How much does it cost to run a ev charger?
A typical ev charger draws about 7200 watts. Used 3 hours a day, that works out to roughly $3.67 per day, $91.80 per month, and $1,101.60 per year on an average electricity rate of 17¢ per kWh. Charging an EV at home can become the single largest line on your bill.
EV Charger running cost calculator
- Per day
- $3.67
- Per month
- $91.80
- Per year
- $1,101.60
- CO₂ / year
- 2592 kg
Based on 6480 kWh per year. Adjust the price per kWh to match your latest electricity bill for an exact figure.
The number that matters most is your own electricity rate. Rates range from under 11¢ per kWh in some regions to over 30¢ in others, so the same ev charger can cost two or three times as much depending on where you live. Enter your exact rate in the calculator above to get a figure tailored to your bill.
Over a full year this ev charger uses about 6480 kWh of electricity and is responsible for roughly 2592 kg of CO₂ emissions on an average grid. Reducing run time, or switching to a more efficient model, lowers both the cost and the footprint.
If this ev charger is one you use daily, even small efficiency gains compound. Cutting its usage or wattage by 20% would save around $220.32 every year — money that an efficient replacement can recover over its lifetime.
Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to run a ev charger per hour?
- At 7200 watts and a 17¢/kWh rate, a ev charger costs about $1.22 per hour to run.
- How much electricity does a ev charger use per month?
- Running 3 hours a day, a ev charger uses roughly 540.0 kWh per month, costing about $91.80.
- Is a ev charger expensive to run?
- Yes — at around $1,101.60 per year, a ev charger is one of the more costly appliances to run, so efficiency upgrades pay off quickly.
- How can I reduce my ev charger running costs?
- Use it during off-peak hours if your utility offers time-of-use pricing, reduce daily run time, and consider an ENERGY STAR rated ev charger, which uses less power for the same job.