How much it costs to charge an EV is one of the most common questions from people in Saudi Arabia who are thinking of switching. Many buyers decide based on the daily running cost.
In short, charging an EV costs far less than filling a gasoline tank. The actual cost depends on the car, its battery capacity, whether you charge at home or at a public station, and the electricity tariff.
This article gives detailed figures for charging the most popular EVs in Saudi Arabia and compares them with the cost of gasoline.
Electricity tariffs in Saudi Arabia
To understand charging costs, start with the Kingdom's electricity prices. The tariff depends on the type of use:
- Residential tariff: 0.18 SAR per kilowatt-hour, or kWh, for consumption up to 6,000 kWh per month. At this rate, home charging costs little.
- Commercial tariff: 0.32 SAR per kilowatt-hour, applied to shops, offices and other non-residential buildings.
- Public charging stations: prices typically range from 0.60 to 1.50 SAR per kilowatt-hour, depending on the operator and whether the charger is slow or fast.
Important note: Home charging at the residential tariff of 0.18 SAR per kWh is the cheapest option, and one of the main reasons to install a home charger.
Full charging cost for the most popular EVs
To calculate the cost of a full charge, multiply the battery capacity in kWh by the price per kWh. Here is the charging cost for leading EVs sold in Saudi Arabia:
As the table shows, a full charge at home costs no more than 15 SAR in most cases, a small amount compared to filling a full tank of gasoline.
Monthly cost comparison: electric charging vs. gasoline
Assume a driver covers 1,500 kilometers per month, the average in the Kingdom. We compare a Tesla Model 3 with a gasoline car of similar size, the Toyota Camry:
Electric car: Tesla Model 3
- Consumption rate: approximately 15 kWh per 100 km
- Monthly consumption: 1,500 × 0.15 = 225 kWh
- Cost with home charging: 225 × 0.18 = 40.50 SAR
- Cost with public charging: 225 × 0.80 = 180 SAR, an estimate
Gasoline car: Toyota Camry
- Consumption rate: approximately 8 liters per 100 km
- Monthly consumption: 1,500 × 0.08 = 120 liters
- Price per liter of 91 gasoline: 2.18 SAR
- Monthly cost: 120 × 2.18 = 261.60 SAR
The result: home charging saves you 221 SAR per month compared to gasoline, or about 85% of your fuel cost. Even if you rely entirely on public charging, you still save around 31%.
DC fast charging cost vs. home charging
DC fast charging is useful on trips between cities, but it costs more than home charging. Here's the comparison:
Home charging is six to eight times cheaper than public fast charging. The best approach is to charge at home for daily use and use fast charging only when you need it on trips.
Calculating annual savings: electric vehicle vs. gasoline car
Based on these figures, and assuming you drive 18,000 kilometers per year, or 1,500 km per month, here are the annual fuel savings:
Over five years of home charging, you can save more than 13,000 SAR on fuel alone. Maintenance costs less too, with no engine oil, filters or belts, so the total savings are larger.
Public charging station prices in Saudi Arabia
The Kingdom's public charging network keeps growing, and prices depend on the operator and charger type. These are the common pricing models:
- Per-kWh pricing: the most common and fairest model. You pay for the energy your car actually uses. Prices range from 0.60 to 1.50 SAR per kilowatt-hour.
- Per-minute pricing: used by some stations. It can be less fair, because charging speed changes with the battery's state of charge and temperature.
- Monthly subscriptions: some operators offer monthly packages that provide discounted rates for those who charge regularly.
- Free charging: some shopping malls and hotels offer it free to their customers and visitors.
Practical tips to reduce your EV charging costs
These steps lower your charging costs:
1. Install a home charger
Home charging at the residential tariff of 0.18 SAR per kWh is the cheapest option. The savings over public charging pay for a home charger within a few months.
2. Charge during off-peak hours
Charge at night, between 10 PM and 6 AM, when possible. The load on the grid is lower then, which keeps the supply stable and extends the charger's life. Some electricity providers may also offer lower off-peak tariffs in the future.
3. Invest in solar energy
Solar panels on your roof can cut charging costs to nearly zero. Saudi Arabia gets plenty of sunshine, and government support for renewable energy is growing under Vision 2030.
4. Use free charging
Look for free charging stations at shopping malls, hotels and public parking lots. Many businesses offer free charging to attract customers.
5. Maintain battery efficiency
Avoid charging the battery to 100% daily unless you need the full range. Keeping the charge level between 20% and 80% extends battery life and reduces energy loss during charging.
Did you know? An electric vehicle charged at home with solar power costs almost nothing to run.
Additional savings beyond fuel costs
Electric vehicles cost much less to maintain than gasoline cars, because:
- No need for engine oil changes: there is no internal combustion engine in an electric vehicle.
- Brake discs last longer: thanks to the regenerative braking system, which uses the electric motor to slow down the vehicle.
- Fewer moving parts: an electric motor has far fewer parts than an internal combustion engine, so there are fewer breakdowns.
- No need for air and fuel filters: nor timing belts or spark plugs.
You can save about 1,500 to 3,000 SAR per year on maintenance alone, on top of the fuel savings.
Need help choosing the right charger?
A home charger gives you the biggest savings. Our team at Climatech Charger offers a free consultation and helps you choose the right charger for your car and home.
