Charging an electric car at home typically costs between $11 and $60 per month for the average driver, translating to roughly $0.04 to $0.20 per mile. The final cost hinges on your local electricity rate, your car's efficiency, and your driving habits. To put it simply, if you drive 1,000 miles a month, you'll likely pay significantly less than you would for gasoline.
The primary factor is your electricity rate, measured in cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). You can find this on your utility bill. The national average in the U.S. is around 16 cents/kWh, but this varies widely, from below 10 cents in some states to over 30 cents in others.
Your vehicle's efficiency is equally important. This is measured in kilowatt-hours per 100 miles (kWh/100 mi), similar to miles per gallon for gas cars. A more efficient EV, like a Hyundai Ioniq 6, will cost less to charge than a less efficient model, like a large electric pickup truck.
Here’s a practical calculation:
- Find your car's kWh/100 mi rating (e.g., 30 kWh/100 mi).
- Multiply that by your electricity cost per kWh (e.g., $0.16).
- Divide by 100 to get your cost per mile: (30 kWh * $0.16) / 100 = $0.048 per mile.
Below is a comparison table showing estimated monthly costs based on different electricity rates and vehicle efficiencies for 1,000 miles of driving per month.
| Vehicle Efficiency (kWh/100 mi) | Electricity Rate ($0.10/kWh) | Electricity Rate ($0.16/kWh) | Electricity Rate ($0.30/kWh) |
|---|
| 25 (Very Efficient) | $25.00 | $40.00 | $75.00 |
| 30 (Average EV) | $30.00 | $48.00 | $90.00 |
| 40 (Electric SUV/Truck) | $40.00 | $64.00 | $120.00 |
Most charging is done overnight. Using a standard 120-volt outlet (Level 1 charging) is slow but sufficient for many. Installing a 240-volt Level 2 charger is more expensive upfront but charges much faster and can be more efficient, slightly reducing energy loss. To minimize costs, see if your utility offers a special EV charging rate with lower prices overnight.
