Home charging vs public fast charging: cost, time and battery health
Updated 22 Oct 2026 · Written by the GEMS team · Reviewed by Bharath Jain, GEMS Admin
Charge at home for daily driving and use DC fast chargers for trips. Home charging cost about ₹1 per km for a 30 kWh Nexon EV versus ₹1.2–5 per km on public fast chargers, and lower charging power is gentler on the battery. Fast charging wins only on time.
Side by side
| Home AC (13A box, 3.3 kW on-board charger) | Public DC fast charger | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per km | ≈ ₹1 | ₹1.2–5 (₹10–30 per unit) |
| Real charging power | ≈ 2.6–2.7 kW | Up to ≈ 25 kW (car's limit) |
| Time | Overnight; 4% → 100% took ≈ 10 hours with a stabilizer on low voltage | Fast until ~90%; 95% → 100% alone can take 10–20 minutes |
| Battery wear | Gentlest (lower power is better) | Higher than home AC charging |
| Best for | Daily driving | Long drives, emergencies |
Good habits
- Home: slow charge from about 15–25% to 100%; if your daily drive uses 20%, charging every fourth day is enough.
- Don't charge through a smart plug, even a 16A one; it can melt over time.
- Fast charging: stop before 90% unless you need more, and before 94% rather than at 95%.
- Choose a 30 kW gun over a 60 kW one if your car can't take more than 25 kW.
- Leave your phone number on the dashboard if you step away from a fast charger.
- Fast charge at least 5–10% once a year, or before a long trip, to confirm fast charging works.
What this doesn't cover
- Figures are for a 2020 Nexon EV Prime (30 kWh); cars with 7.2 kW on-board chargers or faster DC charging behave differently.
- Public charging prices vary widely by operator and city.
- Battery-wear guidance is the owner's understanding of lithium-ion behaviour, not manufacturer data; follow your owner's manual first.