EV Charging Cost Calculator

To calculate the cost to charge an electric car, multiply the battery's usable capacity in kilowatt-hours by your electricity rate in dollars per kilowatt-hour. For cost per mile, divide your electricity rate by the vehicle's efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour.

Quick Answer

To calculate the cost to charge an electric car, multiply the battery's usable capacity in kilowatt-hours by your electricity rate in dollars per kilowatt-hour. For cost per mile, divide your electricity rate by the vehicle's efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour. This calculator does that math for you and compares the result against a gas car using your own mileage, local rates and ownership timeline.

How to calculate the cost to charge an electric car

  1. Cost of a full charge = usable battery size (kWh) × your electricity rate ($/kWh). A 65 kWh battery on a 15-cent rate is about $9.75.
  2. Cost per mile = electricity rate ($/kWh) ÷ efficiency (miles per kWh). At 15 cents and 3.5 mi/kWh, that is about 4.3 cents per mile.

Add roughly 10 percent for charging losses — not every kilowatt-hour drawn from the wall reaches the battery. Compare against a gas car by dividing your local gas price by its miles per gallon: a 30 mpg car at $3.30 a gallon costs about 11 cents per mile. Public DC fast charging costs meaningfully more per kilowatt-hour than home charging.

Part of the AutoNetwork Electric Vehicle Guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Multiply the usable battery capacity in kilowatt-hours by your electricity rate per kilowatt-hour. A 65 kWh battery on a 15-cent rate costs about $9.75 for a full charge. Charging losses add roughly 10 percent, and public DC fast charging costs substantially more per kilowatt-hour than charging at home.

How do I calculate the cost per mile of an EV?

Divide your electricity rate by the vehicle's efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour. At 15 cents per kWh and 3.5 miles per kWh, that is about 4.3 cents per mile. Compare that against a gas car by dividing your local gas price by its miles per gallon.

Is it cheaper to charge an EV or buy gas?

For most drivers charging at home on a residential rate, electricity costs meaningfully less per mile than gasoline. The gap narrows if you rely heavily on public DC fast charging, if your local electricity rates are high, or if you drive very few miles per year. Enter your own numbers above rather than trusting a national average.

How long does it take an EV to pay for itself?

Divide the extra purchase cost over a comparable gas car by your combined annual fuel and maintenance savings. High-mileage drivers with cheap home electricity often break even within a few years; low-mileage drivers may never recover the difference on fuel savings alone.

What costs do people forget when comparing EVs to gas cars?

Home charger installation, higher insurance premiums, faster tire wear from the added weight and instant torque, and public fast-charging rates on road trips. Include all four for an honest comparison, and factor in any federal or state incentives you qualify for.