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1Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute2Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors3Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFor most U.S. drivers who can charge at home, home charging typically costs less per kilowatt-hour (kWh) than public DC fast charging. The exact difference depends on your utility’s marginal rate and the price posted at the station. A September 2026 tracker snapshot put non-member DC fast charging at an average of 54.5¢ per kWh; a secondary source reported a May 2026 U.S. residential average of 18.44¢ per kWh. That comparison is illustrative, not a guaranteed price for your home or a particular charging session.
What the published figures say—and what they do not
The U.S. Department of Energy’s Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) says home charging is typically cheaper than public charging. Recent price figures illustrate the potential gap, but they come from different sources and dates, so they are not a controlled, like-for-like survey of what every driver pays.
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| Price or example | Reported amount | How to interpret it |
|---|---|---|
| U.S. residential electricity average | 18.44¢/kWh for May 2026 | ChargeCostLab attributes this figure to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). The figure is a secondary report and was not verified against the EIA’s primary data in the material available here. |
| U.S. public DC fast charging average, non-member | $0.545/kWh as of September 2, 2026 | EVCP Info reported a DCFC Tracker snapshot. It covers locations with available pricing, excludes free sites, is not an official national statistic and may be higher than member pricing. |
| Nebraska public DC fast charging example | $0.378/kWh | Example state average in the September 2026 tracker snapshot. |
| California public DC fast charging example | $0.618/kWh | Example state average in the September 2026 tracker snapshot. |
| Hawaii public DC fast charging example | $1.035/kWh | Example state average in the September 2026 tracker snapshot. |
On those two reported national figures, the public DC fast charging rate is about 2.96 times the residential rate. Buying 45 kWh at those rates would cost about $24.53 at the tracker’s public average or $8.30 at the reported residential average. These are rate-times-energy calculations, not predictions of an actual bill. Taxes, session or idle fees, subscription costs, utility billing details, charging losses and the amount of energy billed can change the total.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →The tracker’s state examples also show why a single national public price is a poor substitute for checking a charger near you. They are snapshot averages, not guaranteed prices at every station in those states. A driver’s actual home rate can differ from a national residential average too.
#1 Best Overall
- Charge with Confidence: ChargePoint builds reliable, flexible EV charging stations for home, business, and fleets. Get 24/7 support and access to hundreds of thousands of North American charging locations.
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- Vast Network: Wherever you go, ChargePoint’s network includes 274k+ stations across North America and Europe and 565k+ roaming partner stations.
- Safe & Durable: Rely on this UL-certified EV charger for safe home charging. It can be installed indoors or outdoors by an electrician and includes a cold-resistant cable.
- Fast & Powerful: This EV charger charges 9× faster than a 120V outlet, delivering up to 45 mi/hr., dependent upon your vehicle. It features a J1772 connector for all non-Tesla EVs and requires a 20A or 80A circuit. For Tesla EVs, this will require an adapter.
How to calculate your own home-versus-station cost
Compare the rate that applies to additional electricity at your home with the tariff for the specific public station. Then use your vehicle’s energy consumption to estimate cost per mile. Battery capacity by itself does not tell you how much a trip costs; the vehicle’s efficiency matters.
- Find your home’s marginal electricity rate. Check your utility bill and applicable time-of-use schedule. If generation and delivery charges are listed separately, include the charges that rise with additional electricity. Do not automatically divide the whole monthly bill by total household kWh: fixed charges that do not change when you charge the car are not necessarily part of the marginal cost.
- Check the station’s exact tariff before plugging in. Use the charging network’s app or the price displayed on the charger. Confirm whether the price is per kWh, minute or session, and whether it differs for members, non-members, a particular site or a particular vehicle. Look for session and idle fees as well.
- Use the car’s energy consumption. If the vehicle uses 27 kWh per 100 miles, it uses 0.27 kWh per mile. Multiply that by the electricity rate: at 18.44¢/kWh, the estimated energy cost is about 4.98¢ per mile; at $0.545/kWh, it is about 14.72¢ per mile. The residential input in this example is the secondary-reported May 2026 average, and the public input is the September 2026 tracker snapshot—not local quotes.
