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EV Charging Cost 2026: $5.53 per 100 Miles at 18.44¢/kWh
At the national average of 18.44 cents/kWh, charging a typical EV costs about $5.53 per 100 miles, or $664 per year for 12,000 miles. That is $1,036 less than gasoline.
EV Cost (12,000 mi)
$664
At national avg 18.44 cents/kWh
Gasoline Cost (12,000 mi)
$1,700
30 MPG at $4.25/gallon
Annual Savings
$1,036
EV vs gasoline at national avg
EV Charging Cost by State
| State | Rate (cents/kWh) | Cost per 100 mi | Annual (12k mi) | vs Gasoline Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.35 | $3.71 | $445 | $1,255 |
| Utah | 12.96 | $3.89 | $467 | $1,233 |
| Oklahoma | 13.38 | $4.01 | $482 | $1,218 |
| Nebraska | 13.59 | $4.08 | $489 | $1,211 |
| Nevada | 13.60 | $4.08 | $490 | $1,210 |
| North Dakota | 13.61 | $4.08 | $490 | $1,210 |
| Missouri | 13.68 | $4.10 | $492 | $1,208 |
| New Mexico | 14.12 | $4.24 | $508 | $1,192 |
| Iowa | 14.14 | $4.24 | $509 | $1,191 |
| Louisiana | 14.15 | $4.25 | $509 | $1,191 |
| Arkansas | 14.36 | $4.31 | $517 | $1,183 |
| Tennessee | 14.47 | $4.34 | $521 | $1,179 |
| Montana | 14.67 | $4.40 | $528 | $1,172 |
| Wyoming | 14.80 | $4.44 | $533 | $1,167 |
| Washington | 14.95 | $4.48 | $538 | $1,162 |
| Kentucky | 14.98 | $4.49 | $539 | $1,161 |
| North Carolina | 15.09 | $4.53 | $543 | $1,157 |
| Kansas | 15.13 | $4.54 | $545 | $1,155 |
| Florida | 15.17 | $4.55 | $546 | $1,154 |
| Arizona | 15.23 | $4.57 | $548 | $1,152 |
| South Dakota | 15.73 | $4.72 | $566 | $1,134 |
| Georgia | 15.84 | $4.75 | $570 | $1,130 |
| Colorado | 16.16 | $4.85 | $582 | $1,118 |
| Mississippi | 16.16 | $4.85 | $582 | $1,118 |
| South Carolina | 16.18 | $4.85 | $582 | $1,118 |
| Oregon | 16.27 | $4.88 | $586 | $1,114 |
| Texas | 16.44 | $4.93 | $592 | $1,108 |
| Alabama | 16.77 | $5.03 | $604 | $1,096 |
| West Virginia | 16.80 | $5.04 | $605 | $1,095 |
| Minnesota | 16.95 | $5.08 | $610 | $1,090 |
| Virginia | 17.61 | $5.28 | $634 | $1,066 |
| Indiana | 18.15 | $5.45 | $653 | $1,047 |
| Delaware | 19.38 | $5.81 | $698 | $1,002 |
| Ohio | 19.52 | $5.86 | $703 | $997 |
| Wisconsin | 19.74 | $5.92 | $711 | $989 |
| Pennsylvania | 21.55 | $6.46 | $776 | $924 |
| Maryland | 21.77 | $6.53 | $784 | $916 |
| Michigan | 22.01 | $6.60 | $792 | $908 |
| New Jersey | 23.27 | $6.98 | $838 | $862 |
| Illinois | 23.85 | $7.16 | $859 | $841 |
| Vermont | 24.89 | $7.47 | $896 | $804 |
| New Hampshire | 27.33 | $8.20 | $984 | $716 |
| Connecticut | 27.37 | $8.21 | $985 | $715 |
| Alaska | 28.23 | $8.47 | $1,016 | $684 |
| Maine | 28.63 | $8.59 | $1,031 | $669 |
| Massachusetts | 28.82 | $8.65 | $1,038 | $662 |
| Rhode Island | 29.46 | $8.84 | $1,061 | $639 |
| New York | 29.93 | $8.98 | $1,077 | $623 |
| California | 33.25 | $9.98 | $1,197 | $503 |
| Hawaii | 52.00 | $15.60 | $1,872 | $-172 |
Based on average EV efficiency of 30 kWh per 100 miles, 12,000 annual miles, and gasoline at $4.25/gallon for a 30 MPG car.
Home Charging vs Public Charging
| Charging Type | Cost per kWh | Cost per 100 mi | Speed | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Level 1 (Home, 120V) | Home rate | $3.20 - $13.00 | 3-5 mi/hr | Overnight top-ups, PHEVs |
| Level 2 (Home, 240V) | Home rate | $3.20 - $13.00 | 20-30 mi/hr | Daily home charging |
| Level 2 (Public) | $0.20 - $0.35/kWh | $6.00 - $10.50 | 20-30 mi/hr | Workplace, shopping |
| DC Fast Charging | $0.25 - $0.50/kWh | $7.50 - $15.00 | 100-200 mi/30min | Road trips, emergencies |
EV vs Gasoline: Popular Model Comparisons
| EV Model | Annual Fuel | Gas Equivalent | Annual Fuel | EV Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | $540 | Honda Civic | $1,530 | $990/yr |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | $680 | Ford Escape | $1,700 | $1020/yr |
| Chevy Equinox EV | $620 | Chevy Equinox | $1,820 | $1200/yr |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | $490 | Hyundai Sonata | $1,600 | $1110/yr |
| Tesla Model Y | $650 | Toyota RAV4 | $1,870 | $1220/yr |
EV costs at national avg electricity rate, home charging. Gas costs at $4.25/gallon at each model's rated economy. 12,000 annual miles.
Minimize EV Charging Cost with TOU Rates
The single best way to reduce your EV charging cost is to charge on off-peak time-of-use rates. Off-peak electricity is typically 20 to 40% cheaper than peak rates. Since EV charging is the easiest load to shift (just schedule it to start at midnight), most EV owners can capture the full off-peak discount.
How to Set Up Overnight Charging
- Contact your utility about TOU rate plans (or check their website for residential TOU options)
- Set your EV or charger to schedule charging from midnight to 6am
- Most EVs (Tesla, Ford, GM, Hyundai) have built-in charge scheduling in the car settings
- Most Level 2 home chargers (ChargePoint, JuiceBox, Grizzl-E) also have scheduling features
- Set a departure time in the morning so the car is fully charged when you need it
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
At the national average of 18.44 cents per kWh, charging a typical EV (30 kWh per 100 miles) costs about $5.53 per 100 miles. For 12,000 miles of annual driving, that is roughly $660 per year. Compare this to $1,700 per year for a 30 MPG gasoline car at $4.25 per gallon. Home charging on off-peak TOU rates can reduce the cost to $3.30 to $4.30 per 100 miles.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public station?
Home charging is significantly cheaper. Public Level 2 chargers cost $0.20 to $0.35 per kWh, roughly similar to home rates. But DC fast chargers cost $0.25 to $0.50 per kWh, which is 40 to 180% more expensive than home charging at the national average. The convenience premium for DC fast charging can cost $3 to $8 extra per 100 miles compared to home charging.
How long does it take to charge an EV at home?
With a Level 1 charger (standard 120V outlet), you get 3 to 5 miles of range per hour of charging. A full charge from empty takes 40 to 60 hours. With a Level 2 charger (240V, installed by an electrician for $500 to $2,000), you get 20 to 30 miles per hour. A full charge takes 6 to 10 hours, making overnight charging easy. Most EV owners plug in at night and wake up to a full battery.