How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

We covered how much it costs to buy an electric car in a previous post, so today we’d like to introduce you to another aspect of owning an EV: charging costs.

In today’s post, we’ll look at the average cost to charge an EV at home or on the go, installation costs for EV chargers, and factors that affect your final cost to charge your EV at home or at a charging station. Then, we’ll give you a rundown of charging costs for some of the most popular and relevant EVs on the market.

Let’s get started with average EV charging costs:

Home EV Charging vs Fast Charging Stations

Quick note: We’re going to base our pricing on a 0-100% battery capacity charge here for simplified numbers, but a better real-world model is often a 20%-80% charging cost. It’s usually not a good idea to run your EV’s battery all the way down to 0%, and charging all the way to 100% on a DC fast charger is slower, more expensive, and harder on the battery than stopping earlier when you can.

There are 3 defined levels of charging that affect EV charging prices and speeds. Level 1 and 2 chargers are mostly used with residential and destination charging (though some Level 2 charging is also available at charging stations). Level 3 charging is typically provided by a charging station with faster charging speeds and higher pricing.

How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Vehicle at Home? (Level 1 and Level 2 Charging Stations)

According to the US Energy Information Administration, the national average residential electricity price in April 2026 was about 18.83 cents per kWh. Actual energy costs still vary a lot by state, utility, time-of-use plan, and season. Some EV owners pay far less than the national average by charging overnight, while others pay much more in high-cost electricity markets.

To put these numbers in perspective, a common EV battery size is still roughly 60-75 kWh. With an average residential energy rate of about $0.188 per kWh, it costs about $11.30-$14.12 to charge an electric car from 0-100% at home before charging losses, taxes, and utility fees.

At the low end of energy pricing, home charging can still be closer to $7-$10 for many EVs. In higher-cost electricity states, a full home charge can easily land in the $20-$30+ range, especially for larger battery packs. And if you drive a big EV truck or SUV with a 100+ kWh battery, the cost of a full charge will be higher even if your electricity rate is average.

How Much Does It Cost to Use a Charging Station? (Level 3)

Public charging usually costs more than home charging, especially DC fast charging. As of 2026, AAA’s national average for public EV charging has been hovering around $0.40-$0.42 per kWh, though the actual price at a given station can be lower or much higher depending on the network, state, time of day, membership plan, idle fees, and whether the charger bills per kWh or per minute.

With a rough public charging average of $0.41/kWh, the average cost to fully charge an electric car at a public charging station is around $24.60-$30.75 for a 60-75 kWh battery. Large EV trucks and SUVs can cost considerably more.

Want to know how pricing across charging networks stacks up? Here’s a roundup of several major charging networks in the US:

Electrify America

Electrify America pricing is now more location-based than it used to be. The exact cost depends on the station, your plan, taxes, fees, and how that state allows EV charging to be billed. Pass+ members can generally save around 25% on charging compared with non-members, but you should check the Electrify America app for the actual station price before plugging in.

For a typical 60-75 kWh EV, a full DC fast charge on a major public network can easily land somewhere around $25-$40+, with larger packs costing more.

Tesla Superchargers

Tesla Supercharger pricing varies by location, time, congestion, membership status, and vehicle. A common real-world range is roughly $0.25-$0.60+ per kWh, though some stations may be lower or higher. For the average 60-75 kWh battery, that puts a full Supercharger session somewhere around $15-$45+, while a 100 kWh pack can land around $25-$60+.

Typically, Tesla charging costs are calculated per kWh of charging in states where that method is allowed. However, in some states Tesla Supercharging is priced per minute at different rates depending on how much power you are receiving from the charger:

Can you use a Tesla Supercharger with a non-Tesla EV? The answer is now yes in more cases than it used to be, but it still depends on the vehicle, adapter/port, software, and station. Some Superchargers are open to non-Tesla EVs through the Tesla app or automaker-supported NACS access, while others are still Tesla-only.

Rates for non-Tesla EVs may be higher unless you purchase a charging membership from Tesla. You can check Tesla’s app or website for current non-Tesla Supercharger access and pricing before planning a trip around it.

EVgo

EVgo pricing is plan-based and location-based, with pay-as-you-go and membership options. Rates can vary by station and time of day, and some locations may also include session fees. A typical EVgo DC fast charge for the average electric car may land around $25-$40+ from 0%-100%, depending on pack size, station pricing, and plan.

The EVgo network is still especially visible in California and major metro areas, but pricing and availability should be checked in the app before you count on a specific charger.

ChargePoint

While widely available, pricing varies widely across ChargePoint locations. The chargers on ChargePoint’s network are owned by independent businesses who set their own prices. Some stations are free, while others charge a per hour or per minute fee.

ChargePoint Express and ChargePoint Express Plus stations are the Level 3 fast chargers on ChargePoint’s network, and costs will likely be competitive with other public DC fast charging options in the same area. You’ll still need the app or station screen to compare pricing. For many EVs, filling up with a ChargePoint fast charger may land somewhere around $25-$40+, depending on the vehicle and station.

