Electric vehicles can charge in two ways, and which one you use most decides what your EV really costs to run.
AC charging
An AC charger sends mains power to the charger built into the car, which converts it for the battery. This is what you install at home or at work. It is slower, often taking several hours for a full charge, but it uses your normal electricity rate, usually ₹6 to ₹9 a unit.
DC fast charging
A DC fast charger converts power itself and feeds the battery directly, so it is much faster. Public DC chargers cost about ₹15 to ₹26 a unit, roughly three times the home rate.
What it means per km
| Home AC (₹8 a unit) | Public DC (₹22 a unit) | |
|---|---|---|
| Electric car, about 16 units per 100 km | About ₹1.30 per km | About ₹3.55 per km |
| Petrol car for comparison | About ₹5.5 to ₹7 per km |
Example
A car driving 1,500 km a month uses about 250 units. Charged at home it costs about ₹2,000 a month. Charged only at public fast chargers it costs about ₹5,500, still cheaper than petrol but with most of the saving gone.
Related: cost per unit.
Sources
Figures last checked on 26 September 2026.