EV charging
How much does it cost to charge an EV in South Africa?
At home on typical 2026/27 metro energy rates (~R3.30–R4.70/kWh), about 16–18 kWh for 100 km usually costs roughly R53–R85. Public DC is often ~R6–R8/kWh — with SAEV’s Richmond site the cheap outlier at ~R3.49/kWh (R2.49 when its battery is above 90%) versus GridCars ~R7.35/kWh DC, per DriveElectric.
Answer first: Home (and solar surplus) wins on cost per kilometre. Public DC is for travel. Petrol at inland 95 near R30/ℓ is usually more expensive per 100 km than even mid-priced public charging for efficient EVs.
Worked example — ~100 km
Assume a mid-size EV using 17 kWh / 100 km (check your trip computer).
| Source | Assumed R/kWh | Cost / 100 km | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home — lower metro band | ~R3.30 | ~R56 | Energy component; fixed charge still on the bill |
| Home — upper metro band | ~R4.70 | ~R80 | See 2026 tariffs |
| Home — midday solar surplus | ~R0–R1 effective | Near free to very low | Opportunity cost of export credits |
| SAEV Richmond DC | ~R3.49 (R2.49 if BESS >90%) | ~R59 (~R42) | DriveElectric / MyBroadband, Oct 2026 |
| GridCars-style public DC | ~R7.35 | ~R125 | Same DriveElectric cite |
| Public AC (example) | ~R5.88 | ~R100 | Operator / host FAQs vary |
| Petrol 95 inland (eff. 6.5 ℓ/100) | ~R30/ℓ | ~R195 | Illustrative; fuel prices move weekly |
Illustrative only — your car, tariff block, fixed charges and driving style change the rand total.
Hardware cost is separate
Wallbox + install is a one-off (often roughly R8 000–R25 000+ hardware plus labour — see home charger cost). Amortise it over years of cheap home kWh; do not confuse sticker price with cost per kilometre.
How to pay less without heroics
- Charge at home overnight or on solar surplus.
- Use public DC sparingly; hunt battery-backed cheap sites when they exist.
- Keep tyres and cabin pre-conditioning sensible — they move Wh/km more than brand slogans.