EV Charging Cost Calculator
Estimate home EV charging cost from daily distance, real-world efficiency, charging losses and your electricity rate. The result shows wall energy and cost per mile, day, month and year.
Quick answerWith the defaults—30 miles per day, 3.5 mi/kWh at the battery, 10% charging losses and $0.17/kWh—the EV draws about 9.52 kWh from the wall and costs $1.62 per day, $49.22 per month or 5.4¢ per mile.
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How it works
Battery energy = miles ÷ mi/kWh. Wall energy = battery energy ÷ (1 − additional charging-loss percentage). Cost = wall energy × electricity rate. Monthly cost uses 30.4 days and yearly cost uses 365 days. If efficiency already includes wall-to-vehicle losses, set additional losses to 0.
EV home-charging cost examples
These examples use $0.17/kWh. Dashboard-style efficiency examples add the stated charging loss; the EPA-label example sets additional loss to 0 because EPA label consumption already includes Level 2 charging losses.
| Daily miles | Efficiency basis | Wall energy/day | Monthly cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mi | 3.5 mi/kWh + 10% loss | 4.76 kWh | $24.61 |
| 30 mi | 3.5 mi/kWh + 10% loss | 9.52 kWh | $49.22 |
| 50 mi | 3.5 mi/kWh + 10% loss | 15.87 kWh | $82.03 |
| 30 mi | 2.5 mi/kWh + 10% loss | 13.33 kWh | $68.91 |
| 30 mi | EPA 28 kWh/100 mi; 0% added | 8.40 kWh | $43.41 |
These are energy-only home-charging estimates. They exclude equipment, installation, subscription, parking and demand charges and do not represent public charging prices.
Worked example: 30 miles per day
Thirty miles divided by 3.5 mi/kWh is 8.57 kWh delivered to the battery. With 10% additional charging losses, the wall supplies 8.57 ÷ 0.90 = 9.52 kWh. At $0.17/kWh, that is $1.62 per day, about $49.22 per 30.4-day month and $590.95 per year.
This example deliberately stops at electricity cost. A gasoline comparison needs a real gasoline price and mpg input, so use the EV-versus-gas calculator rather than assuming one vehicle or fuel price here.
Avoid double-counting EPA charging losses
EPA says its EV MPGe and kWh/100-mile values assume Level 2 AC charging and already account for losses in the charging cable/EVSE and onboard charger. Convert an EPA label by dividing 100 by kWh/100 miles, then set additional charging losses to 0. For example, 28 kWh/100 mi equals 3.57 mi/kWh on a wall-energy basis.
A dashboard efficiency figure may represent battery output instead. In that case, keep a separate charging-loss assumption or use measured wall kWh divided by miles for the cleanest local estimate.
Use the rate that applies when the car charges
A blended bill rate can be sufficient for a flat tariff. With time-of-use pricing, use the overnight or other period rate that actually applies to most charging, then run a second scenario for peak charging. DOE notes that utilities may offer time-of-use rates or EV charging incentives, but the actual benefit depends on the local tariff.
This calculator models energy charges only. Check whether your bill also has fixed fees, demand charges or separate charging-program terms before treating the result as a full bill forecast.
Why actual cost changes by trip and season
EPA notes that real results vary with driving conditions, driving style, maintenance, accessory use, weather, roads and vehicle load. Use recent trip or monthly efficiency rather than the best number your dashboard has ever shown.
For a cold-weather, highway or towing scenario, enter the lower efficiency you actually observe. For a mixed household, calculate each EV separately if their efficiencies or charging tariffs differ.
Sources used for assumptions: U.S. Department of Energy AFDC — charging electric vehicles at home and calculating cost per mile; U.S. EPA — EV fuel-economy testing and charging-loss treatment; U.S. EPA — electric-vehicle label fields and kWh per 100 miles.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
With the default 30 miles/day, 3.5 mi/kWh, 10% additional loss and $0.17/kWh, it costs about $1.62 per day, $49.22 per month or 5.4¢ per mile. Enter your own efficiency and rate.
Does an EPA kWh/100-mile rating include charging losses?
Yes. EPA says its EV MPGe values assume Level 2 AC charging and include charging-cable/EVSE and onboard-charger losses. Convert 100 ÷ kWh/100 mi to mi/kWh and set additional losses to 0.
What are additional charging losses?
They are the extra wall energy above the battery energy represented by a dashboard-style mi/kWh figure. Use a measured or supported value; set it to 0 if your efficiency already comes from wall energy.
Does this include public fast charging?
No. It models home electricity using the rate you enter. Public charging may use per-kWh, per-minute, session or idle fees, so use the network’s current price separately.
How do I use a kWh per 100 miles figure?
Divide 100 by kWh/100 mi to get mi/kWh. A value of 28 kWh/100 mi equals about 3.57 mi/kWh. If it is an EPA label value, set additional losses to 0.
Should I use my average or off-peak electricity rate?
Use the rate that applies when most charging occurs. For time-of-use plans, compare separate off-peak and peak scenarios and check fixed or demand charges independently.
Does Level 2 always cost less than Level 1?
Not necessarily. Energy cost depends on wall kWh and the applicable tariff. Level 2 is faster, but equipment, installation, efficiency and utility-program terms also affect total cost.
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