How Much It Costs To Charge an EV at Home in Malaysia

Key Takeaways

Charging an EV at home in Malaysia typically costs RM15 to RM25 for a full charge, making it far cheaper than petrol. Even with higher electricity tariffs, EVs remain cost efficient, and homeowners can reduce costs even further by pairing their EV with a solar system under Solar ATAP.

If you are thinking about switching to an electric vehicle (EV), one of the first questions that naturally comes up is: “How much does it actually cost to charge an EV at home in Malaysia?”

It is a fair concern. Electricity tariffs, kWh calculations, EV battery sizes; it can all feel a little technical. But once everything is broken down clearly, the numbers start to make a lot more sense.

In most Malaysian homes, a full EV charge generally costs RM15 to RM25, depending on your TNB tariff tier and your EV’s battery size. And even if charging pushes your household into higher tariff blocks, EVs still cost far less to “fuel” compared to petrol cars.

This guide walks you through the details so you can make a confident, informed decision, whether you are assessing the cost of your first EV, comparing models, or planning ahead for solar.

How Home EV Charging Cost Is Calculated

To understand charging costs, you only need two things:

1. Your EV battery size, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh)
2. Your TNB domestic tariff rate, which varies by usage tier

TNB’s official tariff rates can be viewed on its website: Domestic Tariff Rates by TNB.

Simple Formula

Battery capacity (kWh) x TNB tariff (RM/kWh) = Cost per full charge

Since TNB’s domestic tariff runs from RM0.218 to RM0.571 per kWh, your EV charging cost will depend on your household’s total monthly electricity consumption. Homes with EVs often enter higher tariff tiers, but charging still remains cost efficient.

Cost Example: Charging Different EV Sizes at Home

Here is what a full charge typically costs in Malaysia across common EV battery sizes.

40 kWh battery

• Cost per full charge: RM9 to RM23
• Estimated range: ~250 to 300 km

60 kWh battery

• Cost per full charge: RM13 to RM33
• Estimated range: ~350 to 450 km

75 kWh battery

• Cost per full charge: RM16 to RM43
• Estimated range: ~450 to 500 km

These cost ranges reflect the full TNB tariff spectrum. Even at higher tiers, home charging remains the most economical way to run an EV.

If you want help choosing a model, explore our guide to the best EV cars in Malaysia.

How Much Does It Cost Per KM to Drive an EV

Once you know the cost of a full charge, calculating cost per kilometre is straightforward.

Cost per km = Charging cost ÷ Real-world range

Most EVs in Malaysia fall around RM0.06 to RM0.12 per km, even under higher tariff blocks.

For comparison, the average petrol car costs RM0.25 to RM0.40 per km, depending on fuel efficiency and petrol prices.

In simple terms, EVs cost at least half as much to run compared to petrol cars.

Monthly EV Cost vs Petrol Car Cost

Let us compare typical monthly costs based on 1,200 to 1,500 km of driving.

Petrol car (7 to 8L per 100 km)

• Monthly cost: RM250 to RM450

EV (home charging)

• Monthly cost: RM70 to RM160

Even when an EV pushes your home into higher TNB tariff blocks, it still ends up cheaper overall due to the EV’s far higher efficiency.

If you are exploring EV incentives, see our guide on the EV tax rebate in Malaysia.

Home Charging vs Public Charging Cost

Public charging costs differ significantly, especially between AC and DC chargers.

Based on publicly available data from EVGuru.

Home charging

• RM0.218 to RM0.571 per kWh
• Most cost efficient

Public AC charger

• RM0.60 to RM0.90 per kWh
• Convenient but more expensive

Public DC fast charging

• RM0.90 to RM1.20 per kWh
• Designed for speed rather than cost efficiency

Home charging remains the most economical and practical option for daily driving.

How EV Charging Affects Your Electricity Bill

Charging an EV adds to your overall monthly kWh usage, which may move your household into a higher TNB tariff tier.

A realistic household example:

• Baseline usage: 400 kWh
• EV charging: +250 kWh
• New monthly total: 650 kWh
• Higher tariff tier activated
• Despite this, the total monthly transport cost is still lower than using petrol

Your electricity bill will increase, but your total monthly transport expenses decrease.

How Solar Can Reduce EV Charging Cost Even Further

If you plan to own an EV long term, pairing it with solar is one of the most practical ways to stabilise your household energy cost.

How solar benefits EV owners

• Reduces reliance on the most expensive TNB tariff blocks
• Offsets daytime household electricity consumption
• Allows near zero marginal cost for EV charging depending on charging habits
• Improves long term savings for both home energy use and EV ownership
• Works under the new Solar ATAP for eligible solar homeowners

Many EV owners charge the car at night while using solar to offset daytime household electricity, keeping the total monthly grid usage lower.

To see a zero upfront option, explore our Rent-to-Own Solar Subscription.

What This Means for Malaysian EV Owners

Charging an EV at home in Malaysia is more affordable than many expect. For most homeowners, a full charge costs RM15 to RM25, and even under higher TNB tariff tiers, EVs remain significantly cheaper to run than petrol vehicles. With predictable home charging costs and lower cost per kilometre, EVs offer a strong financial advantage for everyday driving.

Pairing an EV with solar takes savings even further, offering a stable, low maintenance way to manage your energy use for the long term.

If you want to see how solar can support your EV charging at home, reach out for a free quote or chat with us on WhatsApp.