EV Charging Cost Calculator (2026)
Find out exactly what charging your electric car costs per charge, per month and per year, at home, in public, and versus gas.
Calculate Your EV Charging Cost
Usable battery size, for example 75 kWh for a mid-size EV.
Lower is more efficient. Efficient sedans run near 25; larger SUVs and trucks run 35 or more.
US average residential price was about 18 cents per kWh in 2026 (EIA).
US average DC fast charging price was about 54 cents per kWh in Q3 2026 (Paren).
The rest is charged in public at the public rate above. Set 100 for home-only charging.
The average US driver covers about 13,662 miles a year, or about 1,138 miles a month (FHWA).
AAA national average was $4.18 per gallon on 31 October 2026.
EPA real-world fleet average for new vehicles was 27.2 mpg in model year 2024.
Energy cost only. Charger hardware, installation, subscription fees, idle fees and charging losses are not included, so a real bill can run slightly higher.
How EV Charging Cost Is Calculated
Three things decide your bill: how much electricity your car uses, what you pay per kilowatt-hour, and where you charge. Home electricity is far cheaper than public fast charging, so the home-versus-public mix often matters more than the car itself.
kWh per month = miles per month / 100 x kWh per 100 miles
Cost per full charge = battery size (kWh) x rate ($ per kWh)
Cost per mile = kWh per 100 miles / 100 x blended rate
Gas cost per month = miles per month / mpg x gas price
Annual saving = gas cost per year − EV cost per year
Worked Example: The Default Settings
With the defaults above, a 75 kWh EV at 30 kWh per 100 miles, driven 1,000 miles a month with 80% home charging at 18 cents and 20% public charging at 54 cents, uses 300 kWh a month. The blended rate is 25.2 cents per kWh, so charging costs $75.60 a month and $907.20 a year, or 7.56 cents a mile. The gas comparison at $4.20 a gallon and 28 mpg costs $150.00 a month and $1,800 a year, or 15 cents a mile, giving an annual saving of $892.80.
| Scenario | Rate used | Cost per month (1,000 miles) | Cost per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home only (100% home) | 18 cents per kWh | $54.00 | $648.00 |
| Default mix (80% home, 20% public) | 25.2 cents per kWh blended | $75.60 | $907.20 |
| Public DC fast only (0% home) | 54 cents per kWh | $162.00 | $1,944.00 |
| Gas car (28 mpg, $4.20 per gallon) | 15 cents per mile | $150.00 | $1,800.00 |
The table shows the key lesson: home charging roughly halves the gas bill, the default mix still saves about $893 a year, but relying only on public fast charging can cost more than gas at late-2026 prices.
Typical EV Efficiency by Model
Efficiency is measured in kilowatt-hours per 100 miles. Lower means cheaper per mile. The figures below are EPA combined ratings reported for popular models.
| Model | Efficiency (kWh per 100 miles) | What it means at 18 cents home rate |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 (efficient sedan) | About 24 to 25 | About 4.3 to 4.5 cents per mile |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 (efficient sedan) | About 25 | About 4.5 cents per mile |
| Chevrolet Bolt / Nissan Leaf class | About 28 | About 5.0 cents per mile |
| Typical mid-size EV (calculator default) | 30 | About 5.4 cents per mile at home |
| Larger SUV or electric truck | 35 to 45 or more | About 6.3 to 8.1 cents per mile at home |
Home Charging vs Public Charging
- Home charging: usually the cheapest option, near the residential electricity price. Overnight off-peak tariffs can be cheaper still where your utility offers them.
- Public Level 2 charging: typically 25 to 40 cents per kWh in 2026, a middle ground for workplace or shopping-centre charging.
- Public DC fast charging: typically about 54 cents per kWh on average in Q3 2026, roughly three times the home rate, but it adds range in minutes rather than hours.
- Why the mix matters: moving from 100% home charging to 100% public fast charging more than doubles the monthly bill in the worked example, from $54.00 to $162.00.
How to Cut Your EV Charging Bill
- Charge at home overnight whenever you can, and ask your utility about an EV or time-of-use tariff.
- Use public fast charging for road trips, not as your everyday fuel, unless you have no home charging option.
- Precondition the battery while plugged in on cold mornings, so less battery energy goes to heating the car.
- Keep tyres at the recommended pressure and ease off hard acceleration, since both raise kWh per 100 miles.
- Check the efficiency figure for your exact trim before buying, since wheel size and drivetrain can shift it by several kWh per 100 miles.