- For a session comparison, use the billed energy and add fees. Multiply the kWh billed by each applicable per-kWh rate, then add session or idle fees and any membership cost attributable to that charging use. If a plan charges by time, do not compare its per-minute price directly with a per-kWh rate; the energy delivered in that time depends on the vehicle, charger and charging conditions.
AFDC illustrates the cost-per-mile method with a vehicle using 27 kWh per 100 miles and electricity priced at 10.7¢/kWh: the result is about 3¢ per mile. That is a calculation example, not a current U.S. rate. The method is the useful part: multiply the rate per kWh by the vehicle’s kWh per mile.
Rank #2
- WORKS WITH EVERY NON-TESLA EV: Standard J1772 connector plugs straight into Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Rivian, Lucid and every other EV or plug-in hybrid sold with a J1772 port - no adapter needed. Tesla drivers can charge too, using the J1772 adapter that comes with the car.
- PLUG IN, NO HARDWIRING: Level 2 charger delivers up to 40A to fully charge most EVs overnight. Plugs into a 240V, 4-prong NEMA 14-50 outlet (the RV/range type - NOT a dryer outlet) on a dedicated 50A circuit. The extra-long 25 ft cable easily reaches across a garage or driveway. Before ordering, check your car's port type and that you have the right outlet.
- CONTROL & SAVE FROM YOUR PHONE: A stronger built-in antenna keeps the charger online even in a garage or basement. Use the free app to start/stop charging, set speed (6-40A), get reminders, and track energy use and cost. Schedule off-peak overnight charging to cut your electric bill. Requires 2.4 GHz WiFi.
- SAFETY-CERTIFIED & WEATHERPROOF: Independently tested and certified (UL, ETL, FCC, Energy Star). A fully sealed IP66 / NEMA 4 housing stands up to rain, snow, heat and dust indoors or out, and internal steel shielding protects the electronics for years of reliable use.
- GLOW-IN-THE-DARK HOLSTER: The included high-visibility holster glows in the dark so you can find and dock the plug easily at night. Holds the connector securely when not in use.
A worked 45-kWh comparison
At 18.44¢/kWh, 45 kWh costs $8.298, or about $8.30. At $0.545/kWh, 45 kWh costs $24.525, or about $24.53. The difference is roughly $16.23 for that amount of billed energy, before fees or membership costs. Use these amounts to understand the arithmetic—not as a quote for a particular home, station or battery charge. The residential rate is attributed to EIA by a secondary source, while the DC fast charging figure is a tracker snapshot.
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A public DC fast charger is not simply a household outlet with a higher charging speed. AFDC identifies electricity, maintenance and network fees as operating costs for charging infrastructure. It also notes that DC fast charging is more likely than Level 1 or Level 2 charging to incur utility demand charges. A provider’s price may vary by time, and the station’s tariff can reflect these operating costs as well as the electricity used.
Rank #3
- ⚡ Fast, Flexible Charging You Control- Equipped with a NEMA 14-50 plug and adjustable current (10A to 40A), the EVDANCE EV Charger gives you total control over your charging speed. Whether you're topping off at work or doing an overnight charge at home, simply tap the control button to select your ideal amperage. It’s precision charging, made easy NOTE: It is necessary to use a J1772 to Tesla adapter(not including) when charging your Tesla vehicles
- 8X Faster Charging: The EVDANCE ev charger level 2 comes with a NEMA 14-50 plug, charging at 240V and the maximum current can reach 40A, which can provide maximum 9.6kWh charging power. Experience unparalleled speed at approximately 8x faster than level 1 ev chargers
- Adjustable Charging Current: EVDANCE Level 2 charger supports adjustable currents settings ranging from 10A to 40A (10A/16A/20A/24A/32A/40A). Just touch the "A" button, you can easily select the appropriate charging speed to suit your specific needs
- Delayed Charging Function: With the delay start feature, you can set your charging time(delay 1-12 hrs), staggering the peak usage period and reducing your energy costs
- Intelligent 2.4"" TFT Display & & LED Indicators: Our 40A electric car charger equipped with a large 2.4"" TFT screen, it provides clear and real-time charging information, including charging current/voltage/power kWh, charging time and work status, etc.The LED indicator on the control box provides real-time charging status
- Infrastructure and operation: the provider must operate and maintain public equipment and its network, not just supply energy.
