While riding the suburbs on an e-bike and thinking a heck lot of useless things, it finally hits you. How much does it cost to charge an e-bike battery? A pretty smart question, actually.
Finding (or calculating) the cost is really simple. All you need is a regular calculator, the battery watt hour, your local electricity charge (per kWh), and a few seconds to spare.
However, math isn’t everyone’s cup of tea. We’ll include a calculator below that will do the calculation for you. In seconds.
Besides, we also included e-bike battery’s charging costs in 80% of the US states. Scroll down and have a pick at your state below to avoid calculations.
We also included a thorough guide on how you can reduce the cost of charging your electric bike in the end.
We have a lot to cover. Let’s cut the chase, then! Shall we?
E-Bike Battery Charging (average) Cost: Easy Table
In a hurry? Well, we got your back. We have collected a table of e-bike battery charging costs of various US states and countries around the world. Read more below:
E-Bike Battery Charging Cost: For Different States in The Us
| US State | Electricity price
(as of 2022) |
36v 10ah | 48v 12 ah | 52v 13 ah |
| Alabama | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.09 |
| Alaska | $0.22 | $0.08 | $0.13 | $0.15 |
| Arizona | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Arkansas | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| California | $0.24 | $0.08 | $0.14 | $0.16 |
| Colorado | $0.14 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Connecticut | $0.22 | $0.08 | $0.13 | $0.15 |
| Delaware | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Florida | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Georgia | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Hawaii | $0.37 | $0.13 | $0.22 | $0.25 |
| Idaho | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Illinois | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Indiana | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Iowa | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Kansas | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Kentucky | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Louisiana | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.08 |
| Maine | $0.18 | $0.07 | $0.11 | $0.12 |
| Maryland | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Massachusetts | $0.25 | $0.09 | $0.15 | $0.17 |
| Michigan | $0.17 | $0.06 | $0.10 | $0.12 |
| Minnesota | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.09 |
| Mississippi | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Missouri | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Montana | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Nebraska | $0.09 | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.06 |
| Nevada | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.09 |
| New Hampshire | $0.21 | $0.08 | $0.12 | $0.14 |
| New Jersey | $0.16 | $0.06 | $0.09 | $0.11 |
| New Mexico | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| New York | $0.21 | $0.08 | $0.12 | $0.14 |
| North Carolina | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| North Dakota | $0.09 | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.06 |
| Ohio | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Oklahoma | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Oregon | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.14 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.10 |
| Rhode Island | $0.24 | $0.08 | $0.14 | $0.16 |
| South Carolina | $0.13 | $0.05 | $0.07 | $0.09 |
| South Dakota | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Tennessee | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Texas | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Utah | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Vermont | $0.19 | $0.07 | $0.11 | $0.13 |
| Virginia | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Washington | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| West Virginia | $0.12 | $0.04 | $0.07 | $0.08 |
| Wisconsin | $0.15 | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Wyoming | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
E-Bike Battery Charging Cost: For Different Countries of The World
| Country | Electricity price (as of 2022 in an average) | 36v 10ah | 48v 12 ah | 52v 13 ah |
| United States (US) | $0.15 | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| United Kingdom (UK) | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Canada (CA) | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Australia (AU) | $0.25 | $0.09 | $0.14 | $0.17 |
| Belgium | $0.15 | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Brazil | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Austria | $0.18 | $0.06 | $0.10 | $0.12 |
| China | $0.50 | $0.18 | $0.29 | $0.34 |
| Colombia | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Finland | $0.09 | $0.03 | $0.05 | $0.06 |
| France | $0.15 | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| Germany | $0.15 | $0.05 | $0.09 | $0.10 |
| India | $0.06 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Indonesia | $0.07 | $0.03 | $0.04 | $0.05 |
| Italy | $0.14 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Japan | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Netherlands | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| New Zealand | $0.11 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Poland | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Portugal | $0.14 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| South Africa | $0.06 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| South Korea | $0.06 | $0.02 | $0.03 | $0.04 |
| Spain | $0.14 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
| Sweden | $0.10 | $0.04 | $0.06 | $0.07 |
| Turkey | $0.14 | $0.05 | $0.08 | $0.09 |
How to Calculate E-Bike Battery Charging Cost
There are a lot of e-bike batteries out there. But the charging cost calculation is always the same. You divide the watt requirement of the battery by a thousand and then multiply the result with your electricity bill’s Kwh cost.
The equation is,
{(V x Ah) ÷ 1000} X (Cost per Kwh)
Or, (Wh ÷ 1000) x (Cost per Kwh)
We Know,
- V = Voltage
- Ah = Ampere
- (V x Ah) = Wh
- Wh= Watt-hour
- KWh= Kilowatt-hour
Try out Our Ebike Cost Calculator for A Real-Time Result:
For a 36v battery: Capacity 10 Ah
In a 36v battery, the amp capacity will increase or decrease the watt count. Let’s just consider the 10ah capacity for now and the cost per kwh is 15 cents (US standard).
Here,
- Voltage is, 36v
- Ampere capacity is, 10Ah
- Cost per KWh is 15 cents
So, the Wh requirement for the battery is, (36 X 10) Watt hour, or 360 Wh
In KWh, the result stands, 360Wh ÷ 1000 = 0.36 KWh
Finally, the cost for charging the e-bike battery once is, (0.36 KWh X 15 cents), or 5 cents
E-bike battery charging cost: From 36v – 52v batteries
| For, 15 cents per 1KWh | Battery Ampere capacity | 36V battery | 48V battery | 52V battery |
| 8 Ah | 4.32 cents | 5.76 cents | 6.24 cents | |
| 10 Ah | 5.4 cents | 7.2 cents | 7.8 cents | |
| 12 Ah | 6.48 cents | 8.64 cents | 9.36 cents | |
| 15 Ah | 8.1 cents | 10.8 cents | 11.7 cents | |
| 17 Ah | 9.18 cents | 12.24 cents | 13.26 cents |
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an E-Bike Battery: Every Way Possible
When it comes to charging an e-bike battery, we hardly consider the ways to charge it without a power grid. The cost may increase or decrease, depending on the type of charging method you are using.
