If you’ve ever thought of buying an electric car, you’ve thought of charging it first. But have you wondered how much it costs to charge your vehicle? This blog will answer that question and more. We’ll tell you what charging cost means and how much money you can save by charging electric cars. And most importantly, we’ll tell you if electric cars are worth the cost of ownership. Let’s get into it!
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
On average, it costs about $1 to charge a plug-in hybrid and $2-4 for a battery electric vehicle (BEV).
These costs vary from one commercial network to the next, and the cost per kWh may change depending on if the driver is a member of that network.
- For example, charging a car with 25 kWh would cost $2.50 at $0.10/kWh, while charging a car with 100 kWh would cost $4.00 at $0.10/kWh.
- As of 2018, the national average cost of electricity per kWh is around $0.13 and is higher in some states such as California ($0.29), New York ($0.22), and Hawaii ($0.21).
It is difficult to determine the exact cost of charging an electric vehicle with commercial options, as costs can vary depending on the charger used and other factors, such as electricity rates and gas prices.
However, it's fair to say that charging an electric vehicle costs less than filling up a gas-powered vehicle over time.
Some Calculations
On average, it costs about $1 each time to charge a plug-on hybrid and $2-4 for a battery electric vehicle (EV).
Charging an EV is generally cheaper than fueling a gas car. For example, in the United States, charging an EV using public charging stations cost around $0.15 to $0.32 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), while filling up a gas car costs between $2 and $4 per gallon of gasoline (GPL).This cost difference of nearly $2 per gallon of gasoline is easily noticeable as savings of more than $100 per month on electricity bills. However, the cost of charging an EV drops considerably when consumers charge at home with electricity cost of about $0.1546 per kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Consumer electricity prices vary by geography and year, so it's difficult to provide one specific price for electricity charging for EVs. But comparing the cost of charging an EV to the cost of fueling a gas car is the best way to assess real cost savings.
What Is the Cost to Charge an EV in kWh?
The cost to charge an electric vehicle is largely determined by two factors: charger capacity and charging time. With the charger capacity, a battery-electric vehicle can charge its battery with electricity from a charger with a maximum capacity of charging current of 200-300A or equivalent of electric charge per hour.
The charging time would be the time it takes to fully charge the battery, which is dependent on the size of battery electric vehicle. The average cost to charge a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle is around $1 each time, while the average cost for a battery electric vehicle is $2-4 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). To calculate the cost of charging an EV, drivers should look for the cost per kilowatt hour on their most recent electricity bill. The average cost of electricity in California is about 16.58 cents per kWh. If you were to charge a 40-kwh battery with a 150-mile range using that amount of electricity, it would cost about 4.42 cents per mile
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
The time it takes to charge an electric car depends on the type of charger being used. Level 1 charging can take up to 24 hours to fully charge the car, while level 2 charging can recharge a car in as little as four hours.
Level 3 chargers, or DC fast chargers, can fully charge a car in under one hour. These chargers are more expensive but are capable of charging a car much faster. Charging at home is cost-effective, with a full charge costing around $10.50.
It's important to check your charger's output specifications and consider whether it's suitable for your vehicle before using it. This will help ensure that your charging time is optimized and that your battery gets fully charged as quickly as possible.
When charging at home, it's essential to ensure that the charger is connected properly and has access to electricity. This will help prevent charging errors and prolong the life of your charger.
Photo by Sophie Jonas / Unsplash
Frequently Asked Questions
What are some key factors that affect the cost of charging an electric car?
Some of the main factors that affect the cost of charging an electric car are the cost of electricity, home charging costs, and the cost of charging an electric car at a commercial charger.
The cost of electricity can range from $0.09 to $0.35 per kWh, with the national average being shy of $0.14. This cost can be affected by a variety of factors like regional electricity rates, weather conditions, and power outages.
Home charging costs can be reduced by taking advantage of time-of-use (TOU) rates offered by utilities. In most cases, this means that you pay a lower rate for charging during designated hours (like overnight hours).
The cost of charging an electric car at home is dependent on the price of electricity in the area. In some cases, it can be cheaper to charge an electric car at home than to charge it at a commercial charger. However, in other cases it can be more expensive to charge an electric car at home than to charge it at a commercial charger.
What are some potential real cost savings of using an electric car?
There are a number of real cost savings that electric cars can offer compared to traditional gasoline- and diesel-powered cars. Some of these include:
1. electric cars can offer up to 3-5 times cheaper operation than gasoline or diesel-powered cars, depending on local electricity and gasoline rates
2. electric vehicle fuel economy is significantly more efficient than gas-powered cars, converting 77% of the electrical energy they use compared to 12-30% of gas-powered cars
3. home charging can range from $10-$14 for a fully recharged electric car with 300 miles of range
4. electric vehicles do not require oil changes, resulting in cost savings.
What are different types of electric car chargers?
Electric chargers are devices used to charge electric vehicles, and are available in different types, such as Level 1, Level 2, Level 3, and Level 4, each with varying charging speeds and requirements. Learn about different charger types here