How to calculate EV charging cost
Home charging cost is miles × kWh per mile × your price per kWh. The efficiency figure to use is the EPA's kWh per 100 miles from fueleconomy.gov. It is measured from the wall during recharging, so ordinary Level 2 charging losses are already included — don't add them again.
Worked example — 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range, 1,000 miles a month: 1,000 × 27 ÷ 100 = 270 kWh. At the U.S. average of 18.19¢/kWh (Jan–Aug 2026, EIA) that's $49.11 a month, or 4.9¢ a mile. A 27.2 mpg gas car on $4.28 gas costs 15.8¢ a mile — $158 for the same 1,000 miles.
Charging cost by model
| Vehicle | kWh / 100 mi | Per mile | 1,000 mi / month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Model Y Standard RWD (18 in) | 24 | 4.4¢ | $43.66 |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD | 24 | 4.4¢ | $43.66 |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 Premium AWD | 26 | 4.7¢ | $47.29 |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD | 27 | 4.9¢ | $49.11 |
| 2026 Tesla Model S | 27 | 4.9¢ | $49.11 |
| 2026 Nissan LEAF 75 kWh (18 in) | 28 | 5.1¢ | $50.93 |
| 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD | 30 | 5.5¢ | $54.57 |
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD | 31 | 5.6¢ | $56.39 |
| 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD Extended | 31 | 5.6¢ | $56.39 |
| 2026 Tesla Model X | 32 | 5.8¢ | $58.21 |
| 2026 Honda Prologue FWD | 33 | 6¢ | $60.03 |
| 2026 Kia EV9 Long Range RWD | 38 | 6.9¢ | $69.12 |
| 2026 Tesla Cybertruck AWD | 43 | 7.8¢ | $78.22 |
| 2026 Rivian R1S Dual Large (20 in) | 43 | 7.8¢ | $78.22 |
| 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning ER (last model year) | 48 | 8.7¢ | $87.31 |
EPA combined figures, re-checked on fueleconomy.gov in October 2026. Wheel size and trim change them: a Model Y on 19-inch wheels is rated 26 kWh/100 mi against 24 on 18-inch wheels. The F-150 Lightning's last model year is 2025.
Level 1 or Level 2?
DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center puts Level 1 (a 120 V outlet) at about 1.9 kW — roughly 5 miles of range per hour — and residential Level 2 (240 V) typically up to 7.2 kW, about 25 miles per hour. Level 2 covers a 1,000-mile month in well under two hours a night. Level 1 is slower and somewhat less efficient; fueleconomy.gov puts charging efficiency at 84–93%, so the calculator adds 10% for Level 1 as an estimate. A Level 2 charger idles at about 7 W (ENERGY STAR average) — around 60 kWh a year.
Your rate plan matters more than the charger
State averages from EIA include delivery and fixed charges. Many utilities sell cheaper overnight power on time-of-use or EV plans: PG&E's EV2-A off-peak price is 23¢/kWh against a 54¢ summer peak (4–9 pm); FPL's time-of-use plan prices off-peak hours around 9¢. Peak windows such as 4–9 pm are when charging costs the most, so schedule the car or charger to start later. The calculator has these plans as one-tap rates, or enter your own.
No federal credits in 2026
The IRS clean vehicle credit (30D) ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, and the charger credit (30C) for equipment placed in service after June 30, 2026. Utility rebates for chargers and EV rate plans are where savings remain.
Common mistakes
- Adding 10–15% losses on top of the EPA figure. For Level 2 they're already in it.
- Using battery size to price a "fill-up." Use miles driven instead; you rarely charge from empty to full.
- Forgetting public charging. Fast-charging networks set their own prices per kWh or per minute; if you rely on them, price those miles separately with the network's rate.
- Using a stale gas price. Each state page uses EIA's weekly regular gasoline price for that state or region.
See every state's price on electricity rates by state, or check whether solar panels could cover your charging.