Charging Costs
Home Charging
- Cost: Generally cheaper due to lower residential electricity rates.
- Rates: Average U.S. rates are about $0.16 per kilowatt-hour (kWh), but can vary from $0.11 to $0.41 depending on the location.
- Efficiency: Home charging efficiency is typically high since it uses alternating current (AC) chargers, which are more efficient over time.
- Example Calculation: For an EV with a 60 kWh battery charged from 20% to 80% (48 kWh), the cost at $0.12/kWh would be $5.76.
Public Charging
- Cost: Generally more expensive compared to home charging due to higher charging rates and potential fees.
- Rates: Public stations may charge by the minute or kWh. Rates can be up to 50 cents per kWh for DC fast charging.
- Types of Chargers: Public stations often use Level 2 or DC fast chargers. DC fast chargers provide quick charge times but are more expensive.
- Example Calculation: Charging 48 kWh at $0.25/kWh would cost $12.00, significantly more than home charging.
Annual Cost Comparison
- Home Charging: For a car driven 14,000 miles annually in California, where electricity costs 30.22 cents per kWh, the annual cost is about $1,425.
- Public Charging: Costs can be three times higher than home charging, depending on the frequency and type of public charging used.
In summary, home charging is generally much cheaper than public charging due to lower electricity rates and fewer fees associated with public stations.
Original article by NenPower, If reposted, please credit the source: https://nenpower.com/blog/how-does-the-cost-of-public-charging-compare-to-home-charging/
