How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?
3 minute read
Whether you’re at home or on the road, EV charging can be wallet-friendly.
That feeling of bypassing the gas pump is priceless. But what about the cost of charging your electric vehicle? How much you pay depends on a few things, including whether you typically charge at home or on the road.
Charging at home
When charging at home, you’ll be billed just like you would any other electric usage. Residential kilowatt-hour energy rates are, on average, a lot less expensive than the per-gallon cost of gas, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. The difference can be even greater in some parts of the U.S., where EV owners can take advantage of utility discounts for nighttime or off-peak charging after they enroll in local utility programs. That’s enough to buy a lot of gas-station burritos.
Charging on the road.
Using a public charger can be free or it can be more expensive than home charging; it depends on the network and the power level of the chargers. For instance, some businesses or workplaces provide free Level 2 public charging. If you own the 2023 ID.4 EV, charging on the road is less of a concern: The 2023 ID.4 comes with three years of 30-minute charging sessions at Electrify America’s nationwide network of DC fast-charging stations — starting from your date of vehicle purchase. Electrify America operates a convenient and reliable network of DC fast charging stations nationwide.
Stay comfortable while conserving battery power
Many EVs allow you to conveniently pre-heat or pre-cool the cabin before you head out. While you can also do this with a gas-powered car, the process burns fuel. Pre-conditioning an EV can actually save battery power if the preconditioning is done while the vehicle is still plugged into a power source. The ID.4 allows you to set a departure time in advance; it then activates your preferred cabin temperature before you get in the car. Or you can opt to activate pre-heating or pre-cooling by using Remote Access EV features via your myVW app a few minutes before you leave. Either way, if you precondition your cabin before unplugging from a power source, you’ll use less battery power during your drive, which can reduce your energy bill. And which might help you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.
