The best power plans for charging your EV
An electric vehicle can typically increase household electricity use by around 20—30%. Save money charging your EV by choosing the best EV power plan and times to charge.
Quick EV charging tips
Electricity is the cheapest fuel, especially if you choose the right power plan and charge during off-peak times.
Taking advantage of time-of-use plans can reduce your charging costs by 40%-50%.
The cheapest way to charge your EV is overnight, between 9pm and 7am, or at weekends.
Compare EV-suitable plans
Find a selection of EV-suitable plans currently offered by retailers below.
Plans are listed alphabetically by provider. The rates offered by different retailers will often vary by location. We recommend visiting each retailer’s site and comparing offers based on your location to determine which plan best meets your needs.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV or fuel a car?
It depends on how you charge your EV, but in most cases EVs are cheaper to run than petrol cars. To travel 100km, including road user charges (RUCs), would cost:
$11 for an EV charged at home on an off-peak rate
$19 for an EV charged by a public fast charger
$19 for the equivalent petrol car.
So, it can be 40% cheaper to fuel using electricity rather than petrol – but this relies on charging your EV on an electricity plan that offers cheaper off-peak rates. The good news is retailers are increasingly making these plans available.
How do New Zealanders typically charge their EVs?
Almost all (97%) EV owners charge at home some of the time, and 80% do more than half their charging at home.
If you charge your EV at home, it’s important to choose the right electricity plan so you can save money on your vehicle charging costs.
What's the best time to charge my EV?
The cheapest way to charge your EV is at home during off-peak times.
Weekdays, between 9pm and 7am.
Weekends.
What's the best type of electricity plan for EV owners?
Time-of-use electricity plans give you different rates for different times of day. These plans will suit you if you can charge your EV during off-peak times when there is less demand on the electricity system and prices are lower. By taking advantage of the lower priced periods offered in time of use plans you can typically reduce your EV charging costs by 40%-50%.
Around 70% of EV owners are on time-of-use plans, and of these, 96% take advantage off-peak charging. Most EV owners (60%) “trickle charge” using a standard three pin-plug rather than invest in a fast charger. It typically takes around 8 hours to trickle-charge an EV, so for most people overnight charging is ideal.
Some retailers also offer electricity plans that have cheaper weekend rates. These plans can be well suited to those households who only need to charge their vehicle once a week.
How much you pay to charge your EV will vary according to the rates and the time periods offered by your retailer. It pays to shop around to find a plan that best matches your households' needs.
