How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Cost
By Kristen Hall-Geisler and John M. Vincent
Edited by Rachel Shuster
|April 13, 2023, at 5:29 p.m.
Cost of charging electric car – Search (bing.com)
It’s easy to figure out how much it costs to charge an electric car
with information from the EPA, your electric company or the company
operating a public charging company. In most cases, it’s cheaper than
a similar gas-powered vehicle.
When shoppers are considering the purchase or lease of an electric vehicle (EV),
one of the first questions they ask is, “How much does it cost to charge?” For a gas-powered car, you only have to look at its fuel economy and your gas station receipt.
However, there are a couple of ways to answer that question for an EV, since there
are a couple of ways to charge up.
If you’re charging from a home charging station, the cost of charging an electric
vehicle is based on the vehicle’s energy efficiency and the cost of electricity,
which can vary greatly depending on where you’re charging.
In most cases, charging an EVs at home is dramatically less expensive
than fueling a gasoline or diesel vehicle. When you’re charging your electric
car from a public charging station, you’ll pay either by the cost of electricity
or the amount of time you spend tethered to the station. In some cases,
you won’t pay for the charge at all.
Fortunately, there’s ample information to help you determine the cost to charge
almost any electric vehicle available in the marketplace, and the math involved
is pretty simple.
Charging at Home
For most EV buyers or lessees, charging your electric vehicle at home
is the most convenient and lowest-cost option for daily charging.
You simply plug your car into a Level 1 three-prong 120-volt household outlet,
a 240-volt outlet (similar to what your clothes dryer uses) or a Level 2 electric
car charging station that’s been installed.
Cost-wise, there’s little difference in the daily price of electricity between
the two charging levels, though a Level 2 EV charging station is typically
the fastest and most convenient option.
Figuring Out the Cost
To determine the cost of charging an electric car, you simply multiply
the cost of electricity in your area by the vehicle’s fuel efficiency.
Once you know the cost per 100 miles, you can use your vehicle’s EPA-estimated
range to determine the cost of refilling it from zero percent to 100 percent charge.
You don’t need to know the car’s battery capacity or do anything — beyond some
simple math to find the total cost. Let’s look at exactly where to find the numbers
that need to be crunched.
Electric Car Efficiency
The EPA has developed a way to compare the efficiency of gasoline and electric vehicles called MPGe. That’s not the number we’ll use for calculating the cost to charge, though.
On an electric vehicle’s window sticker, you’ll see a number labeled kW-hrs per 100 miles or kWh per 100 miles. The same information for both EVs and plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHEVs) is also available at the EPA’s fueleconomy.gov site.
We used the EPA’s site to look at a couple of electric cars on the market today to show
how different their fuel efficiency can be. The 2023 Chevrolet Bolt consumes 28 kWh
per 100 miles, while the 2023 Volkswagen iD.4 can use 34 kWh of electricity to cover
the same distance. A 2023 Kia EV6 with all-wheel drive can use 31 kWh of electricity
to go 100 miles.
Cost of Electricity
There are a couple of ways to determine the cost of electricity in your area.
You can get a ballpark idea by looking at the U.S. Department of Energy’s
Energy Information Administration’s state-by-state energy cost guide.
When exploring the table, you’ll see the wide range of costs across the country,
from North Dakota’s 9.62 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in December 2022 to
Hawaii’s 44.78 cents per kWh.
The national average in December 2022 was 14.96 cents per kWh.
Because costs can vary within states, among different power providers, seasonally,
and based on the rate plan you choose from your power provider, it’s a good idea
to do a little math to determine your personal cost of power.
To do so, look at your monthly electric bill to find out how many
kilowatt-hours of electricity your home consumed.
Then divide your total bill by that number to determine the cost per kWh.
You can get an even more accurate cost per kWh if you average the kWh
costs over several months, or by using bills from all four seasons.
How Do You Find the Full-Range Cost?
Now that you know the cost you’re going to pay per kWh and how many kWh the EV will take to travel 100 miles, you just multiply the two. For example, charging the 28 kWh-per-100-mile 2023 Chevrolet Bolt in Colorado, where the average cost per kWh is 14.24 cents, will cost $3.99 to power for 100 miles, or about 4 cents per mile.
The 2023 Chevy Bolt is EPA-rated to go 259 miles on a full charge. At 4 cents per mile,
the total cost to charge the Bolt from zero percent to 100 percent charge would be $10.36 at Colorado’s average electric rate. The same Bolt would cost $17.73 to charge from empty to full in California, where the average electricity cost is 24.46 cents per kWh.
How Can You Reduce Your Cost of Electric Car Charging?
You can reduce the cost of charging EVs by charging them at the right time.
In many areas, electric utilities offer time-of-use electric rates, with higher costs at peak hours and low costs when energy demand is at its lowest. If your utility offers the program, and you schedule your EV to charge late at night, you can save a tremendous amount in energy costs.
How Much Does a Charging Station Cost?
While having a Level 2 charging station installed in your home isn’t absolutely
necessary, having one makes the EV ownership experience much easier.
Installing one usually improves charging speeds and, with some charging stations,
allows monitoring and scheduling using a smartphone app.
Note that we call them charging stations. Electric cars actually carry their Level 1 (120-volt) and Level 2 (240-volt) chargers internally. The charging station, or electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), just connects your home’s power to the car’s internal charger through its charging port. As electric vehicle battery packs evolve, charging with a Level 1 120-volt household outlet is becoming less and less of a viable option, as they can take 40-50 hours to charge these higher-range vehicles from empty.
Depending on what charging station you choose, how far it’s going to be installed from your electrical panel, the cost of permits and whether you already have a 240-volt outlet you can plug into, the cost of installation will vary. According to EV advocacy organization Forth, the cost of installing a charging station can cost $300 to $1,000, plus the cost of an electrician’s labor.
If you’re in an older home where the electric panel or service can’t accommodate the additional load, or your EVSE needs to be installed far from the panel, the installation costs can skyrocket. Fortunately, the cost of charging equipment can be partially reduced with federal, state, local and utility incentives.
Charging on the Road
While home charging is how most EV owners will replenish their EV’s battery, it’s not always possible. When you’re out on the road, you need to take advantage of Level 2 public charging stations and Level 3 DC fast chargers to refuel your EV. If you live in a multi unit housing complex with no place to install your own charging station, public charging may be your only option.
While nearly all electric vehicles (including Teslas with an adapter) can be charged from Level 2 public chargers, there are three types of fast-charging plugs used in America. CHAdeMO was an early standard, but it’s now going out of favor. SAE Combo is a newer standard and works with a broad range of electric cars.
Electrify America Charging Network
ELECTRIFY AMERICA – Search (bing.com)
The Tesla Supercharger network uses proprietary chargers that can only, for now, be used to charge Tesla vehicles. Using adapters, Tesla’s can be charged using any of the three types of plugs. Determining the cost of charging an electric car at a public charging station can get complicated. There are a multitude of different charging networks with also different pricing structures.
EV chargers can bill by the length of time you’re connected or based on the amount of energy transferred. Some, including Tesla’s proprietary Supercharger network, can charge different rates based on the speed of charging. At some EV chargers, you’ll be charged a per-session fee or the cost of parking.
Let’s look at a couple of networks to illustrate the different pricing models.
In Washington, D.C., the Electrify America network charges 48 cents per kWh to charge
at one of their fast chargers. Members who pay a $4 monthly fee get a discounted rate of 36 cents per kWh. If we were to charge a 2023 Chevy Bolt, which takes 28 kWh to travel 100 miles, it would cost $34.81 to get a full battery at Electrify America’s standard rate. Spending one full hour at an Electrify America fast charger would cost $28.80.
The EVgo network has a 35-cent per-minute non-member pay-as-you-go rate for their fast-charging network in Washington, D.C. Even if you were on the DC fast-charging station for a full hour, it would only cost $21 for the session.
Members receive discounts of up to 30 percent based on the plan they choose.
