How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?
The formula for home charging cost, why charging losses matter, and how to compare with gasoline.
Open the EV Charging Cost & Time Calculator
The basic calculation
Cost = energy added to the battery ÷ charging efficiency × electricity rate. Adding 45 kWh (60% of a 75 kWh pack) at 90% efficiency draws 50 kWh from the wall. At $0.15/kWh, that is $7.50.
Use your real rate
Divide the total on your electric bill by the kWh used to get an all-in rate including delivery charges. If your utility offers a time-of-use or EV rate, overnight charging can cost much less than the average.
Comparing with gasoline
Per mile, an EV at 3.5 mi/kWh charged at $0.15/kWh with 90% efficiency costs about $0.048. A 30 mpg car at $3.50/gal costs about $0.117 per mile. Public DC fast charging can cost several times the home rate, which narrows the gap.