March 12, 2026
How Much Does It Cost To Charge An EV?
7 Min. Read
- Cost Savings with Home Charging: Home EV charging costs $12.96 for a 72 kWh battery at $0.18/kWh, translating to about $0.05 per mile and annual costs around $693 for 13,489 miles.
- Public EV Charging Premiums: Level 2 public EV charging stations cost $18 for a 72 kWh battery at $0.25/kWh, while DC fast charging stations average $33.84 ($0.47/kWh), making annual costs $964-$1,811 for 13,489 miles.
- Long-Term Cost Benefits: EVs have lower maintenance costs ($4,600 over five years vs. $7,800 for gas vehicles), and state & local incentives reduce total cost of ownership.
EVs can unlock considerable cost savings compared to gas-powered vehicles in refueling and maintenance. However, the cost of charging an EV can vary based on your charging strategy.
Let’s explore the difference between home charging and public charging costs below.
Calculating Home EV Charging Costs
With 80% of EV owners charging at home, paying residential electricity rates is proving to be a cost-effective way of charging electric vehicles.
U.S. residential electricity rates average $0.18 cents per kilowatt-hour as of early 2026, per EIA and other sources.
However, this rate can vary from $0.32 in California to as high as $0.41 in Hawaii or as low as $0.12 in the state of Washington.
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How much does home EV charging cost?
Given an average electricity rate of $0.18/kWh, adding 100 kWh to an EV battery has an average cost of $18. With an average battery size of 72 kWh, a full charge costs $12.96 by recharging at home. We’ll compare this cost to public charging costs later in this article.
Charging Cost ($) = Electric Vehicle Battery Size (kWh) x Electricity Rate ($ per kWh)
EV owners can expect to get three to four miles per kWh of charge.
Depending on the make and model of your EV, the cost per mile driven generally starts at $0.05 and decreases if you have a more effective model or live in a state with lower-than-average electricity rates.
Tip: EV owners who take advantage of time-of-use rates by charging during off-peak hours are able to further reduce the cost of EV charging.
On average, Americans drive 13,489 miles a year. For EV owners, this average translates into a cost around $693 with at-home charging.
Home EV Charging Installation Costs
A majority of EV owners who rely on at-home charging have purchased a Level 2 charging station, which requires installation by a certified electrician. EV charger installation cost starts at $799, but it can exceed $3,000 if an electric panel upgrade is needed.
It’s possible to offset home charging infrastructure costs by taking advantage of incentives, including a 30% federal tax credit available until June 30th, 2026, plus additional EV charging rebates and tax credits offered at the state, municipality, and utility levels.
Calculating Public EV Charging Costs
The public charging network in America is growing at a fast pace! As of early 2026, there are over 78,000 EV charging stations with more than 241,000 EV charging ports. There are 3,031 Tesla Supercharger stations across the United States including more than 36,700 Supercharger ports.
Public EV Charging Station Fees
According to recent data from Stable Auto, public Level 2 charging stations cost $0.25 per kWh, while Level 3 charging costs $0.47 per kWh, on average.
Public EV charging is convenient when traveling, but the cost can be nearly three times higher compared to at-home charging. A full charge on a 72kW battery costs $18 for Level 2 charging and $33.84 for DC fast charging.
Based on the national average of 13,489 miles driven yearly, relying exclusively on public Level 2 charging stations would cost $963.50. If an EV driver were to exclusively rely on DC fast charging, driving 13,489 miles a year would translate to approximately $1,811.
Pricing can vary a lot based on location, charging network, and the type of charger used. Local energy prices and regulations are also important factors to consider. While some businesses and municipalities offer free public charging as a perk, these free stations often have long lines and frequent outages. Relying on free public charging isn’t a viable option.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at-home or in-public?
At-home charging remains the most affordable way to charge an EV, with a price difference of at least $0.07 per kWh, and often significantly more, when compared to public Level 2 charging. It can be as little as one-third of the cost when compared to public DC fast charging.
However, fast charging can offer a more convenient experience. Since Level 2 charging requires anywhere from four to ten hours to fully charge a battery, it’s only a viable option for charging your vehicle whenever you can leave your EV parked for several hours at a time.
