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1. Formula for Calculating Electric Bike Charging Costs
To find out how much it costs for one electric bike charge, users calculate using the following steps:
Step 1: Calculate Electricity Consumption with the Formula: W = U*I*T
Where:
W: represents the electricity consumed, measured in Wh - or commonly known as electrical energy. 1 kWh = 1 electrical energy unit.
U: denotes the battery voltage, measured in Volts (V)
I: stands for current intensity, measured in Amperes (A)
T: total charging time of the battery, measured in Hours (h)
Typically, on the battery, manufacturers will list the parameters as 12V, 20Ah; where 12V is the voltage, and 20Ah is (I x T) in the formula above - this is the product of the discharge current and the discharge time of the battery. Therefore, when calculating the electricity consumption of charging the battery, users only need to take 12V x 20Ah to get the result.
Note that whether electric vehicles use lead-acid batteries or lithium batteries, LFP batteries (on Vinfast electric vehicles), they still utilize the same formula for calculating electricity consumption as mentioned above. In the case of electric vehicles using 2, 3, 4 batteries, users need to calculate the total electricity consumption of these batteries.
In case the manufacturer provides the battery capacity, that is precisely the electricity consumption for one battery charge (charging from 0 - 100%). For instance, the Vinfast EVO 200 electric scooter has a battery capacity of 3.5 kWh, which is the electricity needed for one charge of this electric scooter's battery.
Step 2: Calculate the electricity cost for one electric bike charge, electric scooter charge
After having the electricity consumption, users only need to calculate the electricity cost using the formula: Electricity cost for charging electric bike = Electricity consumption x electricity price
Where the electricity price is specifically regulated by the State. Typically, users will charge at home, and the residential electricity rates start from 1728 VND/kWh (the latest figures for 2023). The more electricity consumed, the higher the electricity bill, with the highest rate being 3015 VND/kWh. Therefore, users can calculate the average electricity price at about 2500 VND/kWh.
After this step, users will be able to calculate how much money they spend on one electric bike charge.
2. Illustrative example of calculating how much money one electric bike charge costs
Cost of one charge for X Men electric motorcycle (using lead-acid battery)
X Men electric motorcycles are widely used nowadays as they have been popularly sold for about 2-3 years. Typically, a Vinfast electric motorcycle will use 3 - 5 lead-acid batteries with a voltage of 12V and a current intensity of 12 AH or 20Ah.
So assuming that the X Men electric motorcycle you are using has 4 batteries of 12V, 20Ah. In this case, the electricity consumption for one charge of the X Men electric motorcycle battery is W = 4*(12V*20Ah)= 960 Wh. From there, we can calculate the electricity cost will be 0.96 * 2500 = 2400 VND.
Therefore, charging an X Men electric motorcycle once will cost about 2400 VND.
Typically, when fully charged, the X Men electric motorcycle's battery can travel an average distance of about 80 km.
How much does it cost to charge the Vinfast EVO 200 electric motorcycle once (using LFP battery)?
Xe điện Vinfast EVO comes equipped with an LFP battery with a capacity of 3.5 kWh. Thus, the electricity consumption to fully charge the battery from 0 - 100% of this Vinfast electric motorcycle is exactly 3.5 kWh.
From there, we calculate the electricity cost for one charge of the Vinfast EVO 200 electric motorcycle to be 8750 VND. However, with a full battery, the Vinfast ECO 200 can travel up to 203 km.
How much does it cost to charge the Yamaha NEO’s electric motorcycle (using lithium battery) once?
The Yamaha NEO’s electric motorcycle is the first electric motorcycle officially distributed by Yamaha in Vietnam. The scooter is equipped with lithium batteries with specifications of 51.1V, 23.2Ah. In this case, we can calculate the electricity consumption for one full charge of the battery as 1185.52 Wh.
Therefore, the electricity cost for one charge of the lithium battery of the Yamaha NEO’s electric motorcycle is about 2964 VND. The NEO’s can travel a distance of 70 km on a full battery charge.
3. Factors that may affect electricity cost calculations
Despite the formula provided above, in reality, the electricity cost may be higher than the calculated amount due to the following influencing factors:
- If the electric bike battery is of poor quality, the charging time will vary. And the more the charging time varies, the more you will spend extra on electricity for one charge. Therefore, when choosing a battery for an electric bike, you need to choose the type that is suitable for the bike model you are using. This is the best way to save costs and ensure the longest lifespan of the battery.
- A low-quality electric bike charger will have a higher charging rate and the battery will deteriorate and depreciate faster. To ensure stable charging power, you need to use the original charger of the bike. Absolutely do not use low-quality chargers. If you have to buy a new one, make sure to find the correct charger for your bike to purchase.
Therefore, regular maintenance checks are essential to ensure the safety and efficiency of the battery's charging.
CONCLUSION
Through this article, it is hoped that electric motorcycle and electric bike users have learned how much it costs to charge their vehicles once. Although there is a difference between different types of batteries, the electricity cost for charging battery is much cheaper than refueling.
