5 ways to reduce your EV charging costs

EV drivers across Australia are already benefiting from lower running costs compared to petrol cars. But if you’re looking to reduce your EV charging costs even further, a few simple habits can make a real difference.

Here are five practical ways to keep your EV charging costs down.

1. Check for motoring club discounts on EV charging

Motoring clubs in Australia offer member discounts on public charging networks. If you’re a member, you may already have access to lower EV charging prices without realising it.

Click here for more information on Motoring Club Discounts.

2. Charge at home before using public chargers

Home charging is often the lowest-cost way to power your EV. Starting your trip with a full battery reduces how often you need to rely on public chargers.

When you are charging at home make sure you are keeping costs down by plugging in when your energy is cheapest. If you have solar panels then this is usually when the sun is shining, but even without solar many energy retailers offer very cheap or even free charging during certain hours.

Chargefox Head of Marketing Rob Asselman doesn’t have solar or battery at his house but still charges his EV completely for free.

“My current retailer provides free electricity every day between 10am and 2pm, and I set my home charger to charge between these hours. Even if my car is only plugged in during this period a couple of times per week it gets me all the charge I need, and it’s completely free.”

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3. Avoid idle fees at public charging stations

Some public chargers apply idle fees once your session is complete. Usually these fees are about $1 per minute, after you’ve reached 100% and a ‘grace period’ has expired. Moving your car promptly helps you avoid unnecessary charges and keeps the charger available for other drivers.

The Chargefox app will keep you updated on your current state of charge, and then let you know when your battery is fully topped up. Make sure you unplug and move on before incurring any idle fees.

Even when charging at a location without idle fees try to move your car immediately after charging, so your fellow EV owners can charge. During busy times it’s even more courteous to only charge to 80% so that everyone can get to their destination.

4. Choose the right type of EV charger

Not all chargers cost the same. Chargefox offers more public chargers than any other EV network featuring options from ultra-fast chargers that can charge at up to 400kW, all the way down to 7kW AC chargers. AC chargers are usually more affordable than fast or ultra-rapid options so if you’re not in a hurry, choosing the right charger can significantly reduce your overall EV charging cost in Australia.

If you’re planning on being somewhere for a longer period, such as a whole day or overnight, why not choose an AC charger. These are usually cheaper than faster DC options and will still give you plenty of juice for when you are ready to get on your way.

5. Only charge what you need

Charging to 100% isn’t always necessary. Topping up just enough for your next trip, or to get you home where charging is cheapest, can save time and reduce your spend, particularly when using faster chargers with higher pricing.

BONUS TIP: The charging speed for EV batteries slows down significantly whenover 80%, so by charging just enough, you will save time and money!

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To recap:

1. Check for motoring club discounts on EV charging

2. Charge at home before using public chargers

3. Avoid idle fees at public charging stations

4. Choose the right type of EV charger

5. Only charge what you need

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