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EVFIN · Understand your charging options

Go electric.
Solar is optional.

Discover the options that fit your life, whether you can charge at home, at work, from solar or only at public chargers. Compare real costs before committing to extra equipment.

Compare your costs

Step 1 · How would you charge?

Four practical options. No compulsory solar purchase.

Select the arrangement most realistic for you. You can explore alternatives below.

An EV can make sense without home charging.

Public AC may suit routine stops, while DC offers faster sessions where the vehicle supports it. Compare the actual tariff and opening hours before relying on either.

No solar panels, home battery or wallbox are required. Charging availability, operating hours, time spent parked, parking fees and any session fees still matter.

Step 2 · Your costs

What will your daily commute cost?

Enter your daytime and nighttime daily distance. We estimate the energy needed, where the car can charge while parked, and what it costs compared with petrol or diesel.

Your daily commuteDaytime driving does not necessarily mean daytime solar charging. The car must be parked and plugged in.
Consumption and energy pricesEnter vehicle efficiency and local prices for a personalised comparison.

Simple regional planning estimate: R4.34/kWh. This is a provincial average effective-cost benchmark at approximately 550 kWh household consumption, not a published energy-only municipal tariff. No separate fixed fees are added in this EV comparison; individual municipal and Eskom-direct prices differ.

Charging-rate realitySelected AC connection: 7.36 kW nominal, with an estimated maximum of 7.36 kW after the vehicle's onboard AC limit.Charging-time estimates use the selected vehicle efficiency, AC charging power and assumed charging losses. Actual charging rates vary by vehicle, electrical supply and charging conditions.Safety/compatibility: Requires a suitably rated, protected 32 A dedicated single-phase circuit and professional installation.A charger’s rated power is not guaranteed vehicle charging power. DC fast-charging rates may reduce as the battery fills, depending on the vehicle and battery conditions.

Monthly estimates use 52 weeks / 12 months at your selected driving days per week. Public tariff values are illustrative reference prices, not live station pricing. Verify the actual tariff before charging. We use illustrative 90% AC and 95% DC charging efficiencies; actual station metering and losses vary. Charger nameplate power is not guaranteed vehicle power. A household wall socket must be assessed before continuous EV charging, especially at 16 A; three-phase requires compatible supply and vehicle support. Provincial rates are planning estimates, not live municipal tariffs.

Your daily driving and energy

Daytime driving12 kWh60 km
Nighttime driving4 kWh20 km
Each driving day17.78 kWhAC supply, incl. assumed losses

At the selected 7.36 kW AC rate, about 2.42 hours of charging would replace a typical driving day's energy, provided the supply and vehicle can sustain that rate. Estimated 1733.33 km/month.

Charging fit for your routine

Home-grid charging is a practical first option. Solar or extra home batteries are not required where the grid, circuit capacity and overnight parking time are sufficient.

At this AC charging rate, allow approximately 2.42 hours overnight to replace each driving day's energy.

Estimated monthly driving energy costs

Public AC · 22 kW stationR 2 265 /month

R 104,53 per driving day · R 130,67 per 100 km · R 5,88/kWh

Home grid charging, where availableR 1 672 /month

R 77,16 per driving day · R 96,44 per 100 km · R4.34/kWh provincial guide

Petrol comparisonR 3 818 /month

R 176,22 per driving day · R 220,28 per 100 km

Estimated public AC energy saving vs petrolR 1 553/month

You may save on driving energy without a home charger or solar at these inputs.

Home-grid saving vs petrol: R 2 146 per month. Each comparison assumes all charging energy is purchased at that one tariff, not a mixed charging schedule. Figures exclude financing, insurance, maintenance, tyres, public parking/session fees, equipment and installation costs.

Energy planning note

385.19 kWh/month if supplied through AC charging, based on 5 driving days per week. Public DC charging cost is estimated separately. Day and night driving are consumption periods, not charging sources. Solar can contribute only while the vehicle is parked and plugged in with sufficient surplus generation. Overnight grid charging does not require a home battery.

Step 3 · Choose confidently

What might you actually need?

No home charger?

Public AC or DC may still make financial sense. Check accessible chargers, opening hours and actual tariffs before choosing your vehicle.

Solar equipment needed: none.

Can charge at home?

A correctly installed AC charger or suitable protected circuit may be enough. Start with your household electricity cost.

Compare home charging equipment

Charging at night?

Grid charging is often more practical than buying substantial battery capacity just for the vehicle. Storage requires an independent financial assessment.

A large battery is not automatically recommended.

Finance first. Choose your EV second.

No solar is required to start an EV finance enquiry. EVFIN can help you select a car that works for your actual charging situation, subject to lender approval and vehicle availability.

Explore Electric Vehicles Explore AC Chargers Start Finance Enquiry Discuss my options with Andre

Price transparency: Comparisons update instantly with your inputs but do not fetch live charging station tariffs or fuel prices. Confirm public charging rates and access in the charging operator's app before travelling. Home solar and storage require a separate installed-cost assessment. DC peak charging power is not sustained throughout a session; actual charge time depends on vehicle DC acceptance, battery temperature and state of charge. No claim of free energy or guaranteed total cost savings is made.