The single question every Nigerian buyer asks first is what it costs to fill up. For an electric vehicle there is no single pump price — the cost depends on where the electricity comes from. Here are the three realistic scenarios, priced for 2026.
1. Grid charging (Band A supply)
At a typical Band A tariff of roughly ₦210 per kWh, a 50 kWh battery costs about ₦10,500 to charge from empty to full. On a real-world 320 km range that is roughly ₦3,280 per 100 km.
2. Generator charging
Charging from a petrol or diesel generator costs between ₦380 and ₦480 per kWh once fuel and servicing are counted — around ₦21,000 for a full 50 kWh charge. Use it as a fallback, never as your primary plan.
3. Solar charging
A 5 kW solar array with battery storage delivers electricity at an effective ₦35–₦60 per kWh across its lifetime. A full charge lands between ₦1,750 and ₦3,000 — the cheapest motoring available in Nigeria today.
Compared with petrol
- Petrol saloon at 9 litres/100 km and ₦1,050/litre: about ₦9,450 per 100 km
- EV on grid: about ₦3,280 per 100 km
- EV on solar: about ₦780 per 100 km
For a driver covering 1,500 km a month, that is a saving of roughly ₦92,000 monthly on grid charging alone.
Frequently asked questions
- How long does a full charge take at home?
- On a 7 kW home wall box, a 50 kWh battery charges from 20% to 100% in about six hours — usually overnight.
- Can I charge an EV from a normal wall socket?
- Yes, using the portable cable supplied with the vehicle, but it adds only 10–15 km of range per hour. It is a top-up, not a charging strategy.
- Is public charging available in Nigeria?
- Public DC chargers exist in Lagos, Abuja and Port Harcourt and the network is expanding, but over 90% of charging for private owners still happens at home.