According to Tom Bowen, President of Qmerit Solutions: “If you can’t afford to wait for your vehicle to charge, spending a few more cents to use a public DC fast charging station may be worth it. Public stations also expand your driving radius by giving you access to more locations where you can top off your battery and extend your travels before returning home.”
| Metric | Level 2 Home Charging | Level 2 Public Charging | DC Fast Public Charging |
|---|---|---|---|
| Average Cost per kWh | $0.18 | $0.25 | $0.47 |
| Average Cost per Charge (72 kWh) | $12.96 | $18.00 | $33.84 |
| Annual Charging Cost (13,489 miles) | $693.72 | $963.50 | $1,811.38 |
How much money can you save in one year by driving an EV?
Driving electric can deliver substantial annual fuel savings because electricity is far cheaper per mile than gasoline or diesel. For a driver traveling about 13,500 miles per year, an electric vehicle charged at $0.18 per kWh typically costs around $700 per year in electricity, compared with roughly $2,100 per year for gasoline at current prices. That difference translates to about $1,400–$1,500 in annual fuel savings, even before factoring in lower maintenance costs.
In practical terms, switching to electric cuts fuel spending by roughly two‑thirds, making day‑to‑day driving significantly less expensive and more predictable from year to year.
| Fuel type | Energy used / year | Unit price | Annual fuel cost | Savings vs gasoline |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | ~540 gallons | $3.96 / gal | ~$2,140 | — |
| Diesel | ~450 gallons | $5.07 / gal | ~$2,280 | –$140 |
| Electric (72 kWh battery) | ~3,854 kWh | $0.18 / kWh | ~$694 | +$1,446 |
Daily Driving Patterns
Your usage patterns and driving habits will determine how much you’re saving, how often you need to charge your EV, and whether public or home charging makes the most sense for your needs. You should consider how much you drive in a day, how far away from home you need to drive, and what kind of traffic you’re likely to encounter.
With the average American driving roughly 36 miles per day, prioritizing at-home charging makes sense for the majority of EV owners and it’s no surprise that 80% of EV drivers prefer the convenience of at-home EV charging. However, leveraging the public charging infrastructure can add to your range, allowing you to take trips that last several days and give you access to fast charging if you’re in a hurry.
Total Cost of Ownership
Since EVs have fewer moving parts, maintenance and repairs are typically cheaper. Over the years, saving on maintenance makes up for the slightly higher initial purchase price of these vehicles. You may only have to pay for new wipers, tire rotations, and brake pads. The total cost of maintenance is around $4,600 for five years.
A gas-powered vehicle costs an average of $7,800 in maintenance over a five-year timeframe, but this pricing difference could become even more important as the cost of repairs keeps increasing.
It’s worth noting that your charging habits can make maintenance costs fluctuate. For instance, living in a warm climate or relying on DC fast charging can accelerate battery degradation and cause a battery capacity loss of 3 to 9% over 50,000 miles driven. Replacing a battery is a major expense, which is why prioritizing Level 2 charging can contribute to a lower cost of ownership for EVs.
The total cost of ownership can also vary based on federal and local programs designed to support EV adoption. For instance, many states, utilities, and municipalities offer various incentives to make EV ownership and charging more affordable.
Explore EV Charging Options With Qmerit
The cost of EV ownership can vary, but there are significant cost savings compared to owning a gas-powered vehicle. EV owners who rely on at-home charging tend to save even more since electricity rates can be as much as three times cheaper compared to public charging stations.
If you’re looking into EV ownership, you can calculate the cost of charging your vehicle with this formula:
Charging Cost ($) = Electric Vehicle Battery Size (kWh) x Electricity Rate ($ per kWh)
As the largest network of certified EV charger installers in North America, Qmerit is the most trusted EV charger installation partner recommended by automakers, EV charger manufacturers, utilities, businesses, and homeowners alike.
But don’t just take our word for it. Rated #1 in customer satisfaction, Qmerit’s experienced network of certified electricians has installed more than 770,000 EV charging stations in homes and businesses across the U.S. and Canada!
