Electric vehicles (EVs) are gaining popularity amid rising gas prices and growing consumer interest in sustainability. But if you’ve never owned an electric car before, you may have questions like: How much do they cost to charge? Will you have to install a home charging station? And if so, how will it impact your electricity bill?
The average cost of charging an electric car varies from state to state, so while we can’t give you an exact amount, we can help you explore your options.
Here’s everything you want to know about electric vehicle charging stations, including public charging stations, home EV chargers, Tesla Superchargers, and more.
All cars have batteries, but in most vehicles, they’re just a relatively small 12.6-volt battery that’s used to ignite the engine. An electric car battery is different: it’s usually a much larger lithium-ion battery that can store as much as 100 kilowatt-hours of electricity.
These batteries need to be plugged in for extended periods in order to reach their full capacity. You can plug an electric car into a standard 120-volt wall outlet, but it could take a day or more to reach a full charge.
That’s where electric vehicle charging stations come in: also known as electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE), these stations are specially designed to charge EVs at faster speeds than you can get from a standard wall outlet.
The amount of time it takes to charge an electric car depends on how big your car’s battery is and which type of EV charger you use. Most home and public chargers are Level 2 chargers, while DC fast charging is available at some public locations.
A 240-volt Level 2 charger is faster than a wall outlet, capable of charging a Nissan LEAF or Tesla Model 3 in about eight hours.
DC fast charging stations are even more powerful, providing up to 480 volts of power and reducing charging times to less than an hour. Tesla claims that you can add 200 miles of range in 15 minutes at Supercharger stations.
However, frequent fast charging can degrade your battery over time, so it’s best to use DC chargers when you’re in a hurry and Level 2 chargers for everyday use.
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According to Bluedot.co, the average cost of charging an EV is around $30–40. That’s assuming the charging station charges around 40–70 cents per kilowatt-hour.
But the exact amount will depend on the cost of electricity in your area and what type of charging station you use. DC fast chargers usually charge more per kilowatt-hour, so you can expect the cost of fast charging to be a little higher.
On the other end of the spectrum, some employers offer free workplace charging, while some retail businesses let you charge up for free in their parking lot while you shop.
You’ll also find variations in prices among charging networks such as EVgo and Electrify America. For example, EVgo offers incentives to EV drivers who purchase a monthly membership, including a lower charge per kilowatt-hour and no session fee.
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The best way to find EV charging stations is to use an app. Sites like PlugShare display charging locations from multiple charging networks, so you can compare rates and see how many chargers are available at a particular location.
But if you want to stick to a specific network, you may be able to use the onboard trip planner in your EV. Tesla vehicles can help you find the nearest Supercharger station or show you Destination Chargers at restaurants, hotels, and parking garages.
One interesting fact about electric cars is that they use regenerative braking to conserve energy while you drive. When you slow down or hit the brakes on a gas-powered car, you’re essentially “wasting” the energy that your engine just produced.
Regenerative brakes recycle that kinetic energy and use it to recharge the battery – so you could say that EVs do charge a little bit while they’re on the road.
But the more accurate answer is that they don’t. Regenerative braking is more efficient, but it doesn’t add any new energy to the battery. You’ll still have to plug your EV into a charging port, otherwise, it will eventually run out of steam.
If you happen to run out of battery while driving an EV, you can’t just walk to the nearest gas station and come back with enough gas to get you to a charging station. You’ll most likely have to call a tow truck to take you to the nearest charging location.
The good news is that running out of battery won’t damage the vehicle, and you should get plenty of warning before you actually run out of charge.
Most EVs will show you an estimate of your remaining charge on the dashboard. While this can be wrong – especially if you’re driving uphill or in other unusual conditions – it should be accurate enough to help you plan your next charging session.
You might be tempted to call AAA to bring you a mobile charger, but most roadside assistance plans don’t offer this service.
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Are you thinking of going away for a long period and want to know if it’s OK to leave your EV in its usual parking space? In most scenarios, your car will be fine. An electric car battery can keep its charge for months on end when it’s not being used.
That said, you don’t want to leave your car sitting fully charged or fully empty for long periods of time. Both situations can lead to long-term battery damage.
Your best bet is to charge your car to around 80% and put it into power save mode or deep sleep mode if your car has one.
Also, be sure not to leave your car in direct sunlight or in an enclosed garage that heats up to more than 100°F. Extreme temperatures can degrade the battery.
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Overheating is definitely bad for electric vehicles, but what about the cold? According to a study by AAA, electric cars can lose 12–41% of their range in cold weather. But Blink Charging points out that both electric and gas cars “struggle in cold weather,” so it’s more likely that your car is simply using more energy on cold days.
To get the best range out of your EV in the winter, leave it parked in a garage and turn on the heater before you unplug it from your home charger. This will avoid having to dip into the battery pack to get your car comfortable.
Electric car batteries can be expensive to replace – anywhere from $2,500 to over $20,000 if you have to pay for them out of pocket. But for most EV drivers, it won’t come to that.
First, modern EV batteries can retain their capacity for years, with some Teslas putting on 100,000 miles or more on their original battery pack. Second, even if your battery does degrade, your warranty may cover it: EV manufacturers are legally required to offer an 8-year/100,000-mile warranty on the battery pack.
The main thing to worry about is if you’re buying a used EV that’s nearing the end of its warranty. In that case, you may want to ask a mechanic to check its battery health.
We’ve talked a lot about public charging stations, but what about home chargers? Do you need to install one, and if so, how much will it cost?
The short answer is probably yes. Unless your city has free EV charging infrastructure or you live right next to a Tesla Destination Charging location, having a home charging station of your own is the most practical way to keep your battery topped up.
So how much does it cost to install a Level 2 charger at home? A ChargePoint Flex will cost you about $700, while a Tesla Wall Connector is $400. If you need a CCS adapter, that will set you back around $200–300.
Keep in mind that you’ll also need to factor in the cost of installation since you’ll likely need an electrician to install a 240-volt outlet. Fortunately, rebates and incentives are available in many states.
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You might be wondering if it’s worth installing a home charging station. One study found that charging your EV at a public charging station could cost twice as much as charging it at home. That’s based on electricity costs of 16.58 cents per kilowatt-hour, or 4.42 cents per mile of charge.
Over time, that difference can add up. But it’s worth checking your local electricity rates and doing the math yourself since they can vary from state to state.
You’ll get the most bang for your buck if your electricity provider offers time-of-use (TOU) rates, such as free nights or weekends. By leaving your car charging overnight during off-peak hours, you’ll pay less than you would if you charged it during the day.
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While driving an EV is more energy-efficient than driving a gas car, that doesn’t mean you’re running on renewable energy. Charging stations are powered by whatever the power grid runs on, which might include oil, coal, and natural gas.
If you want to ensure that your car is powered by renewable energy, you’ll need to seek out charging stations that are powered by wind or solar. Or you can sign up for a green energy plan with your electricity provider to power your home charging station with renewable energy.
Just Energy offers green energy plans and time-of-use discounts, which are perfect for EV drivers. You can charge your electric vehicle during off-peak hours to get lower electricity rates or choose a green energy plan to offset 100% of your energy usage. Simply enter your ZIP code to explore your options!
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