Charging Cost Seems Too High

You were charged more than you expected for a session

You checked your receipt or app and the charging session cost more than you thought it would. Here is how to understand what happened and how to avoid surprises.

You finished a charging session and the bill was higher than expected. You are not sure if you were overcharged or if you misunderstood the pricing.

What to try first

1

Check if the charger bills per minute or per kWh

Per-minute billing penalizes cars that charge slowly. If your car was charging at 30 kW on a 150 kW charger, you paid for time but received less energy. Per-kWh billing is more predictable. The pricing model is usually displayed on the charger or in the app.
2

Look for idle fees and session fees

Many chargers add a session start fee (0.50-2.00 EUR) and idle fees when your car is full but still plugged in. Idle fees can be 0.10-0.20 EUR per minute. If you left your car plugged in for 30 minutes after it finished, that adds up.
3

Compare the kWh delivered to your battery level change

Check how many kWh the charger says it delivered versus how much your battery level increased. Some energy is lost to heat during charging (typically 5-15%), so the charger always delivers slightly more than what reaches your battery.

More scenarios in the app

The EVcourse app walks you through more specific scenarios for this problem with real-world scenarios. Free to try on iOS. Android coming soon.

Download for iOS

Android coming soon.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between per-kWh and per-minute charging?

Per-kWh billing charges you for the energy delivered, like buying electricity at home. Per-minute billing charges you for how long you are connected, regardless of how fast your car charges. Per-kWh is fairer for drivers with slower charging cars. Some markets require per-kWh billing by regulation.

What are idle fees at EV chargers?

Idle fees are penalties for leaving your car plugged in after charging completes. They exist to free up chargers for other drivers. Rates vary but are typically 0.10-0.20 EUR per minute. Set a phone alarm or use the charging app notifications to avoid them.