By EV Charge Cost Editorial Team. Published September 28, 2026, updated October 26, 2026.
Why fuel cost matters more for drivers who work
Rideshare and delivery drivers often drive far more than the 13,500 miles a year we use for a typical driver. Fuel is one of the largest costs you control, so a few cents per mile adds up to real money. The math is simple: cost per mile = kWh per mile × price per kWh for an EV, and gas price ÷ mpg for a gas car.
A typical EV in our data uses 33.5 kWh per 100 miles (0.335 kWh per mile, measured at the wall). At 18.16¢/kWh that is $0.061 per mile. At an example public fast-charging price of $0.45/kWh, it is $0.151 per mile.
Annual fuel cost at high mileage
The table compares a year of driving for a typical EV with different shares of energy bought at the example public price, against a 30 mpg gas car and an illustrative 50 mpg hybrid, both at the U.S. average gas price of $4.284 (EIA, week of 2026-10-19).
| Miles per year | EV, 0% public | EV, 25% public | EV, 50% public | Gas 30 mpg | Hybrid 50 mpg (illus.) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25,000 | $1,521 | $2,083 | $2,645 | $3,570 | $2,142 |
| 40,000 | $2,433 | $3,333 | $4,232 | $5,712 | $3,427 |
| 60,000 | $3,650 | $4,999 | $6,348 | $8,568 | $5,141 |
Home charging is where the savings come from. At 40,000 miles, going from 0% to 50% public charging adds $1,798 a year in this example. Replace the example public price with what you actually pay.
Your state changes the answer
Both electricity and gas prices vary by state, and they do not move together. This table uses each state's residential electricity price and its regional gas price.
| State | Electricity | EV per mile (home) | Gas per mile | Yearly gas minus EV |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nevada | 12.72¢/kWh | $0.043 | $0.167 | $4,972 |
| Louisiana | 12.87¢/kWh | $0.043 | $0.126 | $3,321 |
| North Dakota | 13.31¢/kWh | $0.045 | $0.138 | $3,743 |
| Massachusetts | 30.48¢/kWh | $0.102 | $0.142 | $1,581 |
| Maine | 32.11¢/kWh | $0.108 | $0.142 | $1,363 |
| Hawaii | 47.18¢/kWh | $0.158 | $0.167 | $354 |
Even in Hawaii, the most expensive state for electricity, check the numbers against a hybrid before assuming an EV wins on fuel. Full state details are on the state rankings page.
Picking an efficient car pays off at high mileage
Efficiency differences that look small on a label become large over tens of thousands of miles. Among popular models, Tesla Model 3 is rated 26.4 kWh/100 mi and Chevrolet Silverado EV 49.6. At 40,000 miles and 18.16¢/kWh, that is $1,916 versus $3,599 a year on home power alone. Compare models on the vehicle pages.
How much home charging does a shift need?
A 200-mile day in a typical EV takes about 67.0 kWh from the wall, or $12.17 at 18.16¢/kWh. On a 32-amp Level 2 charger delivering 7.68 kW, that refills in about 8 h 43 min; on a 120 V outlet at 1.44 kW it would take about 46 h 32 min, longer than most nights. For drivers who put in long days, the charger at home decides how much of the work runs on cheap energy.
Practical tips for working drivers
- Charge at home overnight and start each shift full, or at your daily limit. A Level 2 charger is usually needed to refill a high-mileage day overnight.
- Use off-peak rates if your utility offers them; your cheapest hours are likely when you are not driving.
- Treat fast charging as a top-up, not a routine. Charging time is also unpaid time.
- Watch highway share and winter use, which raise consumption above the EPA rating.
- Keep records of kWh and cost. Tax treatment of vehicle expenses depends on your situation; ask a tax professional.