You’re not wrong to wonder: is charging an electric car actually cheaper than gas, especially now that electricity rates are up and gas prices have cooled off again? In 2025, the answer is still "usually yes", but it depends heavily on where you live, how you charge, and what you drive.
Key takeaway in one line
For most U.S. drivers who can plug in at home, electricity works out to roughly half the cost per mile of gasoline. If you rely heavily on pricey DC fast charging, the advantage shrinks, and can even flip.
EV vs gas in 2025: the short answer
Typical 2025 costs: electricity vs gasoline
In 2024, regular gasoline in the U.S. averaged about $3.30 per gallon, and 2025 is tracking around the low-$3 range. Meanwhile, residential electricity averages in the mid‑teens cents per kWh nationally, with some states much lower and coastal states notably higher. In that landscape, an efficient EV driven mostly on home charging is still cheaper to “fuel” per mile than a comparable gas car. But if your life is one long road trip and you lean on DC fast charging, the math evens out fast.
Where EVs are NOT dramatically cheaper
If you live in a high‑cost electricity state (think 30–40¢/kWh) and you don’t have access to off‑peak rates or workplace charging, your per‑mile savings over gas may be modest, and in extreme cases, public charging can cost more than running a very efficient hybrid.
How to compare EV charging vs gas: cost per mile
To get past the marketing slogans, you only need one simple metric: cost per mile. The equations are surprisingly straightforward.
Cost per mile – EV
Use this formula:
Electricity price (per kWh) × kWh used per 100 miles ÷ 100
Example:
- Electricity: 17¢/kWh
- Efficiency: 28 kWh/100 mi (about a 250–270 mile EV)
Cost per mile ≈ 0.17 × 28 ÷ 100 = 4.8¢/mi
Cost per mile – gas
Use this formula:
Gas price (per gal) ÷ miles per gallon
Example:
- Gas: $3.10/gal
- Efficiency: 28 mpg (typical small SUV)
Cost per mile ≈ 3.10 ÷ 28 = 11.1¢/mi
A shortcut you can actually remember
Take your EV’s efficiency in kWh/100 mi (it’s on the window sticker or in the app). Multiply by your home rate in dollars (not cents), then divide by 100. That’s your real‑world “fuel” price per mile.
What it really costs to charge at home
Home charging is where EVs earn their keep. In 2025, average residential electricity sits around the mid‑teens cents per kWh nationally, with cheaper power in parts of the Midwest and South and higher rates on the coasts. Layer in time‑of‑use plans that discount overnight charging, and many owners are effectively paying single‑digit cents per kWh while they sleep.
Realistic home charging scenarios
Three common American situations and what they pay per mile
Suburban homeowner
Electricity: 15¢/kWh
Car: 28 kWh/100 mi crossover
Cost: 4.2¢/mi or $42 per 1,000 miles
High‑cost city apartment
Electricity: 30¢/kWh (some coastal cities)
Car: 25 kWh/100 mi compact EV
Cost: 7.5¢/mi or $75 per 1,000 miles
Off‑peak night owl
Electricity: 9–12¢/kWh off‑peak
Car: 26 kWh/100 mi sedan
Cost: ~2.5–3.0¢/mi or ~$25–30 per 1,000 miles
Home charging vs a 30‑mpg gas car
A typical crossover getting 30 mpg on $3.10 gas costs about 10¢ per mile. Even with 20¢/kWh electricity, many EVs come in around 6¢/mi, the difference adds up to hundreds of dollars a year for most commuters.
What you need for low‑cost home charging
1. A consistent parking spot
You don’t need a mansion, but you do need somewhere you can regularly plug in, a driveway, carport, or assigned spot with access to power.
2. A 240V circuit or upgraded outlet
Level 2 charging (240V) lets you refill the battery overnight at lower cost. Talk to a licensed electrician; this is not a DIY moment.
3. A sensible charging schedule
Use your utility’s <strong>time‑of‑use</strong> plan if available, setting your car or charger to start after peak evening rates end.
4. An EV with decent efficiency
Most modern EVs fall in the 25–30 kWh/100 mi range. Big off‑roaders and performance models can use much more energy, which narrows the cost gap vs gas.
