New research from Switcher.ie reveals the latest costs of charging an electric vehicle (EV)across Europe and ranks the most expensive to the cheapest countries. We also look at grants and purchase subsidies and calculate how much a full EV charge costs in relation to weekly income by country.

The latest data from Eurostat determined the costs of at-home EV charging across Europe for the top 20 bestselling battery electric cars.

In 2023, it cost, on average, €12.63 for a full charge and €3.78 for a 100km road trip, with an average increase of 4.44% across Europe — although costs and price changes vary considerably.

· Across Europe, the average change was 4.4% during 2023, with many countries seeing steep hikes or sharp drops.

· Germany, Ireland and Belgium are the most expensive countries to charge an EV in Europe with costs as high as €23.57 per full charge.

· Turkey, Kosovo, and Bosnia Herz are the cheapest countries to power an electric car, with a full charge costing as little as €3.30.

· A full charge in Europe costs 5% of net weekly income (on average), with Albanians having to part with 12.9% of their weekly income to charge their EV, in contrast to Icelanders who only spend 1.3% of their weekly pay to power their cars.

Top 10 most expensive countries to charge an electric car in Europe

The most expensive countries to charge EVs tend to have a higher EV market share of new car sales and more electric and hybrid vehicles on the road. Despite the high electricity prices, charging costs are lower as a proportion of median incomes, with the exception of Latvia and Czechia.

Top 10 cheapest countries to charge an electric car in Europe

The cheapest places in Europe to run an electric vehicle are primarily in central and southeastern Europe, where EV ownership is less popular. These countries tend to have lower sales and a smaller EV market share due to the prohibitive costs of many electric and hybrids. They are also less affordable to run when costs are set against median earnings.

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Eoin Clarke Commercial Director of Switcher.ie comments:

“Switcher.ie’s latest research found the average cost of home charging is still on the up, but prices fluctuate hugely across the EU, with some countries seeing sharp drops and others experiencing steep hikes in 2023. This is largely due to government supports during the energy crisis and ever-changing global headwinds which impact countries differently.

Although electricity costs are still historically high, energy prices have peaked and EVs are nowhere near as financially draining as petrol or diesel vehicles are to keep on the road.

EV sales have seen a downturn recently as many governments phase out initiatives like purchase grants and tax benefits, but as motorists seek a haven from hefty fuel-pump prices it’s likely the EV market will rebound and continue to thrive.

As EV prices are falling and charging infrastructure continues to improve, it could be time to consider the switch. Make sure you do your research beforehand though; shop around for the best deal, take advantage of any grants and incentives and look out for energy tariffs and car insurance designed especially for electric vehicles".

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