Want more calculated statements? Calculate it yourself with the e-bike charging cost calculator above.
Charging an Ebike with A Generator
When good electric power is hard to find, chances are you use a generator. However, the process is far from being cost effective. Good generators for ebikes alone can cost a thousand dollars.
Regular diesel generators can range from $0.80 – $5.00 per kWh depending on the fuel cost.
So, if you happen to use a generator for powering your home, charging an e-bike will cost you about 2-3.5 dollars.
Going Solar
Solar power is kinda like your one time investment. You hook it once and get regular electricity for decades. Charging an e-bike battery of any voltage will cost you nearly zero dollars. Other than the initial investment of setting up the solar grid, you are completely clean.
Using a Car Battery
Surprised to see a car battery in the list? So were we. In fact, you can charge an e-bike anywhere from 25% to 100% with this method. The whole process will pitch a price of about 150 dollars initially. Afterwards, you have to pay for $0.80 – $5.00 dollars for every KWh electrically you generate.
Charging an e-bike battery of 42v will cost you anywhere between $0.3 to $0.4.
Portable Chargers
Portable chargers are just like your regular chargers but way smaller. They are a bit inefficient as well. However, using a portable charger won’t cost you any more than a regular one.
You can use the e-bike battery charging calculator to calculate exactly how much you spent charging the darn battery.
Pure Pedal Power
Power regeneration while pedaling isn’t new. If your e-bike offers this feature, recharging the battery won’t cost you a dime. All you need to do is to hop on the e-bike, start the pedal mode, and ride your way until you hit a 30% limit.
Note: This method can’t take your e-bike to a full charge. For a fully charged e-bike battery, you will need to use a charging adapter.
Reduce E-Bike Charging Cost: Simple and Straightforward Tips
Charging an e-bike will cost you mere cents. However, overcharging or a damaged battery can increase the charging cost. If you want to cut costs even less than that, try out the tips below:
Using an Electric Charge Timer
Though most e-bikes offer charge restrictions, there are some that start to charge up every time the battery hits 99%. Electric charge timers can stop the flow of electric current after a certain time limit.
Suppose your e-bike charges within 6 hours. Simply attach an electric charge restrictor, and you are done.
Use and Charge the Battery Regularly
Every time the battery hits 20%, it’s time to plug in the charger. Keeping the e-bike unused can degrade the battery faster, making battery discharge a sad reality.
Turns out, a faulty battery will consume more power and the output will dramatically decrease. Regular usage and charging can resolve this problem while keeping the battery healthy.
Replace a Faulty Battery
If the battery turns old as Methuselah, the charging time and discharge rate will increase. You will need to charge more often and hardly get similar output.
As a battery ages, its internal components face failure, making it consume more power. So, you need to replace the battery as soon as possible for the electricity bills to go down.
Go for A Pedal Power Regeneration E-Bike
Pedal power regeneration is a new feature in e-bikes, which lets you charge the bike just by pedaling. Though most e-bikes aren’t equipped with this feature, some Eahora e-bikes like the X5 750W, and X7 do offer pedal regeneration. The best part is, you can save up to 30% battery power every time you use the pedals.
Off-Peak Hours Charging
During on-peak hours, the prices of electricity skyrockets. At the same time, for off-peak, the electricity prices decrease about 20%. Try charging the e-bike during this time and get a cut in your electricity bill every time.
In summers, the off-peak hours can last from noon to 6 am. During winters, the off-peak hours are from 6am to 9 a.m. However, the off-peak hour depends on where you live.
Use Solar Power
Going solar can save you a heck lot of money. Spending about 600 dollars on solar panels can provide enough power for your phone, computer, and also e-bikes. For an on-grid solar system, the extra electricity will go to the main power grid, reducing the overall electricity bill.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should Ebike Batteries Be on Or Off when Charging?
You should always turn off e-bike batteries while charging. If you plug in the charger while the e-bike is still on, the process will overheat the battery cells. Thus, the battery will degrade faster for sure.
How Many Watts Is Good for An Ebike?
The best watt for an e-bike depends solely on where you use it. Suppose you like riding uphill terrain, then choosing a 750w ebike or 500w ebike will do the trick. On the other hand, for regular city commuting, a 350w ebike won’t be half bad.
Can You Charge e-Bikes Overnight?
Charging e-bikes overnight can be quite risky and will increase your electricity bills for sure. If you have no choice but to charge e-bikes overnight, use an electric charging timer. It will restrict overcharging your battery and extend the battery’s service life.
End Note
The cost of charging e-bikes will always vary from place to place, due to the electricity pricing.
It’s not a big deal, as gas prices are way off the hook these days. You can expect to pay about 0.05 to 0.25 cents for a full e-bike battery charge.
A huge save if you consider 4 dollars for a gallon of oil nowadays. For most of us, e-bikes will save loads of money on average. Then again, some e-bikes will also let you ride for more than 50 miles on a single full charge.
Other than this, there are other options of e-bike battery charging like solar charging, pedal regeneration, and so on. However, the most cost effective option is the solar charging one. You will get free electricity for your home and a 100% charged e-bike battery.