Kilowatt-hours (kWh)

Kilowatt-hours (kWh) measure energy in units of 1,000 watt-hours. A 500 Wh battery has a nominal energy capacity of 0.5 kWh. The US Energy Information Administration explains that a kWh is the energy supplied by one kilowatt of power for one hour.

How does kWh become a charging bill?

Multiply electricity consumed at the socket by the rate per kWh. Virginia Cooperative Extension uses this method to calculate electricity costs. For an assumed 0.6 kWh charge and $0.20/kWh tariff, the cost is 0.6 × $0.20 = $0.12. This is an example, not a current utility quote.

The nominal kWh on a battery label differs from the kWh drawn at the socket. A charge that adds 0.5 kWh to a battery draws more if some energy is lost during charging. Use measured wall energy directly, or apply an explicit charging efficiency assumption to battery energy. Don’t do both.

Is kW the same as kWh?

kW measures power; kWh measures energy. A steady 0.1 kW input for 3 hours consumes 0.3 kWh. Charger power can vary, so a maximum input rating multiplied by connected time is only an estimate.

Consumption per distance is another useful quantity: an assumed 0.6 kWh across 20 miles (32.2 km) is 0.03 kWh/mile. It isn’t 0.03 kW/mile. The electric scooter cost per mile guide carries that energy calculation through to a trip budget.

Definitions and calculations checked November 1, 2026. Use the Battery Charging Cost Calculator with your own tariff.