With the electric car, or EV, becoming all the more popular, it would make sense to know how to determine the cost of keeping the car charged.
The cost of "filling up" an EV will depend on where it's recharged in the U.S. and the rates that a utility company offers. These rates can vary from 4.88 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) in Idaho, to 21.45 cents per kWh in Hawaii. However, for consumers who are planning on purchasing an EV to save money it is critical to know the actual electric rates, rather than the national averages.
To figure out the actual cost of charging an EV start with the cars energy consumption rate. This is expressed as kWh per 100 miles or kWh/100m, and is found on the EV vehicle's economy label. As an example, the Nissan Leaf's economy label can be viewed here.
Next, determine your home electricity rate, which can be found on your monthly bill. You would then multiply the kWh/100m by your electricy rate, which will let you determine the cost per 100 miles.
So, for example, we will use the Nissan Leaf. The Leaf has a kWh/100m of 34, which is shown on the economy label. You would then multiply 34 by your electricity rate. So if your rate is 8.57 cents per kWh it would cost you (34 x 0.0857) $2.91 per 100 miles.
The cost of keeping an EV charged will depend greatly on the efficiency of the EV and where it is being charged. It is important to contact your utility company to determine the best electricity rates based on your time and level of use.
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