How Much Does It Cost to Charge Your Electric Car?

The cost of buying an electric vehicle is slowly coming down, making it easier for more drivers to go electric. EV drivers can enjoy tax credits and lower maintenance costs. Charging your EV can also be more affordable, often costing between $8 to $50, depending on multiple factors.

But how much can it cost to charge an electric car? Here’s what the math says. 

Charging Cost Formula 

In a blog on this topic, Investopedia suggests using this formula: Charging Cost = (VR/RPK) x CPK. In this situation, VR refers to Vehicle Range, RPK refers to Range Per Kilowatt-hour (kWh), and CPK refers to Cost Per Kilowatt-hour (kWh).  

Too confusing? Automotive journalist John Voelcker told Kelley Blue Book, “A conservative rule of thumb is that an electric car gets 3 to 4 miles per kWh… So divide the total miles you drive each month by 3 to get the kWh you would use monthly. Multiply that number by your cost per kWh. The dollar amount you get will most likely be lower than what you pay each month to buy gasoline.” 

“How much does it cost to charge at ___?” 

Once you know the total kilowatts needed for your vehicle, you can start thinking about your own vehicle usage. Charging costs can vary depending on your driving patterns, season, type of chargers, and where you typically charge.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car at a Charging Station?

Charging an electric vehicle (EV) at a public charging station typically costs between $0.25 and $0.60 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). For a typical EV with a 75-kWh battery, charging from 10% to 80% usually costs $15 to $35, depending on the charger type, location, and network pricing.

The total cost of charging can vary based on several factors:

Level 2 Charging Stations

Level 2 chargers are commonly found at workplaces, shopping centers, hotels, and public parking facilities. These stations often charge between $0.20 and $0.50 per kWh, although some locations may use hourly pricing instead. Many drivers can fully recharge their vehicle in several hours.

DC Fast Charging Stations

DC fast chargers provide significantly faster charging and are typically the most expensive public charging option. Pricing commonly ranges from $0.35 to $0.60 per kWh, though rates can be higher in some areas. Most EVs can charge from 10% to 80% in less than an hour when using a compatible fast charger.

Commercial Charging Costs

Commercial charging station hosts may use different pricing models, including:

• Per-kWh pricing

• Hourly pricing

• Flat session fees

Some businesses offer free charging as a customer amenity, while others add a markup to cover equipment and operating costs.

Why Charging Costs Vary

The cost to charge an EV depends on:

• Charger type and charging speed

• Local electricity rates

• Charging network pricing

• Geographic location

• Time of day

Understanding these factors can help EV owners estimate charging expenses, compare public charging networks, and choose the most cost-effective charging option for their needs.

Variations in the Cost to Charge 

But we’re not done yet. As with gasoline, electricity costs can vary by region or day. If you are planning a road trip, you can expect to see different pricing policies based on region. Here are a few ways that pricing plans can vary. 

Pricing in different regions 

As previously mentioned, the price for electricity around the United States fluctuates broadly between regions. In a state like North Dakota, electricity can be under 10 cents/kWh while in Connecticut, it may cost over 33 cents/kWh. 

Pricing at different times of day 

Many electricity providers have special rates for “off-peak hours.” These are generally in the evenings, on the weekends and holidays, and overnight. Some site hosts may decrease their pricing during these times. If you’re charging at home or using a commercial charger in the evening, you may be able to shave off a few dollars from your total charging cost. If available, Time of Day pricing should be noted in the charging station app that you’re using to charge. 

Battery levels 

Thus far, we have been talking about how much it is to charge an EV from empty to full, but this isn’t usually the case with EVs. As with ICE vehicles, most EV drivers do not allow their vehicle’s battery to get completely depleted, and neither do most drivers regularly charge their batteries to 100%. It is recommended to always have 20-80% of charge to preserve your lithium battery’s health.  

Electric vehicles offer a feature called regenerative braking, which allows the vehicle to recapture kinetic energy while driving. However, you can only store this electricity in the battery if it has room to store energy. For that reason, many EVs cap charging at 80%.  

EV batteries charge the first 80% relatively quickly, but the final 20% is charged more slowly when using a DCFC. The final 20% will take about as long to charge as the initial 80%. Similar to how some cell phones now slow down charging to preserve the lithium battery, the computer in many EVs will also slow down (or stop) charging once your vehicle reaches a preset threshold. While you cannot overcharge an EV, and energy flow will end once your battery is full, it is important to remember that in most cases, you do not need a 100% full battery. 

EV costs compared 

To help you compare the cost of owning a given vehicle, United States Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center has a Vehicle Cost Calculator that you can use to see how much it would cost to own a specific electric vehicle.

Blink also offers a search tool for finding residential EV charging installation tax incentives and other funding options for installing a Level 2 charger at your home.