Charging an electric car at home and in public: price and buying a charging station

How much electricity a car consumes

According to Moottori magazine, an ordinary family electric car consumes about 20 kWh per hundred kilometres, and in practice the consumption of virtually all electric cars falls between 15 and 30 kWh/100 km throughout the year. In winter, consumption is increased especially by heating the cabin.

In Motiva's example, home charging of an electric car uses 2 400 kWh a year. With a consumption of 20 kWh per hundred kilometres, that corresponds to about 12 000 kilometres of driving a year. You can see exact consumption for your own car on the trip computer.

Home charging price

At home you pay the same price for the electricity used for charging as for the rest of your consumption: energy, transmission, electricity tax and VAT. According to Statistics Finland, the total price of electricity for households consuming 5,000–15,000 kWh a year was 17.9 c/kWh in June 2026. According to the Energy Authority, the total price for a 5,000 kWh household was on average 20.86 c/kWh on 1.11.2025.

At these prices, 20 kWh of consumption costs about €3.60–4.20 per hundred kilometres. Motiva's example of 2,400 kWh of annual charging costs about €430–500 a year, i.e. about €36–42 a month. Because basic fees are paid anyway, the real price of extra charging may be slightly below the average price.

With a spot-price contract, timing charging to the cheap hours reduces the cost. If your grid company offers time-of-use transmission, electricity transmitted at night is cheaper, which suits overnight charging.

Public charging

At public charging points, the price is determined by the charging operator's price list. The price may be based on the energy charged, time or both, and some services have a start-up or monthly fee. Fast charging is usually more expensive than home charging, so the share of public charging largely determines the car's running costs.

Under the EU's AFIR Regulation on alternative fuels infrastructure, new charging points must allow payment by bank or credit card, and charging prices must be openly available. Check the price at the charging point or in the operator's app before charging.

Purchase and installation of a charging station

Motiva does not recommend a heating post or an ordinary wall socket for continuous charging. An ordinary plug is not designed for long-lasting high-current charging, and a socket in poor condition can overheat. The recommended solution is a separate charging station, for example with a Type 2 connector.

Fixed installation of a charging station is electrical work that a layperson is not permitted to do. According to Tukes, fixed electrical installations are the job of electrical contractors whose operations have been notified to Tukes' register. Ask for quotes from several contractors and at the same time find out whether the main fuse is sufficient or whether load management is needed.

Check the size of the main fuse and the condition of the main electrical panel
Choose a device with load management and a timer
Ask for a written quote in which the labour share is itemised
In a housing company, agree on permission and cost sharing with the board in advance

Household deduction for installation work

Installation work for a home charging station can be work eligible for the household deduction when it is done in your own home or yard. The deduction is not given for the device or supplies, only for the labour portion. In a housing company's car hall that is not connected to the dwelling, the deduction may not be available.

According to the Finnish Tax Administration, in 2026–2027 the deduction is 40 % for work bought from a company, the maximum is 2 100 euros per person and the deductible excess 150 euros. The increase applies retroactively to all work paid for in 2026 (Finnish Tax Administration 13.10.2026). For example, for an 800 euro installation job the deduction is 320 euros minus the 150 euro excess, i.e. 170 euros, if there is no other deductible work.

Grants for housing companies and workplaces

The application period for charging infrastructure grants awarded to owners of residential buildings, such as housing companies, has ended, and new applications can no longer be submitted. The appropriation for the workplace charging point grant has also run out. There is currently no separate state grant for a private individual for a home charging station.

You can find vehicle tax, the car fleet and the share of electric cars among new cars in Car Radar.

Frequently asked questions

How much does charging an electric car at home cost?

About €3.60–4.20 per hundred kilometres when the car uses 20 kWh/100 km and the total price of electricity is 17.9–20.86 c/kWh.

Can an electric car be charged from a regular socket?

Temporarily, but Motiva does not recommend it for continuous charging. The safest solution is a charging station installed by an electrical contractor.

Can you get the household tax credit for installing a charging station?

You may be able to get a deduction for the labour portion if the installation is done in your own home or its immediate surroundings. In 2026–2027 the deduction is 40% of the labour, up to €2,100, with a deductible of €150.

Can you get a grant for a charging point?

Applications for the housing companies' charging infrastructure grant have closed, and the appropriation for the workplace grant has run out.

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Calculate it yourself

Ready-made tools

Car annual cost calculator · Fuel or electricity, insurance, tax, servicing and depreciation
Logbook and mileage allowance · Trips with odometer readings, mileage allowance 2026 and a monthly summary

Sources

The article is general information and does not replace the guidance of an authority, a lawyer or an adviser. Check up-to-date information from the sources.