EV Charging Cost Calculator
Real EPA efficiency × your state's actual electricity rate × your driving pattern. Three charging modes side-by-side: home flat-rate, home TOU off-peak, and public DC fast. All numbers honest about charging losses.
75 kWh battery · 3.7 mi/kWh EPA
US Average: 18.56c/kWh residential
US average: 37 mi/day · 13,505 mi/year
Annual Charging Cost: Tesla Model Y (Long Range RWD) in US Average
All three scenarios at 37 mi/day. Same vehicle, same usage, different charging strategy. The gap between cheapest and most expensive is the cost of your charging behaviour.
Home (Level 2, TOU off-peak)
Cheapest$461
per year
Per mile$0.03
Per day$1.26
Per month$38.39
Rate at plug11.14c/kWh
Charge efficiency88%
vs gas ($3.20/gal, 25 MPG):
Save $1,268/yr
Home (Level 2, flat residential)
Most common$768
per year
Per mile$0.06
Per day$2.10
Per month$63.99
Rate at plug18.56c/kWh
Charge efficiency88%
vs gas ($3.20/gal, 25 MPG):
Save $961/yr
Public DC fast (blended)
Most expensive$1,781
per year
Per mile$0.13
Per day$4.88
Per month$148.39
Rate at plug45.00c/kWh
Charge efficiency92%
vs gas ($3.20/gal, 25 MPG):
Costs $52/yr more
TOU off-peak savings
Switching to a TOU plan saves $307/yr vs flat-rate home charging
Most utilities offer EV-specific TOU plans (PG&E EV2-A, SCE TOU-D-PRIME, ConEd Power Move). Charge after 9pm or before 5am to capture super-off-peak rates.
EV vs equivalent gas car: 37 miles/day, 13,505 miles/year
Based on US average gasoline 3.20/gal and 25 MPG (real-world average for a comparable ICE crossover).
Annual energy
4,137 kWh
at plug (incl. 12% losses)
Annual EV cost (TOU)
$461
cheapest home charging
Equivalent gas cost
$1,729
540 gallons @ 3.20/gal
Annual savings
$1,268
73% cheaper than gas
Cumulative fuel cost over 5 years
EV (TOU off-peak)
$2,303
Equivalent gas
$8,643
5-year savings
$6,340
How long does charging actually take? (Model Y 20% → 80%)
0-80% is the practical charge window because charging slows above 80% to protect the battery. That's 60 kWh for a 75 kWh pack.
Level 1 (120V outlet)
42.9 hrs
at 1.4 kW
Standard wall outlet. Slowest option. Fine for sub-30-mi/day usage; otherwise undersized.
Level 2 (240V home, 11.5 kW)
5.2 hrs
at 11.5 kW
Standard home install. Overnight charging from any state of charge. The right answer for most drivers.
Public DC fast (~150 kW avg)
24 min
at 250 kW peak
Highway road trips. Peak speed only at low SOC; the curve slows. Average rate across the 20-80% window.
Every EV ranked by cost-per-mile in US Average
At 18.56c/kWh residential, home Level 2 charging (88% efficiency). Cheapest to charge at top.
