How much does it cost to charge an EV?
Published on 2026-06-08
Charging an EV is priced by the kilowatt-hour (kWh), not the gallon. What you pay swings widely depending on whether you plug in at home or at a public station, so here's how to estimate it.
The basics: price per kWh
EV charging is billed per kWh, the way gas is billed per gallon. Residential electricity in the US averages somewhere around 12-18 cents per kWh, though it varies a lot by state and utility, and a time-of-use plan can push off-peak rates even lower.
Public charging costs more. Level 2 public stations often run 20-40 cents per kWh, and DC fast chargers commonly land between 40 and 60 cents per kWh, sometimes higher, because you're paying for speed and convenience.
A full charge by battery size
Battery sizes range from roughly 60 kWh in a compact EV to 100 kWh or more in a large SUV or truck. A rough cost is simply battery size times your price per kWh.
At home around 15 cents per kWh, filling a 60 kWh battery from near empty costs about $9, and a 100 kWh battery about $15. On a public DC fast charger at 50 cents per kWh, those same charges jump to roughly $30 and $50. Most owners rarely charge from zero, so day-to-day top-ups cost much less.
Home vs public: the real difference
Charging at home is almost always the cheapest option and turns your driveway into your gas station. Public fast charging is for road trips and top-ups when you can't plug in at home, and you pay a premium for the speed.
Refil shows the cheapest EV charger near you on the map, with prices, so when you do charge in public you can head straight to the best-value station instead of guessing.
FAQ
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or in public?
Home is almost always cheapest, often 12-18 cents per kWh (or less off-peak), versus 40-60 cents per kWh at a public fast charger. Home charging can cost a third or less of public fast charging.
How much does a full charge cost?
Roughly your battery size in kWh times your price per kWh. A 60 kWh battery costs about $9 at home (15 cents per kWh) or about $30 on a fast charger at 50 cents per kWh.
Why is public charging so much more expensive?
You're paying for fast, on-demand power and the cost of the charging hardware and network. DC fast charging is the convenience option, not the cheapest one.
Always find the cheapest option
Refil shows the cheapest EV charger near you on the map, plus fuel prices when you drive in Europe. Download it free on the App Store.
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