Guide
Cost to Charge an Electric Car: Home vs Public Charging
The real economics of home electricity vs Electrify America, EVgo, and Tesla public charging — and when a network membership actually pays for itself.
The short answer
Charging an EV at home costs about $0.17/kWh on average in the US (EIA, 2025). Public DC fast charging runs $0.36–$0.48/kWh depending on the network. For most drivers, home charging is 2–3× cheaper per mile than public fast charging — and the gap widens with a time-of-use plan.
Public charging network rates
US blended averages. Actual prices vary by station, state, and time of day.
| Network | Guest $/kWh | Member $/kWh | Membership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrify America | $0.48 | $0.36 | $7.00/mo — Pass+ |
| EVgo | $0.36 | $0.31 | $6.99/mo — EVgo Plus |
| Tesla Supercharger | $0.46 | $0.36 | $12.99/mo — Magic Dock subscription |
| ChargePoint (mixed) | $0.43 | $0.43 | No paid tier |
| Home (US average) | $0.17/kWh | — | |
Cost per mile by vehicle
Home rate vs Electrify America guest ($0.48/kWh) for popular non-Tesla EVs. Calculated with the same engine that powers our per-ZIP calculator.
| Model | mi/kWh | Home ¢/mi | DCFC ¢/mi | Per 100 mi (DCFC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 Lightning ER | 2.0 | 8.50¢ | 24.00¢ | $24.00 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD | 3.4 | 5.00¢ | 14.12¢ | $14.12 |
| Chevy Equinox EV | 3.6 | 4.72¢ | 13.33¢ | $13.33 |
| Kia EV6 RWD | 3.5 | 4.86¢ | 13.71¢ | $13.71 |
| Rivian R1S Dual | 2.2 | 7.73¢ | 21.82¢ | $21.82 |
Do network memberships pay off?
Most networks sell a monthly plan (~$7.00/mo) in exchange for a 20–30% discount on the per-kWh price. The math is simple:
Break-even kWh = monthly fee ÷ (guest rate − member rate)
| Network | Savings/kWh | Break-even kWh/mo | ≈ Miles/mo |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrify America | $0.12 | 58 kWh | 193 mi |
| EVgo | $0.05 | 140 kWh | 461 mi |
| Tesla Supercharger | $0.10 | 130 kWh | 429 mi |
If you mostly charge at home and only fast charge on the occasional road trip, skip the membership. If you live in an apartment without home charging and rely on DCFC for >300 miles/month, the Electrify America Pass+ or EVgo Plus plan pays for itself quickly.
Monthly fuel cost: 1,000 miles
A typical driver covering 1,000 miles/month in a Hyundai Ioniq 5 (3.4 mi/kWh):
- Home (flat $0.17/kWh): ~$50/mo
- Home (TOU off-peak $0.10/kWh): ~$29/mo
- EVgo guest ($0.36/kWh): ~$106/mo
- Electrify America guest ($0.48/kWh): ~$141/mo
- Gas equivalent (30 MPG @ $3.50/gal): ~$117/mo
When public charging wins
- Road trips — speed beats cost
- Apartment / street parking with no home outlet
- Workplace charging that's free or subsidized
- Promotional free charging bundled with a new EV purchase
Calculate your exact cost
Electricity and DCFC rates vary by ZIP. Plug in your vehicle and location to see real per-mile numbers for home, TOU, and public charging side by side.