EV Charging Cost Calculator — Home vs Public

Calculate how much it costs to charge your EV at home vs public stations. See cost per mile, full charge cost, and annual savings vs gas.

Your EV's battery capacity

Your electricity rate (US avg: $0.16)

DC fast charging rate

Most EVs: 3-4 mi/kWh

Full Charge Cost = Battery Size (kWh) × Electricity Rate ($/kWh); Cost Per Mile = Rate ÷ Efficiency (mi/kWh); Annual Savings = Gas Cost - EV Cost (at 12,000 mi/year, 80% home / 20% public mix)
Example: 60 kWh battery, home $0.16/kWh, public $0.35/kWh, 3.5 mi/kWh; Home full charge: $9.60, Public: $21.00; Cost per mile: Home $0.046, Public $0.10; Annual savings vs gas: $1,140

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home vs public stations?

Home charging (Level 2): $0.10-$0.30/kWh (average $0.16/kWh in USA), Full charge for 60 kWh battery: $6-$18 at home, Cost per mile: $0.03-$0.05/mile. Public DC fast charging: $0.25-$0.50/kWh or $0.20-$0.40/min, Full charge: $15-$30 at public stations, Cost per mile: $0.06-$0.12/mile. Home charging is typically 50-70% cheaper than public charging. However, public charging is necessary for road trips and for those without garage access. Some public stations offer free charging (Electrify America promotions, Tesla Supercharger credits with purchase).

How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car?

Cost to fully charge depends on battery size and electricity rate: Small EV (40 kWh, e.g., Mini Cooper SE): Home $6.40, Public $12-$16, Mid-size EV (60 kWh, e.g., Chevy Bolt): Home $9.60, Public $18-$24, Large EV (75 kWh, e.g., Tesla Model 3): Home $12.00, Public $22.50-$30, SUV/Truck (100 kWh, e.g., Rivian R1T): Home $16.00, Public $30-$40. Compare to gas: A 25 MPG car at $3.50/gallon for 300 miles = $42 of gas. Same distance in EV = $10-$15 of electricity. EVs save 60-75% on "fuel" costs compared to gas vehicles.

Is it cheaper to charge an EV at night?

Yes, many utilities offer Time-of-Use (TOU) rates with cheaper overnight electricity: Off-peak (10pm-6am): $0.08-$0.12/kWh, Peak (2pm-9pm): $0.25-$0.40/kWh, Savings: Charging at night can save $30-$80/month compared to daytime charging. Most EVs have scheduled charging features - set your car to start charging at 11pm or midnight. Some utilities offer special EV charging plans with even lower overnight rates ($0.05-$0.08/kWh). Check with your utility company for EV-specific rate plans. Smart chargers (ChargePoint, JuiceBox) can automatically charge during cheapest hours.

How does EV charging cost compare to gas?

Cost comparison per 1,000 miles (national averages): Gas car (25 MPG at $3.50/gal): $140, Hybrid (50 MPG at $3.50/gal): $70, EV home charging ($0.16/kWh, 3.5 mi/kWh): $46, EV public charging ($0.35/kWh): $100. Annual savings driving 12,000 miles: EV vs gas car: $1,100-$1,400 saved per year, EV vs hybrid: $350-$700 saved per year. Over 5 years of ownership: EV saves $5,500-$7,000 in fuel costs vs equivalent gas car. However, EV savings vary by: Local electricity rates, Gas prices in your area, Driving habits and annual mileage, Battery degradation over time.