It’s difficult to predict exactly how long any electric vehicle would take to charge,
as charging speed can vary dramatically based on temperature, battery’s state of
charge, speed of the charger and speed at which the car is able to take the charge.
Where to Find Free Charging
You can reduce your cost of charging to zero if you’re able to take advantage of free charging. Some electric car makers offer free charging to their buyers and lease customers, though the amount of time you get varies dramatically. Volkswagen offers one of the best deals, with the ability to plug in the 2023 Volkswagen ID.4 for free at Electrify America chargers for 30-minute fast-charging sessions for three years.
Tesla goes back and forth with free access to its Supercharger network, occasionally offering drivers the ability to plug in at no cost.
Many shopping centers offer Level 2 charging as a free benefit while shopping.
While most shoppers don’t spend enough time with their car on the charger to fill up the battery completely, you can get at least a few miles of additional range. In some cases, the charging stations are placed close to the front door, providing another incentive to drive
a plug-in vehicle. The PlugShare app is an excellent way to find charging stations, their status and their cost.
Workplace Charging
Some employers offer the ability to recharge your plug-in car while you work.
Employers receive incentives to provide the benefit, which can save EV drivers
the cost of charging at home or other public stations.
Workplace chargers are typically Level 2 charging stations, as the installation costs
of a Level 3 rapid charger are typically too high for employers to pay.
A Level 2 charger is fast enough to recharge almost any EV in the span of a normal workday. It’s important that you don’t assume that any outlet you find in your employer’s parking lot is available to charge your car. Always ask permission, as you don’t know what other loads the circuit could already be powering & you don’t want to risk overloading it.
Comparing the Cost of Electricity Versus Gas
When you know how much it costs to power your electric vehicle, you can
compare it with the cost of fueling a car with an internal combustion engine.
Comparing Home Charging Prices to Buying Gas
We’ll use a few compact cars and the December 2022 national average kWh rate of
14.96 cents for this example. The 2023 Hyundai Kona EV consumes 27 kWh of electricity per 100 miles, according to the EPA. Multiply it out and that’s $4.03 in electricity to propel the car for 100 miles.
We can compare apples to apples by looking at the gas-powered 2023 Hyundai Kona.
The EPA’s gas mileage information page shows that the front-wheel drive Kona with a
1.6-liter turbo engine consumes 3.1 gallons of gasoline per 100 miles.
At the current average price of unleaded gasoline reported by the AAA,
$3.47 per gallon, it would cost $10.76 to drive the gasoline-powered Kona 100 miles.
Finally, let’s compare the cost of the electric Kona with the 2023 Toyota Prius hybrid,
which is one of the most fuel-efficient gasoline-powered cars you can buy.
According to the EPA, the standard Prius consumes 1.8 gallons per 100 miles.
At the national average gasoline price, it would cost $6.25 per 100 miles to
drive the Toyota Prius.
Comparing Fast-Charging Prices to Buying Gas – Search (bing.com)
Now let’s look at the cost of recharging your electric car at a public fast-charging
station compared to visiting a gas station with a traditional vehicle. We’ll say you’re in Washington, D.C. and charging your Hyundai Kona EV using a fast-charging port at an Electrify America charging station.
An Electrify America non-member would pay 48 cents per kWh for electricity, which works out to $12.95 to power the Kona EV for 100 miles. At the District of Columbia’s current unleaded fuel price of $3.51 per gallon, it would cost $10.88 to drive the gas-only Kona 100 miles, and $6.32 to fuel the Prius for the same distance.
In other words, an electric car charged at a typical fast charger could cost more than twice what a Prius’ gasoline would cost in this scenario. Your chances of saving money with an EV come from home, workplace or free charging. Fast charging, while necessary for long road trips, can be an expensive endeavor. On the other hand, gasoline prices tend to be much more volatile than electricity prices, making your cost of ownership less predictable.
The Bigger Picture
While it’s clear that in most areas of the country it’s cheaper to charge an electric
car at a home, workplace or free charging station than it is to fuel a gas-powered car,
the overall picture is a bit more complicated. That’s because electric cars and SUVs
currently cost significantly more than equivalent gasoline-powered vehicles.
