Energy Calculators

EV charging cost calculator

See what charging an electric car at home costs in your state, and how it compares with fueling a gas car.

At the U.S. average electricity price of 18.16¢/kWh (August 2026), charging a Tesla Model Y at home costs about $5.55 per 100 miles, versus $15.10 for a 27.5-MPG gas car at $4.15/gal (EIA prices, EPA ratings).

Pre-fills electricity (Aug 2026) and gasoline prices (EIA).

Efficiency from EPA combined ratings (fueleconomy.gov).

kWh/100 mi
¢/kWh
%

Share of wall electricity that reaches the battery.

mi
Compare with a gas car
$/gal

Regular gasoline, U.S. average, week of 2026-11-02 (EIA).

MPG
EV charging per year
$665.87$5.55 per 100 mi
Gas car fuel per year
$1,812$15.10 per 100 mi
EV saves per year
$1,146
EV electricity per year
3,667 kWh
  • EV$666
  • Gas car$1,812

Formula: EV cost per mile = (kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100) × electricity rate ÷ charging efficiency. Gas cost per mile = gas price ÷ MPG. Annual cost = cost per mile × miles per year.

Inputs used: EV: 27.5 kWh/100 mi (Tesla Model Y); rate: 18.16¢/kWh; charging efficiency: 90%; miles: 12,000/year; gas: $4.15/gal; gas car: 27.5 MPG.

These are estimates, not financial advice.

Home charging only. Public fast charging is usually priced higher per kWh than home electricity.

Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Aug 2026). About our data

Gasoline: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, regular gasoline, week of 2026-11-02. EV efficiency: fueleconomy.gov (U.S. DOE / EPA).

Worked examples in three states (Tesla Model Y)

StateElectricityEV per yearGasolineGas car per year
Hawaii47.18¢/kWh$1,730$4.77/gal*$2,082
Alabama16.33¢/kWh$598.77$3.64/gal*$1,587
Nevada12.72¢/kWh$466.40$4.77/gal*$2,082

12,000 miles/year, 90% charging efficiency, 27.5 MPG. Electricity: EIA, Aug 2026. * EIA publishes weekly gasoline prices for only 9 states; other states use their regional (PADD) average.

How we calculate

EV cost per mile = (kWh per 100 mi ÷ 100) × electricity price ÷ charging efficiency; gas cost per mile = gas price ÷ MPG; annual cost = cost per mile × miles per year.

Electricity: EIA average residential price by state. Gasoline: EIA weekly retail price of regular gasoline (state series where available, otherwise the regional average). EV efficiency: EPA combined ratings. Default assumptions are listed on the methodology page.

EV charging cost by state

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

At the U.S. average residential price of 18.16¢/kWh (August 2026), a Tesla Model Y costs about $5.55 per 100 miles, or $665.87 for 12,000 miles a year, including 90% charging efficiency.

Why is there a charging efficiency setting?

EPA’s kWh/100 mi rating is measured at the wall outlet, so it already includes typical charging losses in the test. Our default of 90% adds a margin for real-world losses that the test may not capture, such as slow Level 1 charging and cold weather, so it gives a somewhat higher, conservative estimate. Set it to 100% to use the EPA rating as is.

Is charging an EV cheaper than buying gas?

Usually, when charging at home at average residential prices. The gap is smaller in states with expensive electricity and cheap gasoline, and larger when gas prices are high. Public fast charging is priced higher than home electricity, which narrows the gap.

Which EV ratings do you use?

EPA combined electricity consumption (kWh per 100 miles) from fueleconomy.gov, for 35 popular current models.

Data last updated: