It's one of the biggest questions surrounding electric vehicles: Given rising electricity costs nationwide, does charging an EV really save money over filling a gas tank?
Fortunately, we don't need to wonder anymore, thanks to a team of CNET experts.
"Using averages from government data sources and AAA fuel prices, we did the math … for you," they wrote.
And what they found is, yes, for the average driver in the United States, charging an EV is significantly cheaper than filling a gas tank. In fact, it costs less than half as much — $73 per month for charging an EV, as opposed to $159 for fuel.
That is based on a number of nationwide averages, such as electricity costing 17.5 cents per kilowatt hour and gas costing $3.18 per gallon. It's also based on an EV getting 3 miles per kilowatt hour or a gas-powered car getting 25 miles per gallon, so your exact savings may vary.
This falls in line with other research that shows, per mile driven, that EVs are cleaner and cheaper to drive than their gas-powered counterparts.
Charging an EV during non-peak hours, such as overnight, could bring those costs down even more, as electricity is typically cheaper then. And charging at home is almost always cheaper than using public charging stations.
If you're interested in adding a Level 2 EV charger to your home or garage, it's important to first get an estimate for how much it'd cost.
Crushed by your bills? See instant solar savings from vetted installers in just a few clicks With energy prices through the roof, there's never been a better time to go solar — and EasyHome can help you find the best prices from the best installers in your area. EasyHome takes the guesswork and headaches out of energy upgrades by showing you estimated savings from a network of vetted local partners. To get started, just enter your ZIP and share a few details about your home — seeing your estimate is really that easy. |
Qmerit offers free estimates for people interested in at-home EV chargers. After answering just a few questions about your electrical panel and garage, the company instantly provides an estimate for what the installation would cost and also sends along rebate links.
And no matter what type of EV you drive, pairing it with at-home solar energy is the ultimate money-saving hack. Rooftop solar panels bring clean, low-cost energy to your home, and can bring those charging costs down to a fraction of public charging stations or grid-based electricity.
EnergySage's free tools make it easy to save even more, as homeowners can easily compare installation quotes and save up to $10,000.
|
How much would you pay for an EV with 900 miles of driving range? Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. |
Less than $30K 🤷 
Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
