How Much Will an EV Raise My Electric Bill?

How we estimate your bill impact

This calculator converts your daily mileage into energy consumption using your vehicle's EPA efficiency rating, then multiplies by your state's average residential electricity rate from the EIA. The home charging percentage lets you account for workplace or public charging that would not appear on your home bill. For the cost of a single full charge and the cost per mile, use the cost to charge an electric car calculator.

Time-of-use plans can cut EV costs

Many utilities offer time-of-use (TOU) rate plans with heavily discounted overnight rates, exactly when most people charge their EVs. The TOU Optimizer compares your own peak and off-peak rates. Most smart EV chargers can schedule charging to start automatically when off-peak rates begin.

Reducing your EV's impact on your bill

• Switch to a TOU plan. This is the single biggest cost reduction available to most EV owners. Contact your utility to compare plan options.
• Charge during off-peak hours (typically 9pm to 6am). Even without a formal TOU plan, avoiding peak demand helps grid stability and may qualify for utility incentives.
• A whole-home energy monitor ($100 to $300) can track exactly what your EV costs per charge and identify other energy savings opportunities.
• Solar panels can offset 100% of EV charging costs for homeowners, with typical payback periods of 5 to 8 years depending on your state's solar resources.