What does it cost to charge an EV?
See the real cost of charging an electric car where you live — per year, per mile, and against the gas car you’d otherwise drive. Uses your state’s actual electricity rate.
An independent estimate for guidance only. Real costs depend on your specific EV, charging habits, time-of-use rates and local public-charging prices.
EV charging cost by state
Electricity prices swing from ~11¢ to 40¢+ per kWh, so charging cost does too. Choose yours in the calculator above.
● cheap power ● average ● expensive
What drives your EV charging cost
- Your electricity rate. The biggest factor. Charging at 11¢/kWh costs a third of charging at 33¢/kWh for the exact same car and miles.
- Where you charge. Home is far cheaper than public fast-charging. The more you charge at home, the lower your cost per mile.
- Your EV’s efficiency. A 3.5 mi/kWh car costs noticeably less per mile than a 2.5 mi/kWh truck.
See the full methodology and data sources. Also try our solar payback calculator — pairing solar with an EV can cut your charging cost further.
Common questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
It depends on three things: how many miles you drive, your EV’s efficiency (miles per kWh), and your electricity price. At the US-average home rate, charging an efficient EV costs roughly 4–5¢ per mile — usually less than half what the same miles cost in gasoline.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or in public?
Almost always home. Home electricity averages around 16–17¢/kWh, while public DC fast-charging often runs 40–50¢/kWh or more. Charging mostly at home is the single biggest lever on your running cost, which is why the calculator lets you set your home-vs-public split.
How is cost per mile calculated?
We convert your annual miles into kWh using your EV’s real-world efficiency (miles per kWh, measured “from the wall” so it already includes charging losses), price the home share at your state’s electricity rate and the public share at the fast-charge price you enter, then divide by your miles.
Does charging cost vary by state?
A lot. Electricity is about 11¢/kWh in cheap-power states and over 30–40¢/kWh in California and Hawaii, so the same EV can cost 3–4× more to charge in one state than another. Pick your state for a local number.
How much can an EV save versus gas?
For a typical driver, often $1,000–$1,500 a year in fuel alone, depending on your electricity price, the gas car you’re comparing against, and local gas prices. Enter your own gas MPG and pump price to see your number.