How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

At home, multiply the kWh you add by your electricity price and add about 10% for losses. At the US average AAA used in 2025 (16.7 cents per kWh), a typical EV costs around 5-6 cents a mile.

How much does a full charge cost?

Battery size in kWh × price per kWh ÷ 0.9. A 75 kWh battery from empty at 16.7 cents is about $14, though you rarely charge from 0 to 100%.

Is public fast charging more expensive?

Usually, often several times the home rate per kWh. Check your network's pricing in its app.

Is charging an EV cheaper than gas?

At typical home electricity prices, usually yes. The gap depends on your local electricity and gas prices and how much you use fast chargers.

How do I find my car's kWh per 100 miles?

FuelEconomy.gov lists it for every EV, and many cars show it in the trip computer.

EV Charging Cost Calculator (2026) / CarO

Written by Muneeb Rana · Last updated 21 October 2026

Quick answer: An EV charging cost calculator multiplies the energy you put in by your electricity price. Per mile: (kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100) × price per kWh, plus about 10% for charging losses. At 30 kWh/100 mi and 16.7 cents per kWh (AAA's 2025 assumption), that's about 5.5 cents a mile, or $668 for 12,000 miles.

TL;DR

Cost = kWh used ÷ charging efficiency × price per kWh.
Home charging is usually far cheaper than public fast charging.
Use your utility's actual rate, including time-of-use pricing.

This EV charging cost calculator estimates what it costs to charge an electric car at home or on public chargers: per full charge, per month and per mile. It also compares the result with a gas car so you can see the fuel saving.

How to use the EV charging cost calculator

Enter your car's efficiency in kWh per 100 miles (or km), or its battery size for a per-charge cost.
Enter your electricity price per kWh from your bill. The US average is published by the EIA.
Choose the share of charging done at home vs public fast chargers, and the public price.
Enter monthly miles.
Compare with a gas car using its MPG and fuel price.

How the EV charging cost calculator works

energy_kwh = miles * kwh_per_100mi / 100 / charging_efficiency   (default efficiency 0.90, editable)
cost       = energy_kwh * (home_share * home_price + public_share * public_price)
per_mile   = cost / miles
gas_cost   = miles / mpg * gas_price

Worked example

12,000 miles a year, 30 kWh/100 mi, all home charging at $0.167/kWh: 12,000 × 0.30 = 3,600 kWh; ÷ 0.9 = 4,000 kWh; × $0.167 = $668 a year (5.6 cents a mile). A 30 MPG gas car at $3.15 a gallon would use 400 gallons, about $1,260.

Home vs public charging

The DOE's Alternative Fuels Data Center notes most EV drivers do most of their charging at home. Public DC fast charging is usually priced much higher per kWh, and some networks charge per minute or add session fees. If you rely on fast charging, the saving vs gas shrinks. Time-of-use tariffs can lower home costs further.

EV maintenance costs

EVs have no oil changes, spark plugs or timing belts, and regenerative braking reduces brake wear, but they still need tires, brake fluid, cabin filters and coolant for the battery system. See electric car maintenance and the maintenance cost calculator.

Track charging like fuel

Log charging sessions as fuel entries in CarO's fuel log. Electricity is a fuel type in CarO, alongside petrol and diesel. Compare totals per car with the cost of car ownership calculator and the gas-car fuel cost calculator.

Download CarO free on the App Store or Google Play. Free with ads; optional in-app purchases.

Sources

U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: Charging Plug-In Electric Vehicles at Home: afdc.energy.gov (accessed 21 October 2026)
U.S. EIA: Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers (Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A): www.eia.gov (accessed 21 October 2026)
AAA: Your Driving Costs 2025 fact sheet: newsroom.aaa.com (accessed 21 October 2026)
FuelEconomy.gov: All-Electric Vehicles: www.fueleconomy.gov (accessed 21 October 2026)
U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: Maintenance and Safety of Electric Vehicles: afdc.energy.gov (accessed 21 October 2026)

Disclaimer: CarO and this website give general car-care information, not professional advice. Maintenance intervals and specifications vary by vehicle, so always follow your owner's manual and a qualified mechanic. Mileage and cost figures are estimates; check local tax rules before using any log for deductions.

EV Charging Cost Calculator