It’s time to get a new car and you’ve been hearing and reading a lot about electric cars lately, so you’re wondering if getting one is the right decision for you. You might have common questions like: how long does it take to charge an electric car, how long does an electric car battery life last, or how much does it cost to charge an electric car at public charging points? There are many good reasons to consider switching to electric drive for your next car like: the environmental benefits, cutting edge technology such as self-driving, the smooth & quiet driving experience and the instant torque that only an electric motor can provide. However, one of the best reasons is often overlooked, and that’s how inexpensive an electric plug-in car can be to own.
Electricity costs: how much does it cost to charge an electric car?
As with gasoline cars, some plug-in electric vehicles are more efficient than others, and the average EV needs about 30 kWh of electricity to power the vehicle for 100 miles. For example, the EPA rating for a 2018 Nissan LEAF is exactly 30 kWh per 100 miles. A Tesla Model X 75D is rated at a combined 36 kWh per 100 miles, and uses more energy since it’s larger, heavier and more powerful than a LEAF. The Hyundai Ioniq is currently the most efficient electric plug-in car, and has a combined consumption rating of only 25 kWh per 100 miles. For a list of current electric vehicles with side by side comparisons for all electric car efficiency, visit the US Department of Energy’s website: www.fueleconomy.gov
The cost of electricity throughout the U.S. varies greatly, however over time the cost is much more stable. Currently, the electric rates are the highest in Hawaii, at about 32 cents per kWh, and the lowest in the state of Washington, where it costs only 9.65 cents per kWh. Unlike in gasoline prices, there aren’t huge spikes in electricity rates if a refinery has a problem, and neither does the price skyrocket when there is political instability in one of the large oil producing countries. All of the electricity we use in America is domestically produced, and that’s a large part of why the cost remains stable.
Overall, the average cost of electricity in the U.S. is 12 cents per kWh. Therefore, the average person driving the average EV 12,000 miles per year pays about $432.00 per year to charge it. As mentioned, the cost of electricity can vary greatly depending on where you live, but in order to equal the price of the average gasoline car’s fuel costs, the price of electricity would have to be about 3 times the current national average. It’s a simple fact, the electric car cost per mile is substantially lower than it is for a gasoline or diesel car.
Maintenance costs for electric cars
And the savings with plug-in vehicles don’t stop with gas. With fewer moving parts, EV drivers can attest that EV cars cost much less to maintain. Forget the oil changes, tune-ups, fuel filters, timing belts new mufflers, etc. EV cars are basically just plug and play, and require at most an annual check-up, just to make sure everything is OK. If you combine the fuel savings of electric cars vs gas, along with the reduced maintenance costs, it’s clear to see an EV car will cost you much less in the long run, even if it costs a little more upfront. If you’re wondering how much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle at public charging points, that answer is a little more complicated, since the owner of the public charging station can set any rate they want. Some stations are actually free to use, and others usually charge by the hour. However, the vast majority of EV drivers charge from a home charging station and pay what their utility charges.
