Preis je kWh
The surcharge per kilowatt-hour is the central cost factor. It varies by provider, location and power - HPC is usually the most expensive.
Charging costs & tariffs at a glance
Why an overview of costs is worthwhile
The cost of charging depends on the charging location, electricity price, and charging type. Those who know the influencing factors don't pay more than necessary. LadeGuide shows you which tariff fits the respective charging location.
1. Charging costs at home
Charging at home is almost always the cheapest option — you pay your regular household electricity tariff, without a charging card provider adding fees or surcharges on top.
| Charging option | Typical power | Cost level (approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard socket | 2,3 kW | Your household electricity price (ca. EUR 0.30 to EUR 0.45/kWh) |
| Wallbox | 7,4 – 22 kW | Your household electricity price — often cheaper with a charging tariff |
| Wallbox + PV / Speicher | 7,4 – 22 kW | Eigenerzeugung, oft ca. 0,10 – 0,20 €/kWh |
Why is charging at home cheap?
- No provider fees: Neither a basic fee nor surcharges per kWh — you only pay your own electricity tariff.
- Dedicated charging tariffs: Many electricity providers offer tariffs with a cheaper working price or lower grid fees for electric vehicles.
- Charging at night: With tariffs that have a night rate, a large part of the charging costs falls into the cheap time slot.
- Self-generation: If you charge with solar power or stored electricity, the costs drop significantly — often to €0.10 – 0.20/kWh.
2. Charging costs on the go
At a public charging column, you pay more than just your electricity price: on top of that come the costs of the charging infrastructure (grid connection, maintenance) and the operator's surcharge. The higher the power of the column, the higher the price per kilowatt-hour.
| Charging option | Typical power | Preis je kWh (ca.) |
|---|---|---|
| AC connection (supermarket, parking lot) | 11 – 22 kW | 0,39 – 0,59 €/kWh |
| DC charging (mid-class) | 50 – 150 kW | 0,59 – 0,89 €/kWh |
| HPC (High Power Charging) | 150 – 400+ kW | 0,79 – 1,29 €/kWh |
The price ranges are typical reference values for Germany. Actual prices vary greatly depending on the operator, location, and time of day — LadeGuide compares them based on station and time.
Why is public charging more expensive than at home?
- Higher initial costs: The charging infrastructure must be installed, operated and maintained - the costs are allocated to the kilowatt-hours charged.
- More power, more cost: The higher the power of a column (particularly HPC), the higher the price per kWh — the infrastructure is more heavily loaded.
- Additional fees: Some operators charge a basic fee, parking fees, or standby surcharges. Check these before charging.
Exact terms (provider surcharge, monthly fee, dwell time, roaming) depend on the charging card. You can find an overview on the page about charging cards & providers.
3. What you should watch out for
Before charging at the spot or before booking a charging tariff, these points are the most important. The checklist helps you spot hidden costs and unsuitable terms.
Dwell and parking fees
Some operators start a billing timer after the end of the charging time. Check the free charging duration and the dwell fees — especially at slow AC columns.
Power and charging speed
An expensive DC column is mainly worthwhile if you are in a hurry. If you stay longer in the store or at the destination, the cheaper AC charging becomes the better choice.
Tariff commitment and contract term
Check the minimum duration and whether the tariff can be cancelled monthly. Cheap subscriptions with a fixed term only pay off with regular use.
Roaming and range
A good tariff covers your driving areas — also on trips. Those who charge rarely pay as needed and get by without an ongoing subscription.
Time slots and time of day
Some operators distinguish between day and night hours. Those who are flexible can save several cents per kWh by charging into the cheap time slot.
4. Charging tariffs at a glance — providers & prices 2026
Two tariff models dominate charging on the go: Ad-hoc without a base fee (you only pay per kWh — ideal for occasional charging) and Abonnements with a monthly base fee that in return usually delivers clearly cheaper kWh prices — especially in the DC area. In addition there are factors that surprise you at the station:
- Roaming: Charging costs on third-party networks are almost always higher than your own network price — in some providers noticeably so.
