Stupid question: How much does it cost to charge your car at a charging station? And how does that compare to fossil fuel? Is the price the same everywhere?
In fact, that is a
great question! The cost to charge an electric car ranges from “free“ to “very expensive.” Depending on your schedule and your location, you may, or may not, have a lot of choices. Of course, comparisons involve local electric prices and local gas prices, so it’s hard to give a firm answer, but you should be able to drive electric for less than the cost of driving on fossil fuels.
Free: Tesla Superchargers (OK, you can consider it as part of the purchase price of a Tesla.). This benefit is going away, however: newer cars will get 400 kWh supercharging (about 1,000 miles?) a year free, then be charged. But these are intended to be used for long distance travel, not everyday use.
Also free: some slow and medium-fast (level 2) public chargers, particularly at some municipal locations (courthouse, parks), and “destination” chargers at hotels, restaurants, malls, etc. who figure they will get money out of you by other means. But many other similar locations will charge you.
Many different charging companies have installed networks of medium-fast level 2 chargers, requiring a couple hours to get a decent charge. Most require their own membership or access card (which can be a pain), and cost varies by location, anywhere from free to very expensive. You may have to pay for parking, as well.
You can charge at home, and pay whatever your electric company charges. If you have varying, “Time Of Use” billing, you can schedule your car to charge during the cheapest period — usually overnight. And if you have solar panels, you can charge yourself for “free.”
The above is U.S.-centric; other countries have their own quirks but should be similar.
The “PlugShare” app and website (
https://www.plugshare.com ) shows locations of chargers around the world, and their cost. Do check it out. Many EV owners list their home chargers there, enabling you to stop in and charge on their dime!
Here’s one article that tries to crunch the numbers. I’ll see if I can find another.
https://pluginamerica.org/how-much-does-it-cost-charge-electric-car/