Home charging vs. public fast charging cost
Charging at home is almost always the cheapest way to power an EV. Public DC fast charging typically costs about 2.2× the home rate — at the US average residential rate of 18.83¢/kWh, that's roughly 5.4¢ per mile at home versus 11.8¢ per mile fast charging.
Why public fast charging costs more
Home electricity is billed at your utility's residential rate. Public DC fast charging networks price well above that to cover the cost of the hardware, the real estate, grid demand charges, and a margin. A common real-world result is roughly 2.2 times the home rate, which is the premium this site uses in its estimates.
Example: charging a 75 kWh battery
Filling a 75 kWh battery from empty costs about $14.12 at the US average home rate, but about $31.07 on a public fast charger — a difference of$16.95 for the same energy. Over a year of driving, relying only on fast charging can erase a large share of an EV's fuel savings.
How to keep charging costs down
- Do most of your charging at home overnight where possible.
- If your utility offers a time-of-use plan, charge during off-peak hours.
- Use public fast charging mainly for road trips, not daily top-ups.
Your own numbers depend on your state's electricity rate. Price a single session on thecharging cost calculator, see which states are cheapest in cheapest states to charge an EV, or compare full EV vs. gas costs on the main calculator.