Charging at Home vs. Fast Charging: The Real Cost Comparison

Home charging and public DC charging can produce very different energy bills. The calculations below use explicit illustrative assumptions, not verified national averages or a prediction for every EV owner.

The Home Charging Math

For EV owners with access to home charging (a Level 2 charger installed in a garage or driveway):

Illustrative home charging at $0.14/kWh, using assumed billed energy per 100 miles (not model-specific certified ratings):

• Example vehicle A (28 kWh/100 miles): $3.92 per 100 miles
• Example vehicle B (30 kWh/100 miles): $4.20 per 100 miles
• Example vehicle C (32 kWh/100 miles): $4.48 per 100 miles

vs. Gasoline (at $3.40/gallon, assumed 28 MPG):

• $12.14 per 100 miles

At 12,000 miles per year:

• Home charging cost: $470-$540
• Gasoline cost: $1,460

Savings: approximately $920-$990 per year

The Fast Charging Reality

For owners who rely primarily on public DC fast charging:

Illustrative DC fast charging using two assumed tariffs:

• Example vehicle A at $0.45/kWh (28 kWh/100 miles): $12.60 per 100 miles
• Example vehicle A at $0.52/kWh (28 kWh/100 miles): $14.56 per 100 miles

vs. Gasoline: $12.14 per 100 miles

In this example, both $12.60 and $14.56 exceed the $12.14 gasoline cost. Different electricity prices, energy use, gasoline prices and MPG can reverse that result.

The Key Variable: Where You Charge

Where you charge is a major variable, alongside efficiency and the prices used. These examples exclude installation, parking, session/idle fees and the rest of ownership cost. Use energy billed at the meter or charging session so charging losses are not omitted or counted twice.

If home charging is feasible, insert your utility tariff and installation cost. The illustrated $920–$990 annual energy saving follows from the assumptions above, not from having a driveway by itself.

If home charging is unavailable, compare workplace, destination and public options. Apartment residents do not all rely on DC charging; actual access and tariffs decide the calculation.

The Practical Bottom Line

1. Compare billed energy consumption with your actual home or public tariff and any fixed fees.

2. Without home charging, savings are not guaranteed. The DC examples above cost more than the assumed gasoline alternative.

3. Time-of-use plans can help where available. Reducing an assumed tariff from $0.14 to $0.08/kWh cuts the energy-rate portion by about 43%, not half. Account for the plan’s other rates and charges.

---

For more on home charging, see our best home EV chargers guide.

Sources and scope

• Source 1

Your own electricity tariff, your vehicle’s energy rating and installation costs will change the result.