How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

Many hail electric cars for being a more environmentally friendly version of traditional vehicles, but they can be pricey to buy, which puts many off. So, can you save some cash over time by using electricity over fuel? How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

EV Charging Times

A major factor in the cost of charging an electric car is how long it takes. Different EVs have different charging times, while the type of charging cable and charger type also play a role in how long you’ll need to wait to power up your vehicle.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

You can charge your EV at home using your own electricity or on the go using a public charging station. We’ll look at this method of charging first to determine how much it costs to charge your electric car at a public charging station.

Let’s start with Tesla’s charging stations.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge Your EV in Public?

There is no one price charged by Tesla charging stations, as different EV models take different amounts of time to charge. Tesla also offers a standard charging station and a Supercharger station.

Using a Tesla Supercharger station will cost you $0.24/kWh between 9pm and 11am and $0.48/kWh between 9pm and 11am. Using Tesla’s standard chargers will cost you nothing! However, while Tesla’s Destination chargers are typically free to use, it’s worth noting that they’re not nearly as powerful as the Supercharger stations (Level 2 vs. Level 3 charging), and Tesla is now introducing a fee for some locations. In a pinch, you can use Google Maps EV charging point feature to find a local fast charger.

Another popular US-based charging station provider, Electrify America, also has two different prices for guests and premium members (who pay a $4 monthly subscription). If you’re a guest, using an Electrify America charger in California will cost you $0.43/kWh. If you’re a premium “Pass+” member, a standard charger will cost you $0.31/kWh.

Electrify America’s rates vary depending on the state you’re in. For example, some states offer the same two rates as California (such as New York), while others charge per minute.

But what about charging your EV at home? Is this cheaper or more expensive?

How Much Does It Cost to Charge Your EV at Home?

The price of charging your EV at home will depend on numerous factors: the time you charge, the cable you use, your electricity provider, and the car model itself. Let’s start with what time you decide to charge your car.

Electricity rates tend to be higher during the day and lower during the night, as it is the time at which the grid is in the least demand. So, if you charge your car at night, expect to save a little on the overall cost.

If you’re using a Level 1 charger, the power output will be low. This means it won’t cost as much per minute, but the charging time will be longer. On the other hand, if you use a faster charger, it will take less time to power up your vehicle, but the power output per minute will be higher.

Additionally, different electricity providers charge different rates, affecting the overall cost. The model of your car will also affect the cost, as some take longer to charge than others. For example, charging a Tesla with a long-range battery using a Level 1 charger could take days to reach a full charge.

Of course, your geographical location will play a role, too. For example, according to Eco Cost Savings, charging your electric car is more expensive in the UK, for example, but cheaper in Canada.

On average, in the US, it costs $5.59 to charge a standard electric car at home. It costs just 4 cents per mile, $50.51 per month and $606.15 per year to run an electric car, on average, in the US.

Because of all these factors, there is no concrete cost for charging your EV at home. However, the average cost is estimated at around $5.59 in total within the US. This figure is subject to change over time and will likely increase as inflation rates continue to rise.

Charging Your EV Comes at a Cost

While some companies offer free public EV charging stations, charging your EV at home or using a Supercharger will cost you. Unfortunately, there aren’t many ways of escaping the cost of charging your EV—but it will probably cost you less than a tank of fuel.