.

NACS

Tesla’s plug, now adopted by many US brands as the standard.

Wallbox

A fixed home/work charger, typically 7–22 kW.

Charge curve

How charging power rises and falls as the battery fills.

State of charge (SOC)

Battery percentage.

V2G / V2H

Vehicle-to-grid / to-home — using the car battery to power your home.

Off-peak tariff

Cheaper electricity at night, ideal for charging.

kW vs kWh

kW is power (speed), kWh is energy (amount). A 7 kW charger adds 7 kWh per hour.

Part 9 · Questions

EV charging FAQ

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

At $0.15/kWh, a 60 kWh battery costs ~$9 for a full charge — typically 200–350 km. That is 2–4× cheaper per km than petrol.

Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a fast charger?

Home is much cheaper (often $0.10–0.25/kWh vs $0.40–0.80/kWh at fast chargers). Fast charging is for road trips.

How long does a full charge take?

8–12 h on a home wallbox, 30–60 min on a 50 kW fast charger, 15–25 min on a 150–350 kW ultra-fast charger. You rarely charge from 0 to 100%.

Can I use a normal socket?

Yes, for emergency charging, but it is slow (about 8–15 km per hour) and may need a dedicated circuit. A wallbox is recommended for daily use.

What plug does my EV need?

In Europe: Type 2 (AC) and CCS (DC). In North America: J1772 (AC) and CCS or NACS (DC). Check your car — most use CCS or NACS.

Does fast charging damage the battery?

Frequent exclusive fast charging can slightly accelerate degradation, but modern battery management keeps impact small. For daily use, prefer AC charging.

Can I charge in the rain?

Yes. Charging equipment is weatherproof and designed for outdoor use. Follow standard electrical safety.

What is smart charging?

Charging scheduled for off-peak hours (cheaper electricity) or timed to renewable production, often via an app or wallbox.

Charging speeds are indicative. Real values depend on the car, charger, temperature and network.

Continue reading

Model your own charging setup

Use the calculator to compare home vs fast charging time and cost for your car.

Charging guide → EV vs petrol → Buying guide →

Quick links

Part 1 · The basics Part 2 · How it works Energy flow Range calculator Charging calculator EV vs petrol Market & models

EV Charging every plug explained