How Much Does It Cost to Run an EV Level 2 charger?
A typical EV level 2 charger uses about 7,200 watts, which costs about $1.30 per hour. Used 2 hours a day, that is $2.59 per day, $79 per month and about $946 per year at the US average of about 18 cents per kWh. Change the numbers below for your own model and rate.
Typical estimate: about 2 hours of charging a day, roughly 14 kWh. These are typical estimates – check your own label or use a plug-in meter for exact figures.
EV Level 2 charger running cost by electricity rate
Rates vary widely across the country. $0.12 is typical of low-cost areas, $0.18 is about the national average, and $0.25–$0.35 or more is common in high-cost areas such as parts of California, New England and Hawaii.
| Rate per kWh | Per hour | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| $0.12 | $0.864 | $1.73 | $52.57 | $631 |
| $0.18 | $1.296 | $2.59 | $78.85 | $946 |
| $0.25 | $1.800 | $3.60 | $109.51 | $1,314 |
| $0.35 | $2.520 | $5.04 | $153.32 | $1,840 |
Based on 7,200 W for 2 h/day; month = 30.42 days.
Cost by hours of use per day
| Hours per day | kWh per month | Per day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 219 | $1.30 | $39.42 | $473 |
| 2 h | 438 | $2.59 | $78.85 | $946 |
| 4 h | 876 | $5.18 | $157.70 | $1,892 |
At 18 cents per kWh and 7,200 W.
Low, typical and high wattage
A 240 V, 30-amp home charger delivers about 7,200 W; 40-amp units reach around 9,600 W and 48-amp units about 11,500 W. Your car may accept less.
| Case | Watts | Per hour | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low | 3,300 | $0.594 | $36.14 | $434 |
| Typical | 7,200 | $1.296 | $78.85 | $946 |
| High | 11,500 | $2.070 | $125.94 | $1,511 |
At 2 h/day and 18 cents per kWh.
How it is calculated
7,200 W × 2 h ÷ 1,000 = 14.4 kWh per day
14.4 kWh × $0.18 = $2.59 per day
$2.59 × 30.42 days = $78.85 per month
How to cut the cost of running an EV Level 2 charger
- Schedule charging off-peak. Many utilities offer EV or time-of-use rates much lower overnight.
- Charge to 80% for daily driving instead of 100% – the last stretch of a charge is slower, so it ties up the charger longer.
- Precondition the cabin while plugged in so you use grid power instead of the battery to heat or cool.
- Some energy is lost as heat in the charger and battery, so the energy you pay for is higher than what the battery stores (the EPA kWh-per-100-miles ratings include these losses).
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to run an EV Level 2 charger per month?
At 18 cents per kWh, a typical 7,200 W EV level 2 charger used 2 hours a day costs about $78.85 per month (438 kWh). That is about $946 a year.
How much does it cost to run an EV Level 2 charger per hour?
About $1.296 per hour at 18 cents per kWh, or $2.520 per hour if you pay 35 cents per kWh. Multiply by your hours of use to estimate any day.
Why does the cost of an EV Level 2 charger vary so much?
Wattage varies by model and setting – from 3,300 W to 11,500 W here. At the same 2 hours a day and 18 cents per kWh, that is $36 to $126 per month. Your electricity rate matters just as much: at 35 cents per kWh the typical unit costs $153 per month.