EV Trip Energy and Cost Calculator
Estimate energy, charging cost and approximate charging stops for a long electric-car journey.
Currency selection changes the unit label, not an exchange rate. Enter every price in the selected currency.
How to choose the inputs
Use driving consumption at the battery for a consistent energy and stop estimate. The displayed cost is that energy multiplied by one price; charging losses are not included. It also values energy already in the battery at the same price, rather than calculating only purchases during the trip.
Formula and measurement boundary
The form now uses an explicit stop charge target. The price remains a battery-side energy valuation, including energy already stored at departure; it is not only the amount purchased en route.
E = (Trip distance × Energy consumption) / 100; E₀ = Usable battery capacity × (Starting charge − Arrival reserve) / 100; E₁ = Usable battery capacity × (Charge target at each stop − Arrival reserve) / 100; N = max(0, ceil((E − E₀) / E₁)); Average charging price × E.
Three worked scenarios
These are fixed hypothetical examples, not live tariffs or verified product data. They use EUR and kilometres where applicable and do not change with the form settings. Only the table input changes.
Unchanged inputs
- Energy consumption: 20 kWh/100 km
- Usable battery capacity: 60 kWh
- Starting charge: 90 %
- Arrival reserve: 10 %
- Average charging price: 0.4 EUR/kWh
| Trip distance | Estimated result |
|---|---|
| 100 km | €8.00 |
| 300 km | €24.00 |
| 600 km | €48.00 |
The examples require 20, 60 and 120 kWh. The starting window provides 48 kWh; each later stop is assumed to add 42 kWh. That produces 0, 1 and 2 modelled stops. These are energy arithmetic, not located charging stops.
What this result does not establish
- Available energy per later leg = usable capacity × (stop charge target − arrival reserve) / 100. Stop count uses your chosen charging window; it does not locate stations or predict queues.
- Charger locations, availability, detours and session duration are not considered.
- For a separate energy-bill estimate divide trip energy by charging efficiency before applying the price; do not alter the stop model silently.
Turn the energy estimate into charging legs
The following are additional hypothetical decision examples. Separately discussed fees, reserve allowances or running costs are not automatically added to the form result.
A hypothetical 300 km journey at 22 kWh/100 km requires 66 kWh at the battery. With 60 kWh usable capacity, starting at 90% and preserving a 15% arrival reserve, the first leg has 45 kWh available: about 204.5 km at that constant consumption. The journey therefore needs charging even though its total energy is only slightly above the full pack capacity.
A repeated leg from 80% down to 15% uses 39 kWh, about 177.3 km at the same consumption. These arithmetic ranges do not guarantee a charger at the boundary. Put actual charging locations into the route and leave a buffer for a closed or occupied station. A total-stop count cannot optimise detours, charging curves or the arrival percentage at each station.
Split mixed driving into segments if speeds and terrain differ substantially. For example, 100 km at 18 and 200 km at 24 kWh/100 km totals 66 kWh; the distance-weighted average is 22. Do not average the two rates equally. For a mountainous route, plan by actual legs rather than relying on a single round-trip average that hides the climb.
Sources and their scope
- EIA: measuring electricity — Power and energy units only; not equipment performance.
These reference pages were accessed on 21 September 2026. The equations and examples are the site’s own model; these sources do not certify its defaults or results.
Frequently asked questions
Is this a route planner?
No. Confirm the actual route, charging locations and alternatives before departure.
Why can a trip cost money with zero stops?
The tool values energy consumed, including energy charged before departure.
Read the model and verification limits