EV charging cost
EV Charging Cost Calculator
Operating-cost-only calculator: how much does it cost to charge your EV per month or year. State electricity rate, home vs public mix, vehicle class, annual miles.
Quick answer: a typical crossover EV costs $40–$80/month to charge at home for 12,000 miles/year. A gas equivalent costs $130–$180/month. Public DCFC is 2–3× more expensive than home charging — keep it under 25% of miles for best economics.
Optional — auto-sets state
US avg: 12,000 mi/yr
US avg 2024: $3.45/gal
EV charging cost · California
$1,475/yr
$0.123/mile
Gas car at 28 mpg
$1,479/yr
$0.123/mile
Annual savings
$4
EV cheaper to run
Breakdown
- Total energy (3840 kWh/yr)—
- Home charging (3590 kWh)$1,221
- Public DCFC (605 kWh)$254
- Total EV cost$1,475
Why public charging matters
Public DCFC averages $0.42/kWh — 2.5× the typical home rate. If you DC-fast-charge 50% of your miles, your operating cost can double. The biggest savings lever is just plugging in at home overnight.
TOU (time-of-use) home rates with EV plans (PG&E EV2-A, ConEd VoltageReady) drop overnight rates to 8-12¢/kWh — saving another 30-50%.
New to EV charging economics?
EVs are priced by kWh, not gallons. The conversion: kWh per 100 miles × electricity rate (cents/kWh) gives cost per 100 miles. A typical sedan uses 28 kWh/100mi; crossovers 32; SUVs 38; pickups 42. At the US average 16¢/kWh, that’s $4.50–$6.70 per 100 miles charged at home — compared to $12–$18 for the gas equivalent. The two big variables are your state’s electricity rate (CA is 2× the national average) and how much you DC fast-charge in public (3× the rate of home).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV per month?
For 1,000 miles per month at home in an efficient crossover (32 kWh/100mi) at the US average 16¢/kWh, you spend ~$57/month. For 1,000 miles in a pickup (42 kWh/100mi) at California rates (33¢/kWh), about $150/month. Compared to a gas crossover at 28 mpg and $3.45/gal: $123/month — so the EV saves roughly $66/month at average rates.
Is home charging much cheaper than public DCFC?
Yes — typically 2-3× cheaper. US home electricity averages 16¢/kWh; public DCFC averages $0.42/kWh (Electrify America, EVgo) and Tesla Superchargers $0.36/kWh. A driver who DC-fast-charges 50% of their miles spends roughly double what an all-home charger spends.
How can I cut charging costs further?
Three biggest levers: (1) Enroll in your utility’s EV time-of-use rate (PG&E EV2-A, ConEd VoltageReady, ComEd Hourly Pricing) — overnight rates drop to 6-12¢/kWh. (2) Schedule charging for those overnight windows. (3) Minimize public DCFC use, especially Electrify America during peak hours.
Are EVs cheaper to run than hybrids?
Yes in nearly all cases. A Prius at 55 mpg costs ~$6.30/100mi at $3.45/gal. A Model 3 at 28 kWh/100mi costs ~$4.50/100mi at 16¢/kWh. EVs widen the lead at higher gas prices and with cheap overnight TOU rates.