EV AND SOLAR

EV Charging Cost Calculator

Estimate the energy drawn and cost of charging an EV at home.

Transparent formula User-controlled electricity rate Calculations stay in your browser
Most modern EVs range from 60 kWh to 100 kWh.
E.g., if you typically charge from 30% to 80%, enter 50.
Usually 85-90% for Level 2 home chargers.
Enter to see an estimated cost per mile.

Your estimate will appear here

Enter your inputs and click calculate to see the cost and energy breakdown.

Methodology

To find out how much energy your car actually pulls from the wall (which is what your utility bills you for), we calculate:

  • Energy to Battery: Battery Capacity × (Percentage Added / 100)
  • Energy from Wall: Energy to Battery / (Charging Efficiency / 100)
  • Cost: Energy from Wall × Electricity Rate

Because charging is not 100% efficient, it takes roughly 11.3 kWh of electricity from your house to put 10 kWh of energy into your car's battery (assuming 88% efficiency).

Sources and Methodology

Our calculations and recommendations are based on standard electrical engineering formulas and authoritative guidance from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), and the ENERGY STAR program. Estimates are deterministic and do not account for external variables such as degrading appliance efficiency or fluctuating tier-based utility rates.

CALCULATOR QUESTIONS

Frequently Asked Questions

Find answers about wattage, runtime, electricity rates, estimated costs, and the limitations of this calculator.

Review the calculator formula →

WHAT YOU WILL FIND HERE

  • Input and unit guidance
  • Formula and worked-example explanations
  • Reasons actual costs may differ
What is charging efficiency?
No charger is 100% efficient. Some energy is lost as heat in the charging cable, the car's onboard inverter, and the battery itself. Level 2 (240V) home charging is typically 85-90% efficient, while Level 1 (120V) charging is usually 75-80% efficient.
Why do you use battery percentage added instead of miles?
Miles are highly variable based on how you drive, the weather, and your specific car's efficiency. The battery's capacity in kilowatt-hours (kWh) and the percentage you charge are fixed, deterministic values that tell us exactly how much energy you need from the wall.
Looking for a question that is not covered here? Contact DataWisdom.