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

For an average electric vehicle with a 65 kWh battery pack, charging from 0% to 100% at home costs approximately $9.00 to $12.00 in states with national-average rates (~16¢/kWh), and up to $21.00 in high-cost states like California or Hawaii.

How much money do you save driving an EV compared to gas?

The typical US driver traveling 12,000 miles per year saves between $800 and $1,400 annually by charging at home rather than fueling a 28-MPG gasoline vehicle at $3.50/gallon.

What is the difference between Level 1 and Level 2 home charging?

Level 1 charging uses a standard 120V household wall outlet and adds roughly 3 to 5 miles of range per hour. Level 2 charging requires a dedicated 240V appliance circuit (similar to an electric dryer) and delivers 25 to 45 miles of range per hour, fully recharging most vehicles overnight in 6 to 9 hours.

EV Home Charging Cost & Gas Savings Calculator (2026)

EV Model & Battery Specs

Popular EV Model Presets

Battery Size (kWh)

Efficiency (mi/kWh)

Estimated Monthly Mileage

miles/mo

US national average is ~1,000 to 1,150 miles per month (12k-14k/yr).

Electricity Rates & Gas Comparison

Select US State (Residential Utility Rate)

Electricity Rate (Cents per kWh)

¢ / kWh

Gasoline Vehicle Comparison:

Gas Price ($/gal)

Gas Vehicle MPG

MPG

Charging Hardware Speed Comparison

Level 1 (120V Standard Outlet) 1.4 kW • ~4 miles added per hour

45 hrs full

Level 2 (240V Dedicated 48A) 11.5 kW • ~35-44 miles added per hour

6.5 hrs full

Monthly EV Charging

4.8¢ per mile

Annual Gas Savings

Save $0/mo

Cost for Full 0-100% Charge

$0.00

~255 mi range

Annual Fuel Expense: EV vs Gasoline Car

12,000 Miles / Year

Itemized Energy & Fuel Ledger

Monthly Electricity Consumption (kWh used) 0 kWh

Home EV Charging Cost (Monthly) $0.00

Equivalent Gasoline Cost (Monthly at 28 MPG) $0.00

Charging Efficiency Loss Factor (10% standard) Factored In

Net Annual Dollar Savings $0.00 / year

Understanding EV Home Charging Economics

For most American households, fueling an electric vehicle at home is significantly cheaper than stopping at public DC Fast Chargers or fueling a conventional gasoline combustion engine. However, actual savings depend directly on residential utility kilowatt-hour rates:

Charging Efficiency Loss No charger is 100% efficient. Converting AC wall electricity to DC battery storage involves roughly 10% thermal loss; this calculator factors in that 1.1x overhead.

Time-of-Use (TOU) Rates Many US power utilities (PG&E, ConEd, Duke) offer EV-specific TOU plans where off-peak midnight charging rates drop by 50% compared to daytime peak hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to install a Level 2 home charger?

A dedicated Level 2 EV charging unit (like a Tesla Wall Connector or ChargePoint Home Flex) costs between $450 and $650. Electrician installation of a 240V 50-amp circuit typically costs $500 to $1,500 depending on your electrical panel's capacity and distance to your garage. Many US utility companies offer 30% federal tax credits and local rebates.

Is public Supercharging more expensive than home charging?

Yes. Commercial DC fast chargers (Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, EVgo) usually charge between 35¢ and 50¢ per kWh—more than double the US average home electricity rate of 16.5¢/kWh. Home charging delivers 80% to 90% of your total lifetime fuel savings.