Shell Recharge

Shell Recharge includes both Level 2 and DC fast charging locations, and pricing can vary by station. Shell Recharge also has roaming relationships with other networks, so the price you see can depend on which app, account, or network relationship you are using. Like ChargePoint, expect pricing to vary locally rather than fit one national number.

Additional Electric Car Charging Costs

Energy costs are the primary part of the charging discussion for EVs, but the cost of EV charging equipment is also a factor worth considering. Let’s talk about some costs that may show up with both Level 1 and Level 2 charging equipment:

Level 1 (120V, 15-20amp)

Level 1 chargers run off 120V outlets (a standard outlet on a 15-20 amp circuit). A lot of people refer to Level 1 charging as “trickle-charging” because it does take the longest to fill up an EV’s battery. Level 1 charging equipment may or may not be included with your EV purchase, so check before assuming the car comes with a mobile connector.

Level 1 Charging Pros:

• Lower installation cost: if a nearby outlet is already available, you won’t need to install anything
• Charging at work: some employers offer free charging while you work
• Longer battery life: causes less degradation of the battery than fast charging

Level 1 Charging Cons:

• Slow: not great for road trips or heavy commutes
• Lack of controlled charging: you may not be able to take advantage of your power company’s “time of use” discounts

If you do need to add an additional outlet for charging your EV at Level 1, expect to pay an electrician around $200-$500 for a simple install, with higher costs possible if wiring, distance, panel space, or code requirements make the job more complicated.

Level 2 (240V, 30A-60A)

Charging at a Level 2 rate is the fastest home option and is increasingly available in businesses such as hotels, car dealerships, and parking garages. A Level 2 setup can charge most EVs overnight, though the length of charging time and price varies.

Some Level 2 chargers—also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE)—can be plugged straight into a 240V outlet, and many people are lucky enough to already have one of these in a convenient location in their garage. However, if you don’t have one of these outlets or if you want to install a hardwired charger, installation costs can vary widely depending on location and whether or not your house will need an electrical upgrade first.

Level 2 charging equipment will typically cost around $400-$900, with higher-end smart chargers going for around $1,000 or more. Level 2 charger installation can cost anywhere from a few hundred dollars for a simple install to $1,500-$3,000+ if the job requires a longer wire run, trenching, permitting, load-management hardware, or an electrical panel upgrade.

Level 2 Charging Pros

• Overnight charging for most EVs: up to 3-7 times faster charging rates than Level 1
• Charging time controls: cost saving measures are available on many charging units, such as programming to charge during promotional periods from electric companies (and not during peak electric rates)
• Ideal for heavier commutes

Level 2 Charging Cons

• Not as fast as filling up with gas: still too slow for most road trips except as overnight charging
• Added installation fees: installation costs can include higher amp breakers, wiring, outlets, and electrician’s fees

Electric Car Charging Equipment Rebates and Incentives

The current push for EV adoption still comes with some cost-saving measures for charging equipment, but the incentive picture has changed. The federal Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Credit for residential charging equipment was available for qualifying equipment placed in service through June 30, 2026, but that federal credit is no longer a future planning tool after that date.

That said, many EV owners can still find rebates and incentives for Level 2 chargers from state programs, local governments, or electric utilities. These programs change constantly, and some utilities also offer discounted overnight EV charging rates.

Want more info on state and utility programs that can help you lower your electric car charger costs? Check out The Alternative Fuels Data Center website and your local electric company.

Best Practices for Charging Your EV

• Charge during off-peak hours, if possible. Make sure you check with your electric company to see if they offer any “time of use” discounts.
• Try to use Level 1 or Level 2 charging most of the time. Level 3 charging can increase your EV’s battery degradation rate if you rely on it heavily
• If you are able to use free public charging or free charging at your workplace, go for it!
• If you live in a hot climate, charging inside the garage (or in the shade, if possible) will help keep your battery from damage due to overheating
• Preheat the battery in cold weather by finishing a charge as close to your next drive as possible
• Charge from 20% to 80%. Your battery doesn’t charge at a completely linear rate, so the first and last 20% take the longest and have the most impact on battery degradation rates. Many EVs will allow you to use their software to set your charging percentages.

Average Charging Costs for Popular Electric Vehicles

How much does it cost to charge a Tesla? What about charging a Nissan LEAF, Chevy Bolt, or Rivian? To help you get a rough idea of what you can expect, we’ve compiled a quick reference table for average charging costs on several popular and relevant EVs.

Remember, real-world charging costs for all of these EVs are affected by battery size, charging losses, local electricity rates, station pricing, time-of-use plans, subscriptions, idle fees, and weather. We’re looking at 0%-100% battery capacity here to keep the math easy, but your actual charging sessions will often be smaller and less expensive than a full battery fill-up.

One More Way to Lower Your EV Costs

If you are comparing electric vehicle charging costs to see how much you can save by going electric, why not maximize your savings by getting a new-to-you EV at a discount?

Buying a pre-owned EV can save you thousands off your initial investment, but the bad news is that filtering through used car inventories online can be exhausting.

The good news? We’ve taken the hassle out of the search with the most-intuitive filtering system available, right here on Find My Electric. You can narrow down your search by price, location, battery capacity, manufacturer, number of seats, AP hardware (for the Tesla fans), and more.

Check out our used EV listings to see what’s available today!