One of the first questions anyone considering an electric vehicle asks is simple: how much will I actually pay for electricity each month? The answer is slightly more involved than it looks, because household electricity in Azerbaijan is billed on a tiered tariff — the more you use, the more each additional kilowatt-hour costs. Below is a step-by-step calculation with real figures.

Electricity tariffs in Azerbaijan

Under the Tariff Council decision of 29 December 2024, household tariffs are split into three tiers based on monthly consumption:

Monthly consumption	Tariff (VAT included)
Up to 200 kWh	8.4 qapik / kWh
200–300 kWh	10 qapik / kWh
Above 300 kWh	15 qapik / kWh

A fixed charge of 1 AZN per month also applies to households on a single-phase supply.

The detail that changes everything: which tier are you in?

This is the key to the whole calculation. A typical apartment without an electric vehicle uses roughly 150–250 kWh a month, staying inside the first and part of the second tier.

Adding an EV changes the picture. A driver covering 50 km a day needs around 300 kWh of extra energy per month. Total household consumption easily reaches 400–500 kWh, which means almost all the energy going into the car is billed at the third tier — 15 qapik.

An honest calculation therefore uses 15 qapik, not 8.4. This is exactly why the widely repeated claim that an EV costs 10 manats a month to run does not hold up.

How many kilowatt-hours does 100 km take?

Consumption depends on the model, speed, load and season. Realistic figures for Azerbaijani conditions:

• City driving: 14–17 kWh / 100 km
• Motorway at 100–120 km/h: 18–22 kWh / 100 km
• Winter with cabin heating on: 20–30% above the summer figure

You also need to account for charging losses. Not all the energy passing through your meter reaches the battery — with AC charging the loss is typically 8–12%. So if the car consumes 16 kWh, the meter records around 18 kWh.

Cost per 100 km

Energy through the meter	Cost per 100 km (at 15 qapik)
17 kWh	2.55 AZN
19 kWh	2.85 AZN
22 kWh (winter / motorway)	3.30 AZN

In real conditions, 100 kilometres costs roughly 2.5–3.3 AZN.

What will it cost per month?

Monthly distance	Energy	Monthly cost
500 km	~95 kWh	~14 AZN
1,000 km	~190 kWh	~29 AZN
1,500 km	~285 kWh	~43 AZN
2,000 km	~380 kWh	~57 AZN

Compared with petrol

For comparison, take a petrol car of similar size. The regulated retail price of AI-95 petrol is 1.60 AZN per litre.

Monthly distance	Electric	Petrol (8 l/100 km)	Difference
1,000 km	~29 AZN	~128 AZN	~99 AZN
1,500 km	~43 AZN	~192 AZN	~149 AZN
2,000 km	~57 AZN	~256 AZN	~199 AZN

That is a difference of roughly four to four and a half times in fuel cost. For a driver covering 18,000 km a year it works out at around 1,800 AZN saved.

Why is public charging more expensive than home charging?

Charging points that sell electricity to vehicles are not classed as household consumers. They buy energy at 12.5 qapik per kWh and add their own service margin, equipment depreciation and rent on top.

Public charging will therefore always cost more than charging at home. Public stations should be there for long trips — daily charging belongs at home.

How to save more

• Install a wallbox at home. Charging from an ordinary socket is slower and loses more energy.
• Charge overnight. Voltage is more stable when grid load is low, which improves charging efficiency.
• Keep the battery between 20% and 80%. The last 20% charges slowly and with higher losses.
• Check your tyre pressure. Low pressure can add up to 5% to consumption.
• Preheat while still plugged in. Heating the cabin from the grid rather than the battery protects your range.

Conclusion

In Azerbaijan an electric vehicle costs around four times less to fuel than a petrol car, even once the third tariff tier is taken into account. One hundred kilometres costs 2.5–3.3 AZN, and 1,500 km a month comes to roughly 43 AZN.

The biggest single saving comes from a properly installed home charging station. If you are not sure which model suits you, get in touch — we will match the charger to your car's inlet and your home's electrical supply.