- Blocking fees: e.g. EnBW (over 4 hours, then 10 ct/min, max. €12 per charging session) or Shell (€0.15/min after 60 minutes) — the exact rules are with each provider.
- Dynamic & location-dependent prices: IONITY, Fastned and since mid-2025 also many Shell stations bill according to load and time of day — the app shows the valid price before charging starts.
Ad-hoc tariffs — without a base fee
| Provider / tariff | AC (standard charging) | DC (fast charging) | Roaming (DC) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnBW mobility+ S Base fee: €0 |
0,51–0,56 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,51–0,56 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | bis 0,89 €/kWh | Check current prices |
| E.ON Drive Light Base fee: €0 |
0,54 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,61 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,59–0,79 €/kWh | Check current prices |
| EWE Go Base fee: €0 |
0,52 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,52 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,62 €/kWh | Current prices check |
|
ADAC e-Charge 0 € base fee for members ¹ |
ca. 0,55 €/kWh (Aral-Netz) | ca. 0,55 €/kWh (Aral-Netz) | ca. 0,75 €/kWh | ADAC e-Charge |
|
Shell Recharge (Basic) 0 € base fee + €0.35 per charging session |
0,49–0,64 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,59–0,65 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | — | Check current prices |
Subscriptions — with a monthly base fee
| Provider / tariff | Base fee / month | AC (standard charging) | DC (fast charging) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EnBW mobility+ L | 11,99 €/Monat | 0,39 €/kWh² | 0,39 €/kWh² | Check current prices |
| E.ON Drive More | 6,99 €/Monat | 0,49 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | 0,55 €/kWh (Eigennetz) | Check current prices |
| Shell Recharge e-Deal | 5,99 €/Monat | — | 0,44–0,49 €/kWh (Shell-Netz)³ | To Shell Recharge |
| Elli Premium | 17,99 €/Monat | ca. 0,50 €/kWh | 0,45 €/kWh (IONITY) · 0,55 €/kWh (Partner) | Check current prices |
| Allego Plus | 9,99 €/Monat | — | 0,44 €/kWh (bis 50 kW) · 0,49 €/kWh (HPC, Allego-Netz) | Check current prices |
Reference values, as of: 09 / 2026, gross (incl. VAT). Tariffs, prices and terms change frequently — the currently valid prices you always find with the respective provider: on the price page or directly in the charging app, before you conclude.
¹ ADAC membership required; the charging card costs an additional one-off fee of approx. €9. ² EnBW summer promotion: 5 ct/kWh cheaper at EnBW columns, valid 07.08.–30.09.2026. ³ Applies only at Shell Recharge fast & ultra-fast charging columns, max. 400 kWh/month, cancelable monthly.
Read on: the right tariff for your driving profile
Gelegenheitsfahrer (bis ~125 kWh/Monat)
Without a base fee it usually stays cheapest: EnBW mobility+ S, EWE Go or Shell Recharge Basic. You only pay for charging, no ongoing commitment.
Frequent drivers (more than ~300 kWh/month)
Subscriptions usually pay off faster: EnBW mobility+ L, Shell Recharge e-Deal or Allego Plus. The lower kWh prices amortize the monthly fee — especially in the DC segment.
Mainly AC (parking lot, supermarket)
Here the AC-kWh price counts most of all. EnBW mobility+ S, E.ON Drive Light and EWE Go charge AC and DC in their own network at the same price — good options for everyday standard charging.
Vorwiegend DC-Schnellladen (Reisen, HPC)
With frequent long-distance trips, EnBW L, Elli Premium (IONITY) and Allego Plus (HPC) deliver the cheapest kWh prices in the DC segment — the base fee is quickly recouped.
Read on: earning more than just saving
Besides the ongoing charging costs there is a revenue lever that many EV owners underestimate: the THG quota with THG premium. For the pure CO₂ savings of your vehicle you currently receive around 300 euros per year — and LadeGuide bundles the payout in the app.
LadeGuide calculates the cheapest charging option automatically for you
Electricity price, charging type, and fees — LadeGuide compares them on your journey and suggests the cheapest option.
You can find a complete provider comparison on the page about charging cards & providers.