Don’t ignore installation costs
If your panel is maxed out or far from your parking spot, a 240V install can run into the thousands. That’s a one‑time, long‑term infrastructure cost, but you should bake it into your overall EV budget.
Public charging: when electricity starts to feel like gas
Public charging is where the clean narrative breaks down a little. Level 2 public stations, think workplace or downtown garages, might be free, subsidized, or priced in the 20–30¢/kWh range. Highway DC fast charging, meanwhile, often runs 35–55¢/kWh once you’re out of introductory‑offer land.
Typical 2025 public charging prices vs gas
Approximate real‑world ranges; exact prices vary by network and region.
| Scenario | Energy price | EV efficiency | Approx. cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Workplace Level 2 (subsidized) | Free–20¢/kWh | 26 kWh/100 mi | 0–5¢/mi |
| Public Level 2 garage | 25–30¢/kWh | 28 kWh/100 mi | 7–8.5¢/mi |
| DC fast charger (member price) | 35–45¢/kWh | 30 kWh/100 mi | 10.5–13.5¢/mi |
| DC fast charger (walk‑up) | 45–55¢/kWh | 30 kWh/100 mi | 13.5–16.5¢/mi |
| Gas car at $3.10/gal, 30 mpg | , | , | ~10¢/mi |
Public charging can rival or exceed the per‑mile cost of gasoline, especially for less efficient EVs.
The road‑trip penalty
If you buy an EV and run it almost exclusively on highway DC fast charging, don’t expect huge fuel savings. You’re essentially buying the EV experience (quiet, quick, smooth) for roughly gas‑money at the plug.
Practically, most EV owners blend these worlds: 80–90% of charging at home, with DC fast charging reserved for road trips and the occasional "forgot to plug in" scramble. As long as home remains your primary energy source, the economics remain firmly in your favor.
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Where you live and how you drive changes everything
Two drivers can own the same EV and see completely different costs. That’s not a bug; it’s the geometry of our energy system. Electric rates vary wildly between, say, Idaho and California. Weather, speed, and traffic can all move the efficiency needle.
Biggest factors that swing EV vs gas costs
Here’s where the rosy averages start to wobble
Electricity & gas prices by state
In some states, residential power is near 12¢/kWh while others flirt with or exceed 30–40¢/kWh. Gasoline, meanwhile, might be $2.60 in one ZIP code and $4.50 in another. If both electricity and gas are expensive where you live, the relative gap still matters, but the monthly bill will feel large either way.
Climate and seasons
Cold weather saps EV range because batteries and cabin heaters both want energy. Summer heat does the same with heavy A/C use. Gas cars also suffer in extreme temps, but the effect tends to be more dramatic, and more visible, in EVs.
Speed and driving style
EVs are brutally honest about physics: drive 85 mph and your consumption spikes. Hard acceleration is fun (instant torque is kind of the point), but it isn't free. The same is true in gas cars; EV dashboards just make the consequences uncomfortably clear.
City vs highway mix
EVs shine in stop‑and‑go city traffic where regenerative braking recovers energy. Gas engines, by contrast, hate idling. On the highway, the gap in efficiency narrows, especially at high speeds.
Run the numbers for your ZIP code
Before you decide EV vs gas on cost alone, pull your last electricity bill, note the rate and any time‑of‑use options, then compare it to gas prices where you actually fill up, not the national average.
Beyond “fuel”: maintenance and total cost of ownership
Focusing only on "fuel" is like judging a restaurant purely on the bread. Important, yes, but hardly the whole experience. EVs quietly rack up savings in all the unglamorous places gas cars love to spend money: oil changes, transmission services, exhaust systems, timing belts, and so on.
- No oil changes, spark plugs, or timing belts.
- No multi‑speed transmission to service in most EVs.
- Regenerative braking extends brake pad life, many owners go well past 60,000 miles before a brake job.
- Fewer fluids to leak, burn, or replace.
- Fewer moving parts overall, less to wear out.
