EV Charging Cost Calculator
Work out exactly what it costs to charge your EV from any percentage to any other.
What a charge actually costs
The cost of charging an EV at home is the energy you draw from the wall multiplied by the price your utility charges per kilowatt-hour. The battery doesn't accept 100% of what comes from the wall — typically 5–15% is lost as heat in the on-board charger and the battery management system.
Worked example
A 75 kWh battery charging from 20% to 80% adds 45 kWh to the pack. With a 90% efficient charger, the wall delivers about 50 kWh. At $0.15 per kWh, the charge costs $7.50.
Where you charge matters
- Home overnight: usually the cheapest, especially on time-of-use plans (off-peak rates as low as $0.05–0.10 per kWh in many areas).
- Public Level 2: often $0.20–0.40 per kWh, sometimes free at hotels or stores.
- DC fast charging: the most expensive — commonly $0.40–0.60 per kWh, paid for the speed.
Real-world home efficiency lands between 85% and 92%. It drops slightly in extreme cold, because energy goes into warming the battery before it can take the full charge.