What miles-per-kWh figure should I use?

The EPA combined rating is a reasonable starting point; most drivers land within about 15% of it. Your car's lifetime average display is better.

Are charging losses really 10%?

Level 2 home charging typically loses somewhere between 8% and 15% between the meter and the battery, more in the cold.

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Charging an EV vs filling a gas tank

The honest comparison is cost per mile, not cost per fill-up. Home charging also loses a few percent between the wall and the battery, so the meter always sees more than the car receives — that loss is included below.

Miles driven per yearEV efficiency (miles per kWh)Charging losses (%)Gas car (miles per gallon)Gas price ($/gallon)Your state

What to know

Charging on an off-peak or dedicated EV rate is usually the single largest lever, and it costs nothing but a schedule setting in the car.
Cold weather cuts real-world miles per kWh substantially, sometimes by a third. Use a winter figure if you want the pessimistic case.
Public DC fast charging is typically several times the cost of home charging. This calculator assumes charging at home.

Questions

What miles-per-kWh figure should I use?: The EPA combined rating is a reasonable starting point; most drivers land within about 15% of it. Your car's lifetime average display is better.
Are charging losses really 10%?: Level 2 home charging typically loses somewhere between 8% and 15% between the meter and the battery, more in the cold.

State rates are averages of what residential customers actually paid (June 2026), from EIA. Your own plan can differ. Everything on this page is computed in your browser; nothing is sent anywhere.