EV Charging Cost Calculator
See what any electric car costs to charge at home — per month, per year, and per 100 miles — plus how long it takes to charge and the breaker you need. Pick a car, your state, and your mileage.
$68/mo
Home charging
$819/yr
15,000 mi/yr
$5
Per 100 miles · 31 kWh
9 hr 26 min
Empty → full · 8.6 kW
For full home speed, the 2026 BMW i4 wants a 40A Level 2 charger on a 50A breaker — its 11 kW onboard charger is the ceiling, so a bigger circuit won’t help. See the full 2026 BMW i4 charging page for the complete breakdown.
Estimates use real battery and onboard-charger specs plus EIA residential electricity rates. Charging losses (~10–15%) are included in the time figures. Public fast charging costs 2–4× the home rate.
How it works
- Cost = (miles ÷ EPA MPGe) × 33.7 kWh × your electricity rate — built from real efficiency specs, never estimated.
- Charge time uses each car's usable battery and onboard AC charger; the onboard charger caps Level 2 speed.
- Recommended breaker follows the electrical-code 80% continuous-load rule.
- Electricity rates are EIA residential averages by state; gas comparisons use AAA prices.
Frequently asked questions
- How is the home charging cost calculated?
- It comes down to three numbers: how far you drive, how efficient the car is (its EPA MPGe), and your electricity rate. Annual kWh = (miles ÷ MPGe) × 33.7, and cost = kWh × your $/kWh. The calculator defaults to the U.S. average residential rate of about 18¢/kWh, or pick your state.
- Why is charging so much cheaper than gas?
- At home, electricity costs roughly a third as much per mile as gasoline. A gas crossover at 30 mpg runs about $1,800 a year in fuel; a comparable EV charged at home is closer to $600. The gap narrows if you rely on expensive public DC fast charging, which typically costs two to four times the home rate.
- How long does it take to charge at home?
- On a standard 120V outlet (Level 1) a full charge takes a day or more — fine for topping up, slow for a full fill. A 240V Level 2 circuit (32–48A) charges most EVs overnight. The car's onboard AC charger caps the speed: beyond that limit, a bigger circuit does not charge any faster.
- What size breaker do I need to charge an EV?
- Size the circuit to the car's onboard charger. A common setup is a 48A charger on a 60A breaker, or 40A on a 50A breaker — the electrical code requires a continuous load to stay at or below 80% of the breaker rating. The calculator shows the recommended pairing for each vehicle.