What does it cost to charge an EV in South Carolina?
At South Carolina’s average electricity rate of 15.5¢/kWh, a typical driver (13,500 mi/yr, mostly home charging) spends about $834 a year — roughly 6.2¢ per mile, and around $816 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 South Carolina charging costs what it does
South Carolina homes pay about 15.5¢/kWh, which is 2.9¢ below the US average. Because home electricity is the main driver of EV running cost, that puts South Carolina drivers toward the cheaper end for charging. Charging more at home (versus public fast-charging at $0.40–0.50/kWh) lowers it further.
South Carolina electricity price trend
Average residential rate, monthly, May 2023 – Apr 2026. Up 22% over the period.
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), Electric Power Monthly · range 13.21–17.06¢/kWh
A worked example for South Carolina
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 South Carolina solar payback calculator.