- Demand charges: utility charges tied to demand can be more likely to affect DC fast charging sites than slower charging equipment.
- Time and location: provider pricing can vary by time, and a local station’s posted tariff may be far from a national or state snapshot average.
- Plan and billing basis: a member rate may differ from a non-member rate; a tariff may be per kWh, minute or session. A lower displayed rate may also require a subscription whose cost needs to be counted.
AFDC describes per-kWh, per-session, time-based and subscription pricing. It also notes that some states use time- or session-based charging where non-utility providers may not sell electricity. More than 20% of public charging across Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast chargers is reported as free to use, but that figure covers all those charging types. It does not establish that more than one in five DC fast charging sessions are free.
How to read a station price without misjudging it
Before starting a session, confirm the tariff that applies to you at that charger. Prices can differ by membership, site or vehicle, and the station’s displayed or in-app information is more relevant than a general average for the network or state.
Rank #4
- WORKS WITH EVERY NON-TESLA EV: Standard J1772 connector plugs straight into Ford, Chevrolet, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan, BMW, Volkswagen, Audi, Rivian, Lucid and every other EV or plug-in hybrid sold with a J1772 port - no adapter needed. Tesla drivers can charge too, using the J1772 adapter that comes with the car. The extra-long 25 ft cable easily reaches across a garage or driveway.
- HARDWIRED - PROFESSIONAL INSTALL: This Level 2 charger is hardwired (not plug-in), so a licensed electrician installs it per National Electrical Code. It delivers up to 48A on a dedicated 60A, 240V circuit - enough to charge most EVs fully overnight. Want more speed? You can set DIP switches 4 and 5 to unlock 50A on a dedicated 70A circuit. Before ordering, check your car's port type and that your electrical panel can support the circuit.
- CONTROL FROM YOUR PHONE: A stronger built-in antenna keeps the charger online even in a garage or basement. Use the free app to start and stop charging, set the charging speed (6-48A), get reminders, and track how much energy and money each charge uses. Requires a 2.4 GHz home WiFi network.
- SAFETY-CERTIFIED & WEATHERPROOF: Independently tested and certified (UL, ETL, FCC, Energy Star). A fully sealed IP66 / NEMA 4 housing stands up to rain, snow, heat and dust indoors or out, and internal steel shielding protects the electronics for years of reliable use.
- GLOW-IN-THE-DARK HOLSTER: The included high-visibility holster glows in the dark so you can find and dock the plug easily at night. Holds the connector securely when not in use.
- Per kWh: multiply the billed energy by the rate, then add any separate fees.
- Per minute: the cost for a given amount of energy depends on how quickly the car accepts power during that session. A per-minute rate alone is not enough to calculate a comparable per-kWh price.
- Per session: include the flat session charge, and check whether energy is also billed separately.
- Subscription or membership: compare the rate you would actually pay with the non-member rate, and include the subscription cost if you are buying it for charging.
- Idle fee: check whether a fee can start after charging ends if the vehicle remains connected. Include it only if it applies to your session.
When comparing two networks or plans, keep geography and date consistent, and label member and non-member prices separately. If the price is time-based, estimate energy only when you have a defensible basis for how much the vehicle will receive during the billed time. Otherwise, compare the full cost for a real or clearly specified session rather than presenting an assumed conversion as a station rate.
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What home charging equipment adds to the calculation
Having a driveway or garage does not necessarily mean you need to buy a new charger. The vehicle’s charging requirements, the equipment already available and how much energy you need overnight all matter. A Level 2 charger may be useful if existing equipment does not meet your needs, but its purchase and installation costs are separate from the per-kWh price comparison.
