Cost of charging an electric scooter or electric bicycle

A common question for anyone thinking about buying an electric scooter or e-bike is: how much does it cost to charge them? With electricity prices on the rise, many people want to know how affordable an electric vehicle really is to run. In this article, we'll walk through how to calculate the cost of charging your electric scooter or e-bike, with a few examples to make it clear.

How do you calculate the charging cost?

To calculate the cost of charging a battery, you need to know a few basic factors:

1. Battery capacity: Measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). This is the amount of energy the battery can store. The battery capacity of electric scooters and e-bikes varies by model, but is usually between 0.2 and 1 kWh.

2. Electricity price: The cost per kWh, which you can find on your electricity bill. Prices vary, but let's assume an average price of 2 SEK per kWh (this may vary depending on where you live and your electricity provider).

A sample calculation

Let's take an electric scooter with a battery capacity of 0.5 kWh and an e-bike with a larger 0.8 kWh battery.

1. Electric scooter:

Battery capacity: 0.5 kWh
Electricity price: 2 SEK per kWh

The formula for calculating the cost is:

Cost = Battery capacity (kWh) x Electricity price (SEK/kWh)

Cost = 0.5 kWh x 2 SEK/kWh = 1 SEK

So it costs about 1 SEK to charge your electric scooter from empty to full.

2. E-bike:

Battery capacity: 0.8 kWh
Electricity price: 2 SEK per kWh

Cost = 0.8 kWh x 2 SEK/kWh = 1.6 SEK

It costs about 1.60 SEK to fully charge your e-bike.

How far can you go on a full charge?

Electric scooters and e-bikes have different ranges depending on battery capacity, terrain, weather, and rider weight. Generally speaking, an electric scooter or e-bike can travel between 30 and 100 km on a full charge.

An example of cost per kilometer

To understand how much it costs to ride per kilometer, we can divide the cost of a full charge by the range.

Electric scooter:

• Charging cost: 1 SEK
• Range: 25 km

Cost per kilometer = 1 SEK / 25 km = 0.04 SEK/km

So it costs 4 öre per kilometer to ride an electric scooter.

E-bike:

• Charging cost: 1.6 SEK
• Range: 70 km

Cost per kilometer = 1.6 SEK / 70 km = 0.023 SEK/km

So it costs about 2.3 öre per kilometer to ride an e-bike.

Factors that affect the charging cost

It's important to remember that several factors can affect both your actual charging cost and your range:

1. Battery age: An older battery may not hold as much charge as a new one, which means you'll need to charge it more often.

2. Riding style and terrain: If you ride on hilly terrain or ride fast and accelerate often, the battery will drain faster.

3. Temperature: Colder temperatures can reduce battery efficiency and mean you need to charge more often.

4. Electricity prices: The price of electricity can vary, so if prices go up, your charging cost will go up too.

Conclusion

Charging an electric scooter or e-bike is far cheaper than running a gasoline-powered car, which makes these vehicles both an affordable and eco-friendly option for commuting. With a typical cost of just a few kronor per charge, you can travel long distances without emptying your wallet.

Want to learn more about electric scooters and e-bikes? Check out our product catalog and blog at wheelyshop.se for more tips on how to maximize your battery life and shop smart!