At Meralco’s October 2026 rate, a typical electric car costs about ₱2.50 per kilometre to charge at home — roughly a third of what the same kilometre costs in a petrol car. That single number is why so many Filipino drivers have started asking about EVs this year, with gasoline still hovering around ₱90 to ₱100 a litre in Metro Manila. Here is how to work out your own figure, a table you can read your car off, and the things that move the answer.
The formula
Charging cost is just energy times price:
Cost per km = (kWh per 100 km ÷ 100) × your electricity rate
- kWh per 100 km is your car’s consumption. Your EV shows it on the dash or in its app; for planning, small and mid-size EVs commonly land somewhere around 13–18 kWh/100 km, and big SUVs higher.
- Your electricity rate is what you pay per kWh. Meralco’s overall residential rate for a typical household is ₱15.0615 per kWh in October 2026, up ₱0.3191 from September’s ₱14.7424.
Charging is never 100% efficient — some energy is lost as heat in the charger and battery. We add about 10% in the table below as a planning allowance; your car’s own figures may be better or worse.
What it costs: October 2026 Meralco rate
| Car uses | Per km (at the meter) | Per km (+10% losses) | 1,000 km a month | 12,000 km a year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 kWh/100 km | ₱1.96 | ₱2.15 | ₱2,154 | ₱25,846 |
| 15 kWh/100 km | ₱2.26 | ₱2.49 | ₱2,485 | ₱29,822 |
| 18 kWh/100 km | ₱2.71 | ₱2.98 | ₱2,982 | ₱35,786 |
| 22 kWh/100 km | ₱3.31 | ₱3.64 | ₱3,645 | ₱43,739 |
The same distance in a petrol or diesel car
Using the Department of Energy’s 6 October 2026 adjustment on top of the prevailing Metro Manila common prices reported for the week before (RON 91 at about ₱89.13 plus ₱1.93, so about ₱91.06; regular diesel at about ₱94.40 less ₱1.30, so about ₱93.10):
| Fuel economy | Petrol per km | Petrol, 1,000 km | Diesel per km | Diesel, 1,000 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 km/L | ₱9.11 | ₱9,106 | ₱9.31 | ₱9,310 |
| 12 km/L | ₱7.59 | ₱7,588 | ₱7.76 | ₱7,758 |
| 15 km/L | ₱6.07 | ₱6,071 | ₱6.21 | ₱6,207 |
At 1,000 km a month, a mid-size EV charged at home costs about ₱2,500 against about ₱7,600 for a 12 km/L petrol car — a difference of around ₱5,100 a month, or over ₱60,000 a year. Pump prices have swung by tens of pesos a litre during 2026’s fuel emergency, so redo the petrol side with today’s price before you decide anything.
What changes your number
- Your real rate. Meralco’s overall rate is for a typical 200 kWh home. Divide the total on your own bill by the kWh used to get your effective rate, and use that.
- Heat and air-conditioning. Running the AC hard in traffic raises consumption; the table assumes a steady average.
- Speed. Expressway driving uses more energy per km than city stop-and-go, the reverse of most petrol cars.
- Where you charge. Public and commercial chargers set their own prices. Under the EVIDA law (RA 11697), commercial charging fees must be itemised, so you can see what you pay per kWh before you plug in. Expect to pay more than at home.
- Electricity outside Meralco’s franchise. Rates differ by distribution utility and electric cooperative — use your own provider’s rate in the formula.
Before you install a home charger
- Get a licensed electrician to check your panel, main breaker and wiring. A car charging for hours is a heavy, continuous load.
- Ask whether a dedicated circuit is needed for the charger you plan to buy.
- Confirm your car’s on-board AC charging limit — there is no point paying for a faster wall unit than the car can accept.
- Keep receipts and track every session, so the true running cost of the car — electricity, tyres, renewals — is in one place.
Track your real cost per km
The table gets you close; your own data gets you exact. Log each charge (kWh and pesos) in Kotselog’s cost-per-km tracker and you will see your actual ₱/km month by month, alongside fuel for any petrol car in the household.
Sources: Meralco, “Higher Residential Rates this October 2026” (₱15.0615/kWh overall residential rate); Daily Tribune, 5 October 2026, Metro Manila prevailing pump prices and the DOE’s 6 October 2026 adjustments; Republic Act No. 11697 (EVIDA), sections on charging fees.
Read next
- How to track EV charging costs and cost per km
- Buying an electric car in the Philippines: the 2026 guide
- EV vs petrol: total cost of ownership over 5 years
- EV battery health: how long do they last?
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge an EV in the Philippines?
Multiply your battery's usable capacity in kWh by your electricity rate. At Meralco's October 2026 overall residential rate of ₱15.0615 per kWh, filling 60 kWh from empty costs about ₱904 at the meter — around ₱990 if you allow roughly 10% for charging losses. Most owners rarely charge from empty to full, so a typical top-up costs a fraction of that.
How much is EV charging per km compared with petrol?
An EV using 15 kWh per 100 km costs about ₱2.26 per km at ₱15.06/kWh, or about ₱2.49 with charging losses. A petrol car doing 12 km per litre on RON 91 at about ₱91 a litre costs about ₱7.59 per km. That makes home charging roughly a third of the fuel cost per kilometre at October 2026 prices.
Will charging an EV push my Meralco bill into a higher rate?
Your bill rises with the kilowatt-hours you add — 1,000 km a month at 15 kWh/100 km is about 165 kWh including losses, which is close to a whole typical household's 200 kWh. Meralco's published 'overall rate' is an average for a typical home, so your actual per-kWh figure can differ; use the effective rate on your own bill (total amount divided by kWh) for the most accurate estimate.
Is public EV charging more expensive than home charging?
Usually, yes. Commercial chargers set their own prices and, under the EVIDA law, must itemise the fees they charge, so check the per-kWh price in the operator's app before you plug in. Home charging on your residential rate is almost always the cheapest option available.
Do I need a special charger at home?
Not strictly — many EVs can charge slowly from a standard outlet with the cable supplied — but a dedicated wall charger installed by a licensed electrician is faster and safer for daily use. Have your panel and wiring checked before installation, because an EV is the largest continuous load most homes will ever run.
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