| # | EV | $/mile |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lucid Air (Pure RWD) | $0.05 |
| 2 | Tesla Model 3 (Long Range RWD) | $0.05 |
| 3 | Tesla Model 3 (Long Range AWD) | $0.06 |
| 4 | Tesla Model Y (Long Range RWD)Your EV | $0.06 |
| 5 | Tesla Model S | $0.06 |
| 6 | Hyundai Ioniq 6 | $0.06 |
| 7 | Volvo EX30 | $0.06 |
| 8 | Tesla Model Y (Long Range AWD) | $0.06 |
| 9 | Kia EV6 | $0.06 |
| 10 | Audi Q4 e-tron (45 RWD) | $0.06 |
| 11 | Hyundai Ioniq 5 | $0.06 |
| 12 | Toyota bZ4X (XLE FWD) | $0.06 |
| 13 | Ford Mustang Mach-E (Premium Extended) | $0.06 |
| 14 | Chevrolet Equinox EV | $0.07 |
| 15 | Nissan Leaf Plus (SV Plus) | $0.07 |
| 16 | Honda Prologue (EX FWD) | $0.07 |
| 17 | Genesis GV60 | $0.07 |
| 18 | Tesla Model Y (Performance) | $0.07 |
| 19 | Volkswagen ID.4 (Pro RWD) | $0.07 |
| 20 | BMW i4 (eDrive40) | $0.07 |
| 21 | Tesla Model X | $0.07 |
| 22 | Acura ZDX (A-Spec RWD) | $0.07 |
| 23 | Chevrolet Blazer EV | $0.07 |
| 24 | Mercedes-Benz EQS (450+) | $0.07 |
| 25 | Mercedes-Benz EQE (350+) | $0.08 |
| 26 | Nissan Ariya (Engage FWD) | $0.08 |
| 27 | Cadillac Lyriq (Luxury RWD) | $0.08 |
| 28 | Kia EV9 | $0.08 |
| 29 | Polestar 2 (Dual Motor Performance) | $0.08 |
| 30 | Polestar 3 | $0.08 |
| 31 | BMW iX (xDrive50) | $0.09 |
| 32 | Volvo EX90 | $0.09 |
| 33 | Tesla Cybertruck | $0.09 |
| 34 | Audi Q8 e-tron | $0.09 |
| 35 | Rivian R1T (Dual-Motor Large Pack) | $0.09 |
| 36 | Rivian R1S (Dual-Motor Large Pack) | $0.09 |
| 37 | Ford F-150 Lightning (Extended Range) | $0.11 |
| 38 | Chevrolet Silverado EV | $0.11 |
Methodology and Honest Assumptions
Most EV cost calculators on the web hide their assumptions or use round numbers that overstate savings. Here's exactly what this calculator does.
Vehicle efficiency
EPA combined MPGe for the most-popular trim of each model, from fueleconomy.gov 2025 model year data, converted to mi/kWh (MPGe ÷ 33.7). Verified against EPA in May 2026. Trim is shown in the dropdown (e.g. Model Y Long Range RWD vs AWD vs Performance) because each trim has materially different efficiency. EPA numbers are a standardised mixed-driving cycle; real-world efficiency in cold weather, mountains, or with roof boxes can be 20-30% lower.
Electricity rates
US average and per-state rates come from EIA Electric Power Monthly Table 5.6.A, refreshed monthly. Current data is March 2026. State averages blend all utilities; your actual rate depends on your specific utility and rate plan. Use the per-state numbers as a directional estimate.
Home Level 2 efficiency: 88%
AC charging at 240V has round-trip losses of 10-15% from the onboard charger conversion and battery thermal management. We use 88% as the typical value across consumer Level 2 setups. This means you pay for ~13% more kWh from the grid than the battery actually stores. Newer EVs are slightly better; very cold weather makes it worse.
TOU off-peak multiplier: 0.60
Typical EV-specific TOU plans (PG&E EV2-A, SCE TOU-D-PRIME, ConEd Power Move, Duke Energy Time-of-Use) run roughly 0.40x-0.75x the flat residential rate during super-off-peak windows. We use 0.60x as a US-blended midpoint. Your actual utility could be cheaper (PG&E super-off-peak EV2-A is ~0.43x) or more expensive.
Public DC fast: $0.45/kWh, 92% efficient
US blended average from Tesla Supercharger ($0.36 average per Tesla's network data), Electrify America ($0.48 pay-as-you-go), and EVgo ($0.49 pay-as-you-go). Subscription plans cut these substantially. DC charging has its own losses but you pay for kWh dispensed at the meter, so net effective rate is what matters.
Gas comparison: $3.20/gallon, 25 MPG
US average regular unleaded retail price in 2026 (varies seasonally). 25 MPG is the real-world fleet average for an ICE crossover comparable to a mid-size EV. New car EPA-rated MPG averages closer to 28; real-world fuel economy is typically 10-15% lower than EPA combined ratings. We use 25 MPG to keep the comparison fair.
