Cost calculator for electric cars
How much does an electric car cost per year? With our calculator you know. Simply select an electric car from the list and indicate how many kilometers you drive per month or per year. You will already get an estimate of how high your annual costs are with the electric car.
AutoScout24 Cost Calculator
The operating costs of a passenger car can be divided into fixed and variable operating costs.
FIXED COSTS are made up of: amortization and interest costs, traffic tax, liability and comprehensive insurance, and costs for parking and car care.
VARIABLE COSTS depend on the annual mileage and the general driving style. They are made up of: depreciation costs, fuel costs and service costs.
For our calculation, we immediately amortized and depreciated the vehicle price, i.e. set it to zero. In addition, we assume CHF 0 for traffic taxes, corresponding to a registration of the electric car in the canton of Zurich.
Please note that the results generated by the cost calculator are only estimates for illustrative purposes and are not binding. The actual maintenance costs may vary depending on individual circumstances and other factors. We do not guarantee or assume any liability for the accuracy or completeness of the results of the cost calculator and we recommend that you seek advice before making any decisions based on these results.
What are the costs of an electric car?
In addition to fixed costs such as the purchase price, monthly leasing costs as well as insurance or traffic taxes, you have to reckon with a whole range of variable costs.
By far the largest variable cost item is electricity consumption. In addition, there are service costs and the general wear and tear of the car, for example on the tires. The good news for electric car drivers? The service costs of an electric car are generally lower than those of a comparable combustion engine. And you usually drive cheaper with electricity than with petrol or diesel.
Learn more about the cost comparison between electric cars and combustion engines in our blog.
What are the electricity costs for an electric car?
How expensive the electricity costs are depends on where you charge the battery. At home at a wallbox or at the socket with solar power from your own photovoltaic system, it is cheapest, after all, you produce the electricity yourself.
If you charge via the public grid, you can expect to pay 30 centimes per kWh. This is the median electricity price for 2024 across the whole of Switzerland, so it is only a guideline. The exact price of electricity is different in each municipality.
Good to know: On the website of the Federal Electricity Commission, you can find electricity prices in all Swiss municipalities.
The most expensive thing is to charge at charging stations from private providers. Here it costs you between 60 and 1.20 francs per kWh.
In concrete terms, this means that in order to fully charge an electric car with a 50 kWh battery, you have to reckon with the following costs:
- At home: CHF 0
- On the public electricity grid at the median electricity price: approx. CHF 15
- At a charging station: CHF 30 to CHF 40, depending on the provider and charging speed
You can find out more about charging costs for electric cars in this article.
"The free charging at home is a big plus"
With solar power from his own roof, AutoScout24 user Stefan charges his Volvo XC40 Recharge Ultimate at the lowest price. What else the former Hummer driver thinks about electromobility and how satisfied he is with his electric SUV, Stefan tells us in his experience report.
Unterhaltskosten von Elektroautos und Verbrennern im Vergleich
Geht es um den regelmässigen Service, ist es eindeutig: E-Autos sind günstiger als Verbrenner. Das liegt in erster Linie daran, dass Elektromotoren viel weniger mechanische Teile als Verbrennungsmotoren haben. Deshalb sind sie weniger anfällig für Defekte.
Doch wie sieht es in der Gesamtsicht aus? Sind E-Autos immer noch günstiger, wenn man alle Unterhaltskosten berücksichtigt? In unserem Blog-Artikel erfährst du mehr.
Finanzielle Förderung für E-Autos
Verschiedene Kantone, Gemeinden und Elektrizitätswerke fördern Elektroautos finanziell. Sei es mit Prämien beim Kauf eines E-Autos, finanzieller Unterstützung bei der Installation einer Ladestation oder tieferen Verkehrssteuern für Autos mit elektrischem Antrieb.
Welche Förderprogramme an deinem Wohnort gelten, erfährst du in unserer Übersicht.
Wichtig: Da ständig neue Förderprogramme starten und andere ablaufen, können wir die Vollständigkeit der Auflistung nicht garantieren. Informiere dich am besten auch auf deiner Gemeinde oder bei deinem Stromanbieter direkt.
FAQ
The purchase price for electric cars is usually still slightly higher than for comparable models with combustion engines. On the other hand, the running costs for e-cars are lower. On the one hand, the built-in mechanics is much less complex than in combustion engines, which means that electric cars have fewer defects. On the other hand, electricity in Switzerland is cheaper than petrol or diesel.
This means that with every kilometer driven, you get closer to the point where the electric car pays off financially. When exactly the case occurs depends, among other things, on how much you travel by car and how the prices of electricity, gasoline and diesel develop.
Basically, you can charge electric cars via the normal socket. However, it takes a few hours for the battery to be full again. It is faster to have your own wallbox, i.e. a charging station for your home. This allows you to charge the battery at up to 22 kW/h – around ten times faster than via a socket. However, a wallbox including installation quickly costs over 1,000 francs.
The basic rule is: The faster you charge your electric car, the more it costs. This is because at fast charging stations with direct current, the kWh is sometimes up to 40% more expensive than at slower stations. If you want to save money when charging, you should plan enough time.
But the tariffs at charging stations are constantly changing. An overview of all charging network providers in Switzerland and their prices on our charging card.