What Does Charging an EV at Home Actually Cost per Month?

The short answer: drive 1,500 km a month and charging at home on the standard tariff costs about 1,050 baht, or about 725 baht on a TOU meter charging overnight. A petrol car covering the same distance costs about 3,569 baht — a saving of roughly 2,500–2,800 baht a month, or around 30,000 baht a year.

How the figures are worked out

There are only two variables: how far the car travels on one unit of electricity, and what a unit costs.

BYD electric cars use roughly 6–7 km per kWh in real-world driving. This article uses 6 km per kWh so the numbers are not flattering.

Cost per unit and cost per kilometre

• Home charging, standard tariff — about 4.2 baht per unit, roughly 0.70 baht per km

• Home charging, TOU meter off-peak — about 2.9 baht per unit, roughly 0.48 baht per km

• Home charging, TOU meter on-peak — about 4.6 baht per unit, roughly 0.77 baht per km

• DC fast charging on the road — about 6.5–8.5 baht per unit, roughly 1.10–1.40 baht per km

Monthly cost by distance driven

The figures below assume home charging, compared with a petrol car doing 15 km per litre on E20 gasohol at 35.69 baht per litre, the price on 12 October 2026.

• 500 km a month — 350 baht on the standard tariff, 240 baht on TOU overnight, against 1,190 baht in petrol, saving 840–950 baht

• 1,000 km a month — 700 baht standard, 480 baht TOU, against 2,379 baht in petrol, saving 1,680–1,900 baht

• 1,500 km a month — 1,050 baht standard, 725 baht TOU, against 3,569 baht in petrol, saving 2,520–2,840 baht

• 2,000 km a month — 1,400 baht standard, 965 baht TOU, against 4,759 baht in petrol, saving 3,360–3,790 baht

• 3,000 km a month — 2,100 baht standard, 1,450 baht TOU, against 7,138 baht in petrol, saving 5,040–5,690 baht

On 91 gasohol at 41.07 baht per litre or 95 petrol at 50.43 baht per litre, the gap widens further.

What is a TOU meter, and is it worth it?

TOU stands for Time of Use: a meter that charges by time of day rather than one flat rate.

• Off-peak, the cheaper window, runs 22:00–09:00 Monday to Friday, and all day on Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays

• On-peak, the expensive window, runs 09:00–22:00 Monday to Friday

The gap between the two is close to double, so scheduling the car to start charging after 22:00 every night cuts the electricity it uses by around 30% straight away.

There is a trade-off: TOU also makes daytime electricity more expensive. Households with someone home all day running the air conditioning may not come out ahead, while households that are out at work and use most of their power in the evening benefit fully. Switching meters involves a fee and conditions, so check with your local electricity authority first.

Why your actual bill will differ

• Driving style — hard acceleration and higher speeds can drop efficiency to around 5 km per kWh

• Traffic and air conditioning — in heavy traffic the air conditioning runs continuously while the car barely moves

• Model and weight — larger models use more energy than smaller ones

• How much you charge away from home — the more DC fast charging, the higher your average cost per km

• The Ft surcharge, revised every four months, moves the price per unit up and down

Savings beyond the energy bill

Compared with a petrol car, an EV also has no oil changes, oil filters, spark plugs or gearbox oil, which makes each scheduled service cheaper. BYD buyers also receive a Home Charger with standard installation, so there is no extra equipment cost at the start.

What about DM-i plug-in hybrids?

A DM-i runs on both electricity and petrol. If you can charge at home and your daily distance stays within the electric-only range, the cost per kilometre is close to a full EV, while longer trips still run on petrol with no charging worries. In short, the more often you charge, the lower your fuel bill.

Frequently asked questions

What does charging an EV at home cost per month? It depends on distance. At 1,500 km a month it is about 1,050 baht on the standard tariff, or about 725 baht on a TOU meter charging overnight.

What is the cost per kilometre? Roughly 0.48–0.70 baht per km charging at home, and roughly 1.10–1.40 baht per km using DC fast charging, against roughly 2.40–3.40 baht per km for a petrol car.

Is home charging cheaper than a charging station? Yes, by around half. Fast charging stations suit long trips; for daily use, charge at home.

Will the extra usage push my household into a higher tariff band? Residential electricity is billed in tiers, so the later units cost more. Charging a car can push your total into a higher band — another reason many households switch to a TOU meter.

Do I need a Home Charger, or can I use a normal socket? A portable charger on a properly rated socket works when necessary, but it is far slower. For daily use, have a Home Charger installed by a qualified electrician.

Fuel prices quoted are from 12 October 2026, and electricity rates follow the 2026 tariff structure, with the Ft surcharge revised every four months. All figures are estimates for comparison; your actual cost depends on the model, how you drive, and your household tariff.