Related Tools and Pages
Bill Calculator
Full residential/commercial/TOU bill estimator for any state.
Time of Use Rates
Per-utility TOU peak/off-peak schedules and EV-specific plans.
Solar Break-Even
If you own solar, your EV charging cost effectively drops to near zero. State-by-state payback.
Rates by State
Full electricity rate breakdown for all 50 states + DC.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in the US?+
At the US average residential rate of 18.56c/kWh (March 2026 EIA Electric Power Monthly), home Level 2 charging costs roughly $0.04-$0.07 per mile depending on the EV's efficiency. A Tesla Model Y at 4.1 mi/kWh costs about $0.049/mile; an F-150 Lightning at 2.0 mi/kWh costs about $0.100/mile. With 12% Level 2 charging losses factored in, a typical 37 mile/day driver pays $1.83-$3.70/day, or $670-$1,350/year.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public station?+
Home Level 2 charging is dramatically cheaper than public DC fast charging. At the US residential average of 18.56c/kWh (March 2026), home charging costs about 5c/mile for an efficient EV. Public DC fast charging averages 45c/kWh (Tesla Supercharger ~36c, Electrify America ~48c), or about 13c/mile for the same EV. That's roughly 2.5x more expensive than home. Use public DC fast for road trips only; install Level 2 at home for daily driving.
How much can I save with a time-of-use electricity plan?+
EV-specific TOU plans (PG&E EV2-A, SCE TOU-D-PRIME, ConEd Power Move, etc.) typically charge 0.40x-0.75x the flat residential rate during super-off-peak hours (usually midnight-6am or 9pm-9am). Charging exclusively off-peak saves roughly 40% on EV electricity costs compared to a flat residential rate, often $300-$600/year for a typical commuter. The catch: peak-hour rates on TOU are higher than flat, so the savings only materialise if you can actually shift charging off-peak (a smart Level 2 charger with a schedule does this automatically).
How much electricity does an EV use per year?+
A typical US commuter driving 37 miles/day (~13,500 miles/year) needs 3,400-6,800 kWh/year depending on EV efficiency. An efficient EV like a Model 3 at 4.5 mi/kWh uses about 3,000 kWh/year. A less efficient EV like an F-150 Lightning at 2.0 mi/kWh uses about 6,800 kWh/year. For context, the average US home uses 10,800 kWh/year — adding an EV typically increases household electricity usage by 30-60%.
What is the real cost-per-mile of an EV vs a gas car?+
At US average rates and prices in 2026: an EV charged at home runs about $0.04-$0.07/mile depending on efficiency. A 25-MPG gas car at $3.20/gallon runs $0.128/mile. EVs are roughly 2-3x cheaper per mile to fuel. Over 5 years and 13,500 miles/year, an efficient EV saves $5,000-$7,500 on fuel vs an equivalent gas car. Public DC fast charging closes that gap considerably — at $0.45/kWh, fast-charging an inefficient EV can cost $0.18-$0.22/mile, more expensive than gas.
How long does it take to charge an EV from 20% to 80%?+
Level 1 (120V outlet, 1.4 kW): 30-90 hours depending on battery size. Not practical for daily charging above ~30 mi/day. Level 2 (240V home, 7-11 kW): 4-9 hours for most EVs to go 20% to 80%. Designed for overnight charging. Public DC fast (typically 150-250 kW peak): 20-40 minutes for 20% to 80%, but the peak speed only holds for the first portion of charging — average rate across the curve is roughly 60% of the peak. Speed past 80% is intentionally limited to protect the battery.
Do the calculator's numbers include charging losses?+
Yes. Level 2 home charging is modelled at 88% round-trip efficiency, accounting for AC-to-DC conversion losses in the onboard charger and battery thermal management. So if your EV uses 50 kWh of battery energy per week, you pay for about 57 kWh from the utility. DC fast charging is modelled at 92% efficiency, because the meter records kWh delivered to the car rather than kWh dispensed from the grid. Charging losses are real and often missed by simpler calculators.
