Charging at home
What 100 miles costs, by where you charge
100 miles costs about $5.15 charging at home, $19.07 at public fast chargers, and $14.35 in gas.
A typical EV, winter included. If you'd rely on public fast chargers every day, an EV costs about the same as gas or more.
Option 1: a regular outlet — $0
Every EV comes with a cord that plugs into a normal 120-volt outlet (Regular outlet (Level 1)An ordinary 120-volt household outlet and the cord that comes with the car. Slow — about 40 miles overnight — but it's free and enough for many commutes.All terms →). It's slow — roughly 3–5 miles of range an hour, about 40 miles overnight — but for a commute under ~40 miles round trip, many people never need anything else.
- Use a dedicated outlet if you can; avoid extension cords.
- Cold garages and very long days are where it falls short.
Option 2: a Level 2 charger — about $1,200 installed
A Level 2 chargerA 240-volt charger (the kind of outlet a clothes dryer uses), installed by an electrician. Refills most EVs overnight.All terms → charger uses a 240-volt circuit (like a clothes dryer) and refills most EVs overnight. Budget about $1,200 for the charger and an electrician; more if your panel needs an upgrade.
- Appalachian Power: $300 rebate — Go Electric Level 2 Charger Rebate. Details
The federal home-charger tax credit ended June 30, 2026.
Cheaper overnight rates
Appalachian Power and Wheeling Power offer an Off-peak EV rate (time-of-use)A utility rate that charges less for electricity at night and on weekends, in exchange for charging then. Some require a separate EV meter.All terms →: about 12.3¢ per kWh nights and weekends instead of 16.2¢. It needs a Level 2 charger on its own metered circuit. See the details.
If you rent or park on the street
This is the hardest case, and we don't sugar-coat it: paying public fast-charging prices for every mile erases most of an EV's fuel savings. What helps:
- Free or cheap charging at work.
- Asking your landlord about an outlet near your spot — even Level 1 changes the math.
- A plug-in hybrid, which runs on gas when there's nowhere to plug in.
The household planner has a “can't charge at home” option that prices every mile at public rates.