EV Charging Cost Calculator

Compare Level 2 home charging, DC fast charging, and gasoline costs per mile with annual fuel savings and electricity consumption metrics.

Driving Habits & Energy Price Parameters

EV Driving Profile

US national average is ~13,500 miles/yr

Sedans: 24-28 kWh, SUVs/Trucks: 34-45 kWh

Electric Utility Rates

Check your utility bill for $/kWh rate

85% Home
15% charged at public fast chargers (@ $0.42/kWh)

Gas Car Benchmark

Average US passenger vehicle is ~28 MPG

Annual EV Electricity Cost
$836 / year
70/month for 4200 kWh
Annual Gas Vehicle Fuel Cost
$1760 / year
147/month at 3.65/gal
Annual Net Fuel Savings
+$924 / year
5-Year Savings: +$4620

Cost Per Mile Driven Benchmark

EV Home Charging
$0.050
Level 2 Overnight Rate
EV Blended Average
$0.062
85% Home / 15% Public
DC Fast Charging
$0.131
Superchargers & EA
Gasoline Car (28 MPG)
$0.130
At $3.65/gal

The Economics of Electric Mobility vs Combustion Engines

Electric motors operate at over 85% to 90% thermal efficiency, compared to internal combustion engines which waste roughly 70% to 80% of energy as useless heat. By decoupling transportation fuel from volatile global crude oil markets and leveraging off-peak residential power grids, drivers can permanently slash their cost per mile.

Use Cases

  • Prospective EV Buyer Financial Feasibility

    Assess whether transitioning from an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle to a battery electric vehicle (BEV) will generate positive monthly cash flow.

  • Home Utility Time-of-Use (TOU) Rate Optimization

    Determine the exact dollar savings of charging overnight between midnight and 6 AM during super-off-peak utility tariff windows.

  • Road Trip & Public DC Fast Charging Budgeting

    Forecast long-distance interstate travel expenses when relying predominantly on Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, or EVgo high-speed stations.

  • Corporate Fleet Electrification TCO

    Model 5-year Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) fuel savings for corporate delivery vans and sales fleets transitioning away from diesel and unleaded gasoline.

Key Capabilities

Granular Cost-Per-Mile Benchmark

Directly compares residential Level 2 electricity rates, commercial DC fast charging, and internal combustion gasoline side by side.

Real-World Charging Loss Calibration

Incorporates the standard 10% AC-to-DC onboard inverter thermal efficiency loss that occurs during Level 1 and Level 2 charging sessions.

Customizable Efficiency Metrics

Enter vehicle consumption in standard kWh per 100 miles, supporting sedans (24-28 kWh), crossovers (30-35 kWh), and electric pickup trucks (40-48 kWh).

Multi-Year Cumulative Savings Projection

Visualizes your 1-year and 5-year cumulative net fuel savings based on personal annual mileage and fuel price variance.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car at home?

A typical EV battery holds between 60 kWh and 80 kWh. At the US national average residential electricity rate of $0.16 per kWh, a complete 0% to 100% charge costs approximately $9.60 to $12.80, delivering 250 to 320 miles of driving range.

Is public DC fast charging more expensive than gas?

Public DC fast charging (which typically costs $0.35 to $0.48 per kWh) is roughly 2 to 3 times more expensive than charging at home. At $0.45/kWh, an EV costs about 12 to 14 cents per mile—comparable to a highly efficient 35+ MPG hybrid car, but still cheaper than an SUV averaging 18 to 22 MPG.

Why is there an AC charging loss factor?

When alternating current (AC) flows from your wall outlet into an EV, the vehicle's onboard converter converts it into direct current (DC) to store in the battery cells. This chemical and physical conversion generates heat, resulting in an industry-standard 10% to 12% energy loss.

How much can I save per year by switching to an EV?

Drivers averaging 13,500 miles per year who charge predominantly at home save an average of $800 to $1,400 annually on fuel compared to a 28 MPG gas vehicle paying $3.65 per gallon.

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