Some, but usually not all, of the price difference can be offset by the Federal Electric Car Tax Credit, plus state, local and utility incentives. In some states, registering an electric
car is more expensive than registering a gas-powered vehicle.
RELATED: Electric Vehicles: How Easy Is It to Find a Charging Station?
READ NEXT › Electric Cars vs. Hybrids: What’s the Difference?
› New York Will Ban Gas Car Sales, Following California’s Lead
› Women are more skeptical of electric cars than men —
and won’t accept less than a 350-mile range (msn.com)
› How Far Can an Electric Car Go on One Charge?
› Why You Should Buy a Hybrid Instead of an Electric Car
› How Much Does an Electric Car Really Cost?
› Level 1, Level 2, or Level 3? EV Chargers Explained
› How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?
Before you buy or lease, you need to consider whether the amount
you drive will allow you to recover the vehicle’s higher initial cost.
More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report
Designed to answer the questions shoppers have when they’re in the market for a vehicle, our new car rankings and reviews are a great place to start. Our vehicle comparison tool lets you look at vehicles side-by-side.
Once you’ve found the car, truck or SUV that fits your needs and budget, the next step is finding a great deal. Our new car deals page showcases the best financing and cash back incentives offered by automakers, while our lease deals page shows offers with low monthly payments and little due at signing.
An easy way to save money on a purchase or lease is the U.S. News Best Price Program.
It connects shoppers with local dealers, offering significant savings with pre-negotiated prices, home delivery and online sales options.
What does driving through the mountains do to a electric car – Search (bing.com)
How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car? | U.S. News (usnews.com)
Opinion: No, nuclear power isn’t the ‘big bazooka’ climate fix you might think.
Opinion: Nuclear power is a vital part of fighting climate change (msn.com)
How much does it cost to install a charging station – Search (bing.com)
How much does it cost to install solar panels – Search (bing.com)
How long does it take to charge electric cars – Search (bing.com)
Is Green Energy a Practical Energy Source – Search (bing.com)
How much does it cost to install windmills – Search (bing.com)
How to find electric car charging stations – Search (bing.com)
Variables in Renewable Energy – Search (bing.com)
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX
Robert F. Kennedy, Jr Posted › 1h · Facebook
Tucker Carlson Tonight 4/19/23 | FOX BREAKING – One News Page VIDEO
Fox fires Tucker Carlson five days after he crosses the red line by acknowledging that the TV networks pushed a deadly and ineffective vaccine to please their Pharma advertisers. Carlson’s breathtakingly courageous April 19 monologue broke TV’s two biggest rules: Tucker told the truth about how greedy Pharma advertisers-controlled TV news content and he lambasted obsequious newscasters for promoting jabs they knew to be lethal and worthless. For many years, Tucker has had the nation’s biggest audience averaging 3.5 million — 10 times the size of CNN. Fox just demonstrated the terrifying power of Big Pharma. Covid vaccine: You can’t sue Pfizer or Moderna over side effects (cnbc.com)
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s Historic Presidential Announcement in Boston, MA.
Please help me share this video: My mission over the next 18 months of this campaign
and throughout my presidency will be to end the corrupt merger of state and corporate power that is threatening to impose a new kind of corporate feudalism on our country. #Kennedy24
BONUS: Robert F. Kennedy Jr Is No Joke (Biden Should Take Him Seriously) (msn.com)
Twitter rejoices as Tucker Carlson leaves Fox News: ‘Don’t let the door hit you’ (msn.com)
Tucker Carlson Is Out At Fox, And Twitter Users Are Dancing On His Grave (msn.com)
Twitter Users Know Exactly Who Got The Last Laugh Over Tucker Carlson’s Exit.
‘MEDIA MASSACRE’: Twitter Completely Melts Down Over Stunning Departures
Tucker Carlson from Fox News and Don Lemon from CNN (msn.com)
Bottomline: It’s All
🙁