One of the appeals of an electric car is a cost per kilometer that is generally lower than petrol. But charging cost isn't a single number — it's shaped by battery capacity, charging type, location, and the prevailing rate. Understanding the components helps you plan your spending.
What determines charging cost?
Battery capacity (kWh)
The larger the battery, the more energy to fill it. Cost is essentially calculated from the amount of energy (kWh) that goes into the battery.
Charging type: AC or DC
AC charging at home is generally the cheapest per kWh. DC fast charging in public offers speed, and usually has a different per-kWh rate.
Rate per kWh
Each provider sets its own rate, and home charging follows the PLN electricity tariff. Rates can vary by time, location, and service type.
Power level & location
High-power stations at premium locations may have a different rate structure than standard charging. Convenience and availability are also factors.
How to estimate charging cost
A simple estimate: multiply the amount of energy you want to add (in kWh) by the prevailing rate per kWh. As an illustration, going from 20% to 80% on a 60 kWh battery means about 36 kWh of energy added — just multiply by the rate per kWh that applies at the time. Use the actual rate from the provider or app for accurate figures.
Charging at home vs at a public station
AC charging at home is usually the most economical and convenient for daily needs — done overnight on your home electricity tariff. DC fast charging at a public station gives you speed while traveling or when you need to get back on the road quickly. Many drivers combine both: AC at home for routine, DC fast when needed.
Seeing current Starvo rates
Charging rates can change with location, power level, and time. The most accurate way to see the prevailing rate is through the Starvo app, which shows the rate and availability at each station in real time.
Editorial and verification standard
- Written by
- Starvo EV Infrastructure Editorial Team
- SPKLU research, charging technology, and driver guidance
- Technical reviewer
- Starvo Product & Charging Operations Team
- Technical, operational, and product-compliance review
Verification method
Content is checked against official sources, public product specifications, and sanitized network data. Time-sensitive claims carry a source date or a clear scope limitation.
Operational data
Public operational data: 154 locations with installed chargers, 113 mapped locations, and 282 managed chargers. Snapshot 2026-07-19.
Starvo operational case study
Starvo does not publish one generic tariff in this guide because cost can depend on site, service type, and current policy. The article separates official ESDM rules from the commercial price drivers should check before a session.
Official sources
- Tarif dan biaya layanan pengisian listrik pada SPKLUKementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral
- Keputusan Menteri ESDM Nomor 182.K/TL.04/MEM.S/2023JDIH Kementerian Energi dan Sumber Daya Mineral
See rates & nearby stations
Current rates and availability at each station appear directly in the Starvo app and on our network map.
See the network & station map