Without the right tariff, something as simple as charging your car can end up being more expensive than necessary. And as the weeks and months pass, the difference adds up and makes a real impact on your spending. Choosing the best tariff for your electric car is key to ensuring your savings are truly felt in your wallet.

Why your electricity tariff is key if you charge an electric car at home

Selecting the best tariff for an electric car is not a minor issue; in fact, it is the first step towards more efficient savings that justify the investment in a zero-emissions vehicle.

Charging at home is the most convenient and cost-effective option in the vast majority of cases. However, the final price you pay for your charges depends directly on your electricity tariff.

80–90% of charging is done at home

Statistics show that, once you have installed a charging point at home, your electricity tariff will determine most of your electric mobility spending.

As it is your main charging point, any small variation in the price of a kWh is multiplied by the dozens of charges you will carry out over the year. Furthermore, during the winter months, factors like the cold can reduce battery efficiency, meaning your car needs more energy for the same journeys, which ultimately increases the importance of having a competitive price.

The price per kWh determines the cost per 100 km

Unlike combustion engine cars, where the price of fuel is relatively similar across different petrol stations, the price difference between time bands can be decisive for electric cars. If you have wondered how much it costs to charge an electric car at home, the answer is 'it depends'. On what? On your contracted price per kWh. If you secure a competitive price, the cost per 100 kilometres can be very low compared to diesel or petrol.

The difference between charging during peak vs. off-peak hours

But when we talk about time bands, what do we mean? Understanding how they work will allow you to save money when charging your electric car. The Spanish electricity system is usually divided into three periods:

• Peak hours: these are the most expensive and usually coincide with periods of highest activity.

• Shoulder hours: these have an intermediate price and fall during morning and afternoon bands.

• Off-peak hours: these are the cheapest, normally falling in the early hours of the morning when demand on the grid is at its lowest.

Recharging during the off-peak period can maximise the financial savings associated with buying an electric car, whereas doing so during peak hours is not as beneficial for your wallet.

Tariff for charging an electric car at home

When seeking to charge our electric car at home, we look for a tariff with the most competitive option. The Luz 3 Periodos Tariff is specifically designed for drivers who need their car ready every morning but want to pay the lowest possible price for their energy, with no fixed term or penalties.

This tariff stands out because it offers the cheapest electricity consumption price (off-peak hours) from midnight to 8:00 am on weekdays, and 24 hours a day on weekends and national public holidays.

In addition, for those who choose to install a Waybox charger with Endesa, there is an additional incentive: a 40% discount on electricity consumption during those off-peak hours (applicable up to a maximum of 60% of total consumption for the period). 

How to take advantage of off-peak hours to reduce charging costs

Optimising your bill is not just about contracting the right tariff; it is about knowing how to use it. Off-peak hours will be your best allies for reducing costs when charging your electric car.

Scheduling from the car

Virtually all modern electric vehicles allow you to schedule charging from their own system. This is very useful to ensure that, even if you plug your car in when you arrive home during peak hours, charging will only start once the off-peak period begins.

Scheduling from the Waybox

Scheduling from the charger itself, or Waybox, if you have one, is the most reliable method of all. Normally, charging devices allow you to set the schedule via a touch screen or a mobile app.

This way, you can easily schedule from the charger and have total control over the management of your electric charges.

How to avoid nighttime power overloads

Nighttime is the perfect time to charge your electric vehicle. However, you must keep a few considerations in mind, as concentrating consumption at night could cause you to exceed your contracted power capacity. This, in turn, could trip the Power Control Switch (ICP).

To avoid this, it is essential not to synchronise the start of your car's charging with the use of other high-consumption appliances such as the oven, washing machine, or electric heating systems.

Balancing household and charger consumption

Our Waybox chargers use a feature called 'load balancing', which adjusts your electric car's charge to the maximum available power to prevent your consumer unit from tripping. This system uses an energy meter that monitors in real time how much the house is consuming. If you turn on a powerful appliance while the car is charging, the charger automatically reduces its charging speed so as not to exceed the contracted limit. Once the household appliance is turned off, the charger increases the power again to finish recharging as soon as possible.

How much power you need to charge at home

What many people wonder is how much power is required to charge an electric car at home. There is no single answer, as it depends on how many kilometres you drive a day and how long you need the car plugged in.

The speed of your electric charges will largely depend on your electrical power. To choose one over another, you must consider the vehicle's battery capacity, your desired charging speed, your overall household electricity consumption, and the type of charger you install.

Most Spanish households have power capacity starting at 3.5 kW, which is enough for slow overnight charging. However, for faster charges, it is recommended to increase the power to 7.4 kW.

Correctly adjusting your power capacity is key, as having too much means you will take on an unnecessarily high standing charge, while having too little could result in an incomplete charge.

Tips to optimise your bill if you charge an electric car

To maximise savings and the safety of your installation, follow these expert recommendations:

• Preconditioning: during the winter, the battery does not reach its optimum temperature, which translates into less efficient journeys. To resolve this, heat the cabin and the battery while the car is still plugged into the mains (ideally during off-peak hours).

• Periodic checks: keep your Waybox or charging device and electrical connections in good condition.

• Surge protection: install protectors in your consumer unit to prevent damage from power surges caused by storms or grid faults. 

• Endesa App: monitor your consumption from our app. This way, you can identify if any habit is triggering your consumption outside the timeframe that suits you.

• Avoid unnecessary peaks: on a tariff with different time bands, try to shift your most intensive usage to hours when the power charge is cheaper.

In short, to choose a tariff for your electric car, you must consider not only the price per kWh but also the time bands. This way, you will choose the one that best suits your driving habits. You should also consider the advantages of the electric charger you will install at home. Electric mobility is a lifestyle that rewards those who know how to manage their energy smartly.