Home vs public charging: what it costs in the U.S.

Home charging: your electric rate is the whole story

The average U.S. home paid 18.16¢ per kWh in August 2026 (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A). States vary a lot: about 15¢ in Florida and North Carolina, nearly 30¢ in California and Massachusetts, and over 47¢ in Hawaii.

Example: 12,000 miles a year in an EV that does 3.5 mi/kWh uses about 3,430 kWh. At 18.16¢ that’s roughly $623 a year, or about $5.19 per 100 miles. A 30 MPG gas car over the same miles burns 400 gallons; at $4.284 (U.S. regular, week of Oct 19, 2026, EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update) that’s about $1,714, or $14.28 per 100 miles.

Many utilities offer time-of-use or EV plans with cheaper overnight rates. If you can schedule charging after midnight, ask your utility; it can cut the cost well below the state average.

Public charging: check the app before you plug in

With the numbers above, an EV only matches a 30 MPG car when you pay around 50¢ per kWh. Fast-charging prices often sit close to that, so a car charged mostly on DC fast chargers may save little on fuel.

• Tesla Supercharger: prices vary by site and time of day, are billed per kWh where possible (per minute elsewhere), and are shown in the Tesla app. Congestion fees can apply at busy sites. Non-Tesla drivers can buy a membership to get member pricing (Tesla support).
• Electrify America: price depends on the station and plan and is shown in the app or on the charger. The Pass+ plan saves about 25% for a monthly fee; idle fees may apply (Electrify America pricing).
• EVgo and ChargePoint: EVgo sets prices by location and plan; ChargePoint stations are priced by each site owner. Check the app for the station you’ll use.

Federal credits in 2026

• New clean vehicle credit (up to $7,500) and used clean vehicle credit (up to $4,000): not available for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025 (IRS, updated July 13, 2026).
• Home charger credit (30C): covers equipment placed in service at your main home from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026, in eligible census tracts (IRS).

Put your own numbers into the EV vs gas calculator.

About sales tax

US prices on this page are shown as published. Gas pump prices already include federal and state fuel taxes; electricity rates and public charging may have state and local sales tax added on top, and that varies by state, county and city, so we don't split it out. Check your bill or the charger app for the tax that applies to you.