What Is Your EV Actually Costing You to Charge in California?
Compare gas, public charging, home grid charging, and home solar charging side by side — with real numbers based on your utility, your mileage, and your vehicle. Free, instant results, no email required to see your results.
Run Your Numbers
Takes about 30 seconds. No email required to see your results.
| Charging Method | Cost / 100 mi | Monthly | Annual |
|---|
Right now you're paying grid rates to charge at home. Adding solar shifts your home charging cost down to near-zero marginal cost — see what that looks like for your specific home and utility.
Get My Free Solar Estimate →See our top Level 2 home charger picks for California homeowners.
See Charger Picks →Licensed Level 2 charger installation, standalone or bundled with solar.
Get a Free Install Quote →See what solar + your EV actually looks like on your roof, your utility, and your rate plan — free, no pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in California?
It depends on your utility. Using blended residential averages, PG&E customers pay roughly $0.39/kWh, SCE customers roughly $0.345/kWh, SDG&E customers roughly $0.457/kWh, and SMUD customers roughly $0.18/kWh — the lowest in the state. Actual cost also depends on your vehicle's efficiency and whether you charge on a time-of-use rate plan.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public charging station?
Home charging is almost always cheaper. Public Level 2 and DC fast charging in California average around $0.50/kWh, which is meaningfully higher than every California utility's blended residential rate. Relying on public charging for daily driving instead of occasional top-ups can roughly double your monthly charging cost compared to charging at home.
How much does solar reduce EV charging cost?
Charging from home solar brings the effective marginal cost of electricity down to a few cents per kWh, versus $0.18–$0.457/kWh on the grid depending on utility. For most California EV owners, that means home solar charging costs roughly a tenth of grid charging and a small fraction of public charging. See what that looks like for your specific home with our solar savings calculator.
Does my vehicle affect how much it costs to charge?
Yes. Efficiency varies significantly by vehicle class — compact sedans use roughly 25–28 kWh per 100 miles, mid-size SUVs roughly 28–34 kWh per 100 miles, and full-size trucks like the Ford F-150 Lightning use 47–55 kWh per 100 miles. A less efficient vehicle costs more to charge per mile at any given electricity rate.
Does this calculator require my email or phone number?
No. Results display immediately after you enter your utility, vehicle, mileage, and charging habits — no contact information is required to see your numbers.