Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle

Written by Caitlin Ritchie

Edited by Hannah Hillson

Last updated 10/19/2022


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EV charging cost

The cost to charge an electric vehicle (EV) will depend on a few factors, including the type of vehicle and charger you use. Many consumers choose to purchase or lease an EV because they want lower fuel costs. In general, the cost to charge an EV at home or using a public charging station is normally lower than the cost to fuel a gas-powered vehicle. 

Cost to charge an EV at home

To estimate the cost of charging an EV at home, we’ll need a few pieces of information. These figures are U.S. averages. You can get a more accurate estimate if you have the specific range of your EV, driving habits, and energy rate:

As an example, let’s say you own an EV that gets four miles for every kWh of electricity and you drive 1,188 miles each month. We can start by dividing the number of miles you drive by four. 

1,060 / 4 = 297 kWh per month

Next, we’ll multiply 265 by the rate you get for every kWh of electricity you use. In this example, we’ll use the 2021 average rate of 13.72 cents per kWh to find how much it will cost to charge your EV every month.

265 X $0.1372 = $40.77 per month

The average rate per kWh varies by state. In Washington, for example, the average residential price for energy in July 2022 was 10.42 cents per kWh. On the other side of the spectrum is Hawaii, which had an average rate of 44.81 cents per kWh. Your electricity rate will have a direct correlation to how much it costs to charge an EV.

In general, the cost to charge an EV at home overnight is the cheapest charging option. You could save even more if you enroll in an energy plan that offers free usage periods or cheaper rates at night. You may also be able to charge your EV at no cost if you invest in home solar panels. If you upgrade to a Level 2 EV charger for your home, you could cut the charge time down significantly and save even more. 

Cost of home charger

Many EV-owners choose to upgrade their home charger to a Level 2 charger. While this adds on to the total upfront cost of an EV, it can cut your charging time in half, leading to lower charging costs over time. 

On average, consumers should expect to pay between $250-$700 for a Level 2 charger before factoring in the cost of installation and labor. The cost of a Level 2 charger will depend on the manufacturer, but here is a breakdown of the average costs you can expect, based on estimates from CNET and Consumer Reports.

DescriptionAverage Cost
Charging Station $250-$700
Installation and Labor $750-$1,500
Total Cost $1,000-$2,200

Many consumers find the upfront cost of a Level 2 charger is worth the investment in long-term savings. There are also incentives and tax credits available to help make the entire purchase  more affordable.

Through the Inflation Reduction Act, passed in August 2022, consumers can receive up to $7,500 in tax credits when they purchase qualifying EVs. While this substantial tax credit does not apply to home chargers, it may cover the cost to upgrade to a Level 2 charger.

There are also incentives that specifically apply to EV chargers. Beginning in 2023, EV charging stations are eligible for a 30% federal tax credit up to $1,000 for residential properties and up to $30,000 for commercial properties. Depending on where you live, there are likely other state and local incentives, tax credits, and rebates that can help lower the cost to charge your EV with a Level 2 charging station. DSIRE offers a full list of EV incentives by state.

Cost of public charging

While most consumers routinely charge their EV at home, many still use public charging stations to charge while running errands, at work, or during road trips. The cost to charge an EV at a public charging station will depend on several factors, including the rate per kWh in the area and the level of charging station (Level 3 charging stations typically cost the most to use because of the amount of electricity used in a short duration). Public charging networks also charge for their services in different ways. For example, some stations may charge for every kWh you use, while others may require a monthly subscription or charge by the minute. 

On average, you can expect to pay between $10 and $30 to get a full charge for your EV at a Level 3 public charging station. If you use a Level 2 public charging station, the cost is normally between $1 and $5 per hour of use, so the total cost will depend on how long you charge your EV.

Is it cheaper to charge an EV than fuel a gas-powered vehicle?

The question that most consumers want answered is whether the cost to charge an EV is cheaper than the cost to fuel a gas-powered vehicle. While the initial cost of most EVs tends to be higher than traditional vehicles, the cost to fuel an EV is usually lower than filling up an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle.

A 2020 Consumer Reports study found that EV owners spend an average of 60% less in fuel costs than owners of ICE vehicles. Savings will vary based on factors like battery range, the type of charger, and average gas prices in your area. The report found the average fuel cost for 15,000 miles for an EV was around $620, while the cost to fuel an ICE vehicle for the same amount of miles was $1,420. 

Here is a more detailed look at the fuel savings you could experience by vehicle class for $15,000 miles, according to Consumer Reports.

Vehicle Class ICE Fuel Cost EV Fuel Cost EV Fuel Savings
Car$1,420 $620 $800
SUV/Crossover $1,800 $780 $1,020
Pickup $2,300 $990 $1,310

Gasoline prices change daily and fluctuate widely by state. California often experiences the highest gas prices ($6.19 at the time of writing) while Mississippi often has some of the lowest gas prices ($3.33 at the time of writing). You can track the average gas prices in your state to estimate how much you could save in fuel by switching to an EV.

Electric Vehicle frequently asked questions

  • Yes, you can plug a Level 1 charger into a regular 120-volt outlet at home. However, Level 1 charges are very slow compared to Level 2 and 3 chargers, so it could take more than 10 hours to receive 50 miles of charge, which isn’t enough for many drivers. While the cost of a Level 2 home charging station is higher than a Level 1 charger, many consumers find it’s worth it since they’re able to get a full charge overnight.

  • Generally, the property owner will pay for a public charging station. For instance, if there is a public charging station available at your workplace, in most cases your company paid to install the charging station in that location. There may also be some instances where the charging network (like Chargepoint, EVgo, or Tesla) pay to install a public charging station in a specific location. 

  • There are a variety of apps and websites available that can help you find public charging stations while you’re on the road. The Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuel Data Center lets you filter by state and charger type. Most charging networks, including Chargepoint, offer their own app to make it easy to find available charging stations. Another common resource is PlugShare, which lets you search for specific charger types, locations, and plan out a trip.

  • Calculating the total cost to own, operate, and fuel an EV can be tricky because there are so many variables that influence the cost. The Alternative Fuel Data Center offers a free vehicle cost calculator, where you can enter information about a vehicle and your driving habits in order to estimate how much it will cost to drive.

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