Charging Cost Calculator

Enter electricity rate and battery details to find cost per charge and cost per mile.

Battery capacity (kWh)

Charge from (%)

Charge to (%)

Electricity rate ($/kWh)

Vehicle efficiency (mi/kWh)

Energy for this charge —

Cost for this charge —

Cost per mile (electric) —

Equivalent gas cost (at $3.50/gal, 30mpg) —

Savings vs gasoline —

Cost = kWh × rate. Cost per mile = rate / efficiency. Average US residential electricity: $0.13/kWh. Average DC fast charging: $0.30–0.45/kWh.

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How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV?

The cost to charge an EV depends on your electricity rate and the vehicle's efficiency. At the US average of $0.13/kWh, a full charge of a 75 kWh battery costs about $9.75.

Most EVs get 3–4 miles per kWh, making the cost per mile about $0.03–0.04. Compare that to a gas car at $3.50/gallon and 30 mpg: $0.117 per mile. EVs cost about 70% less per mile to fuel.

Charging cost = kWh added × electricity rate ($/kWh). To add 60 kWh at home at $0.13/kWh: cost = 60 × 0.13 = $7.80. Compare to gasoline: a 25 MPG car burning 60 miles worth of fuel (60/25 = 2.4 gallons) at $3.50/gal costs $8.40. EVs are generally cheaper to "fuel" at home electricity rates.

Public charging rates vary widely: Level 2 public chargers range from free (destination chargers at hotels, malls) to $0.20–0.50/kWh or per-minute billing. DCFC charging typically costs $0.30–0.65/kWh on commercial networks (Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint). Convenience of fast charging comes at 2–5× the home electricity cost.

Time-of-use (TOU) electricity rates: many utilities offer lower rates for overnight charging (typically 11pm–6am). Off-peak rates can be 30–50% below peak rates. A $0.13/kWh average rate may drop to $0.07/kWh off-peak — reducing charging cost further. Schedule charging via the vehicle or home charger app to hit low-rate windows.

Efficiency (miles per kWh) varies significantly by speed, temperature, and driving style. Highway speeds above 65 mph dramatically reduce range; cold temperatures reduce battery capacity 20–40%. Use the EPA combined rating as a baseline but expect real-world efficiency to vary ±25%.