Best Value
- ✅【Fast & Adjustable Charging Power – Up to 7.68kWh, 16A–32A Output】This Level 2 portable EV charger delivers up to 32A and 7.68kWh for fast, efficient charging. Easily adjust current based on your home circuit: 32A for 40A, 24A for 30A, or 16A for 20A breakers. Simply long-press the “A” button to change amperage when pluged in，You can easily adjust the current (16A/24A/32A) to match your home circuit — no electrician required.
- ✅【Wide Compatibility – J1772 Connector for All Non-Tesla EVs】Equipped with a standard SAE J1772 plug, this EV charger works with most North American electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids, including models from Ford, GM, Nissan, Kia, Hyundai, BMW, and more. Tesla vehicles require a J1772-to-Tesla adapter (not included).
- ✅【Smart LED Screen】You Can View real-time charging data on the LED screen: amperage, voltage, speed, and delay settings. Stay fully informed with the built-in LED display that shows real-time charging data, including amperage, voltage, charging speed, and delay settings，Easily schedule your charging sessions during off-peak hours to save on electricity bills, set custom delays， It’s all about charging smarter, not just faster
- ✅ 【Smart Charging for Long-Term EV Care】: EVDANCE Level 2 EV charger offers flexible amperage settings ranging from 10A to 32A (10A/16A/20A/24A/32A). With a simple touch of the "A" button, you can easily select the appropriate charging speed to suit your specific needs. Lower amperage charging can reduce heat and extend battery health over time. Choose the current that suits your car and charging scenario — fast when you need it, gentle when you don’t.
- ✅【Built for Safety & Durability 】The EV charger is designed to handle tough environments with NEMA Type 4/IP66-grade protection against dust and water. While it’s not recommended for installation in direct sunlight or heavy rain, it performs reliably in garages, carports, and covered outdoor areas. The 25-foot military-grade charging cable features a drop-resistant plug tested to withstand over 10,000 insertions — built to last, wherever you charge.
| Residential equipment or work | Reported cost | Qualification |
|---|---|---|
| Level 2 charger equipment | $380–$690 | AFDC reports this range and attributes it to a Rocky Mountain Institute report. |
| Level 2 installation | Approximately $1,300 per connector | AFDC cites this amount; labor and permitting are not included in the cited figure. Actual cost varies with wiring, upgrades, location and required work. |
| Level 1 equipment | $0–$900 | AFDC lists this range depending on whether additional equipment is needed. |
These figures are equipment and installation context, not an estimate for a particular property or a guarantee that installing a charger will save money. The economics depend on how often you charge at home, the difference between your home tariff and public prices, and the work needed to install the equipment. If you already have suitable equipment, there may be no new purchase cost to include.
Check requirements before installing Level 2
AFDC advises EV owners to consult the vehicle manufacturer’s charging guidance and local building and permitting authorities. It notes that EV charging infrastructure is treated as a continuous load under the National Electrical Code and points to NEC Article 625. Installation requirements and permitting are local matters; a quoted equipment price alone does not establish that a particular electrical setup is suitable.
Which cost comparison is useful for your decision?
If your question is what you will pay to drive, cost per mile is more useful than comparing a charger’s advertised rate with the battery’s capacity. Use your own vehicle efficiency and the energy rate you would actually pay. If your question is whether to install home equipment, keep the one-time equipment and installation expense separate from recurring electricity costs; then judge it against your likely charging use rather than assuming every home charger pays for itself.
- Mostly home charging: use your marginal utility rate, including applicable time-of-use pricing and variable delivery or generation charges.
- Mostly road-trip charging: use the posted non-member or member tariff for the stations you expect to use, with applicable fees.
- Considering a subscription: compare the discounted rate plus the subscription cost against what you would otherwise pay for the same charging use.
- Comparing vehicles or routes: calculate cost per mile from each vehicle’s kWh per mile and the rate for each charging location, rather than assuming the same kWh use per mile.
Some utilities offer time-of-use rates or EV charging incentives, according to AFDC, but availability depends on location. Check directly with your utility for current local terms before including a discount or incentive in a calculation. Do not treat an incentive offered elsewhere as part of your own home charging cost.
Quick Recap
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