New research by Switcher.ie has revealed the latest costs of charging an electric vehicle (EV) across Europe, with Germany, Denmark, and Ireland being the three most expensive countries.
Using the latest data from Eurostat, Switcher.ie researched the costs of at-home EV charging across Europe for the top 25 bestselling battery electric cars.
In 2024, the average full charge cost* in Europe was €13.83, while a 100-km road trip cost €3.79. However, last year, EU charging costs did rise, increasing by an average of 0.5%; although this might seem like a small increase, costs and price changes have varied considerably across Europe.
Germany, Denmark, and Ireland are the most expensive countries in Europe to charge an EV, with costs as high as €25.73 per full charge.
Turkey, Georgia and Kosovo are the cheapest countries to power an electric car, with a full charge costing as little as €4.05.
The average EV charging costs hardly changed last year, while across Europe, some countries experienced either steep hikes (France and Poland) or sharp drops (Latvia and Georgia).
On average, a full charge in Europe costs 4% of net weekly income, with Romanians having to part with 7.4% of their weekly income to charge their EV. This contrasts with Norwegians, who only spend 1.4% of their weekly pay on powering 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, except for Czechia, which has recently experienced a surge in EV sales due to the recent introduction of generous purchase incentives.
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 prevalent.
These countries tend to have lower sales and a smaller EV market share due to the prohibitive costs of many electric and hybrid vehicles. They are also less affordable to run when costs are set against median earnings.
Eoin Clarke, the Commercial Director of Switcher.ie commented, “Our latest study shows that while the average cost of charging an electric vehicle at home has levelled off, significant price differences persist across the EU, with some countries, like Germany, still enduring high prices while others are enjoying falling costs. The differing price trends likely stem from the withdrawal of government support brought in during the energy crisis (some of which were more generous than others) and ongoing conflicts, which impact countries differently.
Although electricity prices haven’t returned to pre-pandemic lows, the worst of the energy crisis appears to be over, and EV running costs are still nowhere near as financially draining as petrol or diesel cars.
The electric car market saw a downturn during 2024, as many governments phased out initiatives like purchase grants and tax benefits, but the first half of 2025 has seen EV sales shift into high gear, with purchases up by 24% across the EU.
Notably, Spain, Italy, and Czechia have experienced a surge in sales of up to 140%, while Belgium, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries are enjoying a resurgence, with only France bucking the upward trend.
Now that EV prices are falling, the second-hand EV market is gathering steam, and charging infrastructure is improving, 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 smart energy plans and car insurance designed especially for electric vehicle owners.”
Sources:
- Eurostat
- Jato
- ACEA
- SIMI
* Full charge costs based on the 25 best-selling EVs in 2024.
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