EV Charging Cost Calculator
Calculate the cost to fully charge an electric vehicle at home or at a public charger.
Compare charging costs to the equivalent cost of gasoline.
Charging Cost
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle?
Charging an EV is almost always cheaper than fueling a gasoline car, but costs vary depending on whether you charge at home, at work, or at a public fast charger.
The Formula
Cost to Charge = Battery Capacity (kWh) × Electricity Rate ($/kWh)
For a partial charge:
Cost = (Target State of Charge − Current State of Charge) × Battery Capacity × Rate
Home vs Public Charging Costs
| Charging Type | Speed | Typical Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Home (Level 1, 120V) | 5–8 km/hr / 3–5 mi/hr | Your home rate (~$0.12–0.18/kWh) |
| Home (Level 2, 240V) | 25–50 km/hr / 15–30 mi/hr | Your home rate (~$0.12–0.18/kWh) |
| DC Fast Charge (public) | 100–400 km/hr / 60–250 mi/hr | $0.25–0.60/kWh |
| Tesla Supercharger | 200–300 km/hr | ~$0.28–0.40/kWh |
Common EV Battery Capacities
| Vehicle | Battery Capacity |
|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf (base) | 40 kWh |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 65 kWh |
| Tesla Model 3 Standard | 60 kWh |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range | 82 kWh |
| Tesla Model Y Long Range | 82 kWh |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 98–131 kWh |
| Rivian R1T | 135 kWh |
Comparing EV to Gasoline Cost
Example:
- EV: 60 kWh battery, home rate $0.15/kWh = $9.00 to fully charge
- Range: 350 km (218 miles) on a full charge
- Cost per 100 km = $9.00 ÷ 350 × 100 = $2.57/100 km
Gasoline car:
- Fuel efficiency: 8L/100 km, gas price $1.80/L
- Cost per 100 km = 8 × $1.80 = $14.40/100 km
The EV is approximately 5.6× cheaper to run per km in this example.
Annual Savings Estimate
Average driver travels 15,000 km (9,300 miles) per year:
- EV cost: 15,000 × $2.57/100 = $386/year
- Gas car: 15,000 × $14.40/100 = $2,160/year
- Annual savings: $1,774