cost to charge an electric car calculator
Use our cost to charge an electric car calculators to estimate the EV charging cost. How much does it cost to charge an electric car? It depends on the the state of charge, the electricity cost in your area, and the car’s efficiency, etc.
Cost to Charge Electric Car Calculator
1. How to estimate the cost to charge an EV:
Cost to charge an electric car = Battery capacity x (Target charge level – Current charge level) ÷ 0.9 x Electricity rate
The 0.9 is the average power efficiency.
2. Example (2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range):
Cost to charge from 10% to 80% of charge level
= [Battery capacity x (80%-10%)] ÷ 0.9 x Electricity rate
= [82 kWh x (80%-10%)] ÷ 0.9 x $0.13/kWh
= $8.29
1. How to estimate the cost to charge an EV:
Cost to charge an electric car = Desired distance ÷ Efficiency ÷ 0.9 x Electricity rate
The 0.9 is the average power efficiency.
2. Example (2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range):
Cost to charge for 30 Miles of desired distance
= Desired distance ÷ Efficiency ÷ 0.9 x Electricity rate
= 30 miles ÷ 4.30 miles/ kWh ÷ 0.9 x $0.13/kWh
= $1.01
1. How to estimate the cost to charge an EV:
Cost per mile = Electricity rate ÷ (Efficiency x 0.9)
The 0.9 is the average power efficiency.
2. Example (2021 Tesla Model 3 Long Range):
Cost per mile
= Electricity rate ÷ (Efficiency x 0.9)
= $0.13/kWh ÷ (4.30 miles/kWh x 0.9)
= $0.03
Electric Car Savings Calculator
1. How to estimate the electric car savings in fuel costs:
Annual Electricity Cost = Electricity rate ÷ (Efficiency x 0.9) x Driving distance
Annual Gas Cost = Gas rate ÷ Efficiency x Driving distance
Estimated Annual Fuel Savings = Annual Gas Cost – Annual Electricity Cost
The 0.9 is the average charging power efficiency.
2. Example (On average):
Annual Electricity Cost
= Electricity rate ÷ (Efficiency x 0.9) x Driving distance
= $0.13/kWh ÷ (4 miles/kWh x 0.9) x (13,000 miles)
= $469.44
Annual Gas Cost = Gas rate ÷ Efficiency x Driving distance
= $2.51/gallon ÷ 30 miles/gallon x 13,000
= $1087.67
Estimated Annual Fuel Savings
= Annual Gas Cost – Annual Electricity Cost
= $1087.67 – $469.44
= $618.23
Example: Tesla Model 3 Long Range (2021)
Battery Capacity: 82 kWh | Driving Range: 353 miles (EPA) | Efficiency = Driving range / Battery capacity =353 miles / 82 kWh = 4.30 miles/kWh | Current Charge Level: 10% | Target Charge Level: 80% | Desired Distance: 30 miles
Electricity Terminology
There are two primary electricity terminology associated with the electric car industry: kW (kilowatts) and kWh (kilowatt-hours).
kWh – kWh is a unit of electrical energy. A kWh would use electricity at the rate of 1,000 watts for one hour or maybe running a 100 watt light bulb for 10 hours or a 10 watt light bulb for 100 hours.
Electric car battery capacity is also rated in kWh. On the low end, it might be something like 16 kWh for just a very basic little commuter car up to on the high end 100 kWh for a luxury electric SUV.
kW – kW is measured by energy used over time. It’s a rate of power. The charging power of charging stations is rated in kW.
Some Details
You can obtain the electricity rate from your electricity bill or the website https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/. On average, for home charging, the national electricity rate is about $0.13 per kWh in the United States (As of February 2021).
According to Feb.16, 2021 data from AAA, the average national gasoline price is $2.51.
In the United States, the average passenger can get 25 miles per gallon and let’s round that up and use 30 miles per gallon to do the calculation.
On average, electric cars go around 4 miles per kWh of electricity.
According to US Department of Transportation, the average person’s driving distance is over 13,000 per year.
The battery capacity and driving range can be obtained from the vehicle manufacturers’ official website or the user manual.
Efficiency = Driving range / Battery capacity
Current charge level: It’s the level of the battery at the current state.
Target charge level: It’s the level of the battery that you prefer.
NOTE: All results are calculated based on the theoretical assumptions, and may vary under different circumstances in real life.