How much electricity does it take to fully charge an electric vehicle?

We all hear about how efficient electric vehicles are, but what does that actually mean? And what makes an efficient EV over an inefficient one?

4 min read

Published 18 Jun, 2025

If you’re looking at transitioning to an electric vehicle (EV), being more energy efficient is likely one of the motivating factors. But when it comes to electricity consumption, EVs vary - just like petrol cars.

Measuring the energy efficiency of EVs is similar to the litres-per-100km measure we use for a typical petrol-powered vehicle. Instead, we usually talk in terms of kilowatt-hours (kWh)-per-100km.

How much it takes to get your EV to a full charge – and how much range you’ll get out of it – will depend on a number of different factors, including battery size, age of vehicle, how much the battery was charged to start with and even the weather.

Here are the main things that impact how much electricity it takes to charge an EV.

Battery size: Your car’s battery capacity dictates how much charge it can hold. Most vehicles available through our EV subscription take between 40-70 kWh to achieve a full charge. To give you a sense of perspective, 50kWh could run a 100W lightbulb for 21 days or an oven for 25 hours.

Battery capacity: Like your phone or laptop, EV batteries reduce capacity over their lifetime. This means an older battery might not hold charge as long as a new one. But that doesn’t mean you need more power to charge it. EVs sold today are expected to have a life of around 15 years (or equivalent in terms of total kilometres driven e.g. 180,000-200,000 km). At the end of their usable life in a vehicle, these batteries can be given a second life as energy storage for homes, buildings or even powering the grid.
The state of charge: Charging from zero takes more energy than charging a vehicle that is already at 20% or 30%. In fact, letting your charge drop below 20% or regularly charging to 100% could potentially lead to battery degradation over time. It’s best to keep your battery charged between 20% and 80%, and this is one of the smart things about smart chargers, they know to keep your battery within that range.

If you want to know how long it will take you to charge your vehicle at home and how much it will cost, this calculator can help. And we'd encourage you to check out our Night Saver EV plan.

What makes an energy-efficient EV?

EVs are relatively new, so there is no set benchmark for an ‘efficient’ vehicle yet. According to the Electric Vehicle Database, the most efficient EVs are sitting at 15kWh/100km while the average is 20kWh/100km.

There are a number of factors that contribute to how much electricity an EV uses and therefore how efficient it is:

Battery type and technology: The battery plays an important role in how long a vehicle can travel on a single charge. The larger the battery capacity, the further an EV can go. How efficiently it uses electricity also depends on the type of battery – most EVs have lithium-ion batteries but advancements like solid-state batteries or improved cathode materials can give them a boost. Recent shifts in cathode materials have made EV batteries more durable and less prone to degradation.

Battery management system: Every EV has a battery management system that monitors and manages the battery’s performance. It is there to ensure the battery is always operating at maximum efficiency, within its optimal range and isn’t over-discharging.

Vehicle design: Just like a petrol vehicle, the more aerodynamic an EV, the more efficient it will be. Have you ever noticed a Tesla’s tucked-in door handles? It looks good and more importantly reduces drag. A less aerodynamic design will create drag, which means it will need more power to keep moving.

Size and weight of car: A heavy vehicle will need more energy to accelerate and brake - and this has an impact on its efficiency. And even when you’re coasting along the motorway, a heavier vehicle will still require more energy to keep moving. Materials like aluminium are being used to make cars lighter. Larger batteries are also heavier, so if you’re going for a smaller car and battery, it could be more efficient if you’re based in the city.

Width and size of tyres: It might seem like a small detail, but tyre size can make a difference to how energy efficient your vehicle is. Larger or grippier tyres can make handling much better but they add drag, which slows you down.

An important note on efficiency is to choose a car that is fit-for-purpose. The better suited to your family and the type of driving you do, the more you’ll get out of it.

Get more out of every charge

It’s not just about how your car is built and how big it is, there are also some other factors that impact how much electricity your EV will use on any given day:

Driving conditions: From congestion to hilly terrain, where and how you drive makes a difference to how much energy your EV will use. If you’re constantly accelerating and decelerating on your morning commute, you’ll use more energy than maintaining a steady pace on the highway, but if you choose to use regenerative braking, the reverse may be true. Weather conditions like rain and wind can also make a difference by increasing resistance.

City vs highway driving: While the continual stopping and starting of inner-city driving can be frustrating, it’s not so bad for your EV battery efficiency. Lower speeds and more opportunity to use regenerative braking means it’s less of a drain when compared to high speed highway driving. Higher speeds make driving an EV less efficient on a highway due to drag. And if you’re going right out into the middle of nowhere or heading off the beaten track ondirt roads, uneven terrain and steep hills can also cause higher energy consumption.

Temperature: Hot and cold weather can both have an impact on your vehicle’s rate of electricity consumption. In heat, batteries degrade faster which impacts their ability to store energy. Cold temperatures slow the battery down, making it less efficient. Also, the use of air conditioning on hot days can drain the battery further.

Use of regenerative braking: Electric vehicles are equipped with regenerative braking which uses the electrical resistance from braking to charge the battery. This is usually optional and you can choose to use standard braking systems instead. But using regenerative braking can help increase the efficiency of your vehicle.

Electronics and accessories: If you’re charging your laptop and the kids are watching the infotainment system, this is an extra drain on your battery. Keep your use of electronics and accessories to a minimum if you want to keep your EV running as efficiently as possible.

Looking to make the switch to an EV?

Our EV subscriptions will get you on the road faster and with less hassle, while finding an EV that suits your needs. Whether you’re a city driver or need more range for longer distances, the most efficient EV is the one that works for you.

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How much electricity does it take to fully charge an electric vehicle?

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