What does it cost to charge an EV in California?
At California’s average electricity rate of 32.6¢/kWh, a typical driver (13,500 mi/yr, mostly home charging) spends about $1,428 a year — roughly 10.6¢ per mile, and around $222 less than the same miles in a 27 MPG gas car. Run your own numbers below.
Independent estimate for guidance only. Time-of-use rates, your specific EV and public-charging habits will change the real figure.
Why California charging costs what it does
California homes pay about 32.6¢/kWh, which is 13.9¢ above the US average. Because home electricity is the main driver of EV running cost, that puts California drivers toward the pricier end for charging. Charging more at home (versus public fast-charging at $0.40–0.50/kWh) lowers it further.
California electricity price trend
Average residential rate, monthly, Sep 2023 – Aug 2026. Down 1% over the period.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electric Power Monthly · range 27.76–35.29¢/kWh
A worked example for California
Average driver: 13,500 miles a year, 3.3 mi/kWh, 85% charged at home.
Gas comparison: 27 MPG at $3.30/gal. Adjust everything in the calculator above.
Cut it further with solar
If you charge at home, your EV runs on whatever your roof or the grid supplies. Pairing an EV with rooftop solar can drop your effective charging cost well below the grid rate — see whether that maths works where you live with our California solar payback calculator.