How to charge your electric vehicle for less

Top tips 

  • Compare power plans and see how much you could save by switching power companies at Powerswitch.org.nz. 

  • Some electricity retailers now offer EV-specific pricing plans. See the best power plans for charging your EV.

  • Charge your EV during off-peak times, which are typically weekdays between 9pm and 7am and weekends. 

  • Time-of-use plans can reduce your charging costs by 40% to 50%. 

  • Smart chargers enable you to automatically align your vehicle charging times with the low-cost period of your electricity plan. See the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) approved list of EV chargers at eeca.govt.nz/smartchargers. 

  • Installing solar panels at your home can help you charge your EV for even less. 

You have the power to drive down your electric vehicle charging costs! 

Electric vehicles (EVs) are roughly 30% to 40% cheaper to run compared with petrol equivalents. In fact, charging your EV overnight at home is like buying petrol at around $1.60 per litre.

But to get the best savings, you need to find the right power company and the electricity plan that best matches your circumstances.

How and when you charge your EV can make a big difference to the charging cost. It’s around 30% cheaper to run a vehicle using electricity rather than petrol if you charge your EV at home using standard power rates. The difference jumps to 40% cheaper if you charge with off-peak rates.

The best power plans for EV owners 

Generally, the best power plans for EV owners are time-of-use electricity plans.  

By taking advantage of the lower-priced periods offered in time-of-use plans, you can typically reduce your EV charging costs by 40% to 50%. 

Ways to charge for less

Power socket

Trickle charging 

Many EV owners trickle charge using a standard three-pin plug and the portable three-pin cable that comes with the car. 

If you trickle charge, opt for plans with longer off-peak periods, such as those with cheaper weekend rates or free power at the weekends. These plans work well if you only need to charge your EV once a week, which is often the case for many EV owners. 

Plans that offer short periods of free power are not as suitable for trickle charging, which requires longer charging times. 

Smart charger

Smart chargers 

Smart chargers can make it easier for you to take advantage of time-of-use power plans that have low-cost or free periods. You can automatically set your smart charger to only charge your vehicle during times when electricity is cheapest.  

Smart EV chargers can be at least three times faster than a three-pin plug, which means you can get more charging at no cost with power plans that have free periods. 

Public EV charger

Charging for less when out and about 

Public chargers can be expensive. But some power plans offer lower rates for public chargers. If you can’t charge at home and are reliant on public chargers, or if you frequently travel long distances away from home, look for power plans that offer lower rates for selected public chargers. 

Solar panels

Charging through solar panels 

Solar power will give you the cheapest rates for EV charging, working out at around 12c/kWh. Adding solar to your home when you have an EV is like building your own personal petrol station on your roof!

How much could you save?

With the market always changing, it pays to check often for the best deals. We compare thousands of electricity and gas plans for free. Do a quick check to see how much you could be saving.

Learn moreLearn more