Cost to Charge an Electric Car in Spain in 2026

There are many, many factors that influence the cost of recharging the batteries of our electric car, but one is defining: whether you do it at home or on the street.

And indeed, charging at home can be up to 10 times cheaper than using ultrafast public chargers. We explain how much it costs to charge at home, out on the street, and the places where you can do it completely free, because there are still options available.

How much does it cost to recharge an electric car at home

Obviously there are many factors that influence the price of a recharge: from the time of day we do it, whether there is input of renewables into the pool (since that also lowers the bill), the size of the battery, the time or the power, as well as the electricity supplier we choose.

Off-peak hours: from Monday to Friday between 12:00 and 1:00 a.m. and 7:00 a.m. electricity is cheaper because demand is lower. It is the time window indicated for charging. With night tariffs, the cost per 100 km can be below €1.50, being considerably cheaper than at public chargers. Using time-of-use tariffs allows charging at low prices, sometimes below €0.10 €/kWh, and even reaching offers of €0.065 €/kWh.

Power: the more powerful the charger, the faster it will transfer electricity to the battery of our car and the less time it will take, but the price per kWh we put into the car will also be higher.

Home charger price: installing a charger at home typically costs between €600 and €2,000, including labor and the device. It will be more expensive if it is located in a communal garage due to greater installation complexity, and cheaper if it is a detached single-family home.

Price also depends on the charger’s power: three-phase installations (11-22 kW) are pricier than single-phase (3-7.4 kW); the most common setup is a 7.4 kW outlet. However, these installations are subsidized by the Government within MOVES Corredores and can also be deducted in the IRPF.

Recharge price. It usually costs on average between €6.5 and €9 for a full charge, depending on the battery capacity, the supplier, and the contracted tariff. The price per kilometer ranges from €0.025-0.04 and per 100 km from €2.5-€4:

How much does it cost to recharge an electric car outside at home

Experts advise that charging should be kept between 20% and 80% for daily use, although for long trips it is normal to fill it to 100%. The price of charging an electric car in Spain on the street ranges from €0.25/kWh at semi-fast chargers to more than €0.79/kWh at ultrafast ones, which means between €15-€47 per full charge.

As you can see, charging at home can be up to 10 times cheaper than using ultrafast public chargers.

Price comparison: home vs street

Where to recharge a free electric car

Cinemas

Some cinema halls have signed agreements to offer free chargers to their customers. One such example is Kinépolis Madrid, which provides 22 kW charging points through Wenea. Also in Madrid, the Autocine Madrid RACE has two free charging points by Full & Fast.

Shopping Centers

Of course, today most cinemas are located in shopping centers, and the offerings are growing. At El Corte Inglés, for instance, they have slow charging points (Schuko) and semi-fast points (Type 2 Mennekes), as well as some points exclusive to Tesla vehicles. To use them you’ll typically need to make a purchase.

Supermarkets

When it comes to supermarkets, both Carrefour and Lidl or Ahorramás have parking spots with charging for electric cars during opening hours, though it depends on location and availability. 

The next in line by number of charging points is Lidl (pioneers of free charging, they typically limit sessions to 30-60 minutes at points up to 22 kW), followed by Ahorramás and Carrefour. Carrefour often offers free charging or low rates for loyalty-card holders and Ahorramás, especially in Madrid.

Airports

More and more large airports are adding charging bays for electric vehicles, though as with Adif train stations, you will have to pay the parking fee.

Hotels

Most hotel chains usually charge for charging the battery, though there are exceptions such as NH or Meliá. The best is to check platforms like Booking, Expedia — in addition to Electromaps, which is always useful for finding charging points — Kayak, Google Hotels or Momondo.

Restaurants

Additionally, some fast-food restaurants such as Burger King or McDonald’s offer slow charging points for their customers, as well as Starbucks.

Apps to find a public or private charging station that is free

• Electromaps: one of the best apps to find free charging points. In fact, it includes up to 40,000 points across the European continent.
• Charge Map: has a large database not only nationally but also worldwide. It will help you locate free charging points as well as plan routes.
• Nextcharge: resembles a social network in that users add charging points they encounter. It collects around 200,000 points worldwide.
• Open Charge Map: another collaborative app, sustained entirely by volunteers and users. It is also the world’s largest open registry of charging points, both free and paid.
• Plugsurfing. This popular app lets you find a charging station available on your route, start charging, and pay for it.

Find your ideal electric car

If you have considered buying an electric car, this will interest you. We have created a personalized Electric Car Recommender where, in addition to seeing the models that fit your needs, you will also have answers to the questions that may worry you most, such as price, range, or nearby charging points.