Where the long‑term savings show up
Even when fuel savings are modest, say you live in a high‑electricity region, lower maintenance often keeps an EV’s total cost of ownership competitive with a similar gas model over 5–10 years.
Of course, there’s the elephant in the showroom: battery replacement cost. Modern packs are lasting longer than early skeptics predicted, but if you’re looking at a used EV, you’d be right to ask how much usable capacity is left and what that means for your wallet.
Used EVs, battery health, and your real charging cost
With used EVs, the big question isn’t just "how far will it go?" but "how efficiently will it get there?" A tired battery that’s lost capacity doesn’t necessarily use more energy per mile, but it changes how and when you charge. If your real‑world range is down, you might find yourself relying more on fast charging, which is more expensive than a nightly home top‑up.
How Recharged fits into this picture
Every EV sold on Recharged comes with a Recharged Score Report, a detailed look at battery health, verified range, and fair‑market pricing. That gives you a clearer sense of how efficient the car still is, and what your charging habits (and costs) are likely to look like in the real world.
Questions to ask before buying a used EV
1. What’s the current usable range?
Look for recent, real‑world range numbers, not just the original EPA estimate. A car that once did 270 miles but now manages 220 will change your charging rhythm.
2. How was the car charged?
A life lived on DC fast chargers can age a battery faster than gentle home charging. Ask about typical usage: mostly home Level 2, or constant road‑trip duty?
3. Does my routine fit its range?
If you routinely drive 160 miles in a day, a used EV with 180 miles of real range keeps you on a short leash. You’ll lean on public charging more, which raises your energy cost per mile.
4. What’s the warranty status?
Many EVs carry 8‑year/100k‑mile (or similar) battery warranties. Knowing what’s left helps you price the risk of future repairs into your ownership cost.
Smart ways to lower your EV charging bill
If you treat an EV like a gas car, with the plug‑in equivalent of "fill it all the way" stops at expensive public chargers, you’ll leave money on the table. Dial in your setup and you can claw back a surprising amount of value.
Practical tactics to keep electricity cheaper than gas
None of these require living like a monk or hypermiling in the right lane
Charge when power is cheapest
Many utilities offer time‑of‑use plans that slash overnight rates. Set your car to start charging after 9 or 10 p.m., and you’ll often pay far less per kWh than your headline rate suggests.
Use apps to avoid pricey stations
Charging apps and in‑car navigation can show pricing before you plug in. On a road trip, pick the network and station that balance speed, reliability, and cost instead of blindly pulling into the first charger you see.
Stay in the comfortable middle of the pack
Fast charging from 10% to about 60–70% is usually the sweet spot for speed and efficiency. Topping to 100% on DC fast chargers is slower and can be harder on the battery, save that for the rare trip that truly needs it.
Choose an efficient EV in the first place
An aero‑slippery hatchback sipping 24 kWh/100 mi will always out‑save a brick‑shaped off‑road monster using 40+ kWh/100 mi. Check the efficiency ratings, not just the 0–60 numbers.
Think in months, not pennies
Don’t torture yourself over whether tonight’s charge cost $6.10 or $6.40. Instead, look at what you’re spending per month vs what you used to spend at the pump. That’s where the real story emerges.
FAQ: Is charging an electric car cheaper than gas?
Frequently asked questions about EV vs gas costs
Bottom line: is charging cheaper than gas?
In the 2025 energy landscape, the honest answer is this: if you can plug in at home most nights, charging an electric car is usually meaningfully cheaper than gas, often by 30–50% on a cost‑per‑mile basis. If you live in a high‑electricity state and rely on public fast charging, that advantage can shrink to almost nothing, and in edge cases, a thrifty hybrid can match or beat your energy costs.
So treat the EV decision like any other major purchase: do the math for your ZIP code, your commute, and your parking situation. If you’re considering a used EV, make sure you understand the battery’s health and the car’s real‑world efficiency so you aren’t surprised by your first month of charging. That’s exactly why Recharged pairs every car with a Recharged Score Report, nationwide delivery, and EV‑savvy support, so when you finally say goodbye to the gas pump, you know what your new “fuel” bill will actually look like.
