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The Most and Least Expensive States to Charge an EV

Updated: July 31, 2023 by Jeff Weishaupt

The interest in EVs has increased considerably, similar to the number of such vehicles hitting the road. Their gorgeous build, smooth performance, and no emissions make them hard to resist. If you’re saving money to buy an electric vehicle, take some time and determine how much it will cost to charge an EV. It’s crucial before making an important car purchasing decision like this!

Calculating the cost of charging an EV is a bit more complex than filling your car’s tank with gasoline. That’s primarily because the cost of electricity varies from state to state.

Considering this variation, we collected data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s website to calculate the average EV charging cost per kWh in different parts of the U.S. This quick guide will tell you about the most and least expensive states to charge an EV.

Let’s jump in!

The Methodology

We chose three EVs with three battery packs to give you their theoretical charging cost in different states. To calculate the price, we multiplied the average charging cost/kWh by the battery pack size of every EV.

Remember, the resulting numbers were the charging costs of an empty car to its total capacity, which is practically impossible.

10 Most Expensive States to Charge an EV

Here are the states with the highest costs of charging a Tesla Model 3, Volvo XC40, and Ford F-150 Lightning.

Hawaii

Hawaii is the most expensive state in the U.S. for EV charging. You will pay the following amount higher than the average costs of each model:

Tesla Model 3: $9.78 ($16.53 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $12.71 ($21.49 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $21.35 ($36.09 for full charge)

California

California comes second for being the most expensive state to charge an EV. Even if you charge your EV in off-peak hours, you’re likely to pay much higher than the average costs.

Tesla Model 3: $8.17 ($15 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $10.62 ($19.50 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $17.83 ($32.75 for full charge)

Alaska

Alaska is ranked as the 3rd most expensive state to charge an EV. Expect to pay up to $11.23 higher than the average amount for a full charge. Here is the breakdown.

Tesla Model 3: $5.14 ($11.89 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $6.68 ($15.46 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $11.23 ($25.96 for full charge)

Connecticut

Connecticut is the 4th most expensive state in the U.S. for EV charging. You’re expected to pay almost $10 more than the average for fully charging your vehicle. Here are the extra costs you’ll bear with different models.

Tesla Model 3: $4.73 ($11.48 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $6.15 ($14.92 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $10.32 ($25.06 for full charge)

Rhode Island

Next on the list is Rhode Island, which requires EV owners to pay up to $9.50 more than the average cost. For different models, you’d pay the following amounts:

Tesla Model 3: $4.37 ($11.12 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $5.69 ($14.46 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $9.55 ($24.29 for full charge)

Massachusetts

Massachusetts is another expensive state to charge an EV. You’re likely to pay up to $9 higher than the average for fully charging your vehicle.

Tesla Model 3: $4.16 ($10.91 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $5.41 ($14.19 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $9.09 ($23.83 for full charge)

New Hampshire

If you live in New Hampshire, be prepared to pay up to $7.05 more than average every time you fully charge your vehicle. Here is a breakdown of the additional cost for different models.

Tesla Model 3: $3.23 ($9.98 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $4.20 ($12.97 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $7.05 ($21.79 for full charge)

Vermont

Vermont will require you to pay up to $6 higher than average when fully charging your EV. You will pay a little higher if you have a Ford.

Tesla Model 3: $3.05 ($9.80 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $3.96 ($12.74 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $6.65 ($21.39 for full charge)

New York

New York is also quite expensive for EV charging, requiring owners to spend up to $4 higher than the average for a full charge. You can expect to pay higher if you own a Ford 5-150 Lightning. For all three models, you’ll pay the below surplus amount:

Tesla Model 3: $8.92 ($2.17 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $2.82 ($11.60 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $4.74 ($19.48 for full charge)

New Jersey

Lastly, New Jersey is another expensive U.S. state for EV charging costs. Be prepared to pay up to $3 more than average for fully charging your EV. Here is the breakdown of the additional amount you’ll pay for different models:

Tesla Model 3: $1.43 ($8.18 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: $1.86 ($10.63 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: $3.12 ($17.86 for full charge)

An electric vehicle charging at an EV charging station — *With such large differences in state-by-state EV charging prices, it’s important to check in with your state to understand what you’d have to pay.*
©buffaloboy/Shutterstock.com

10 Least Expensive States to Charge an EV

So, which states are the least expensive for EV charging? Let’s go through the list of the 10 most affordable ones.

Louisiana

If you live in Louisiana, consider yourself lucky for owning and maintaining your dream EV. You can expect to pay a maximum of $5 less than people pay on average for fully charging an EV. Here is the amount you may pay for different models compared to the average cost:

Tesla Model 3: -$2.24 ($4.51 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.92 ($5.86 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$4.90 ($9.84 for full charge)

Oklahoma

The second most affordable state to charge an EV is Oklahoma. You can save $4.7 for fully charging your vehicle compared to the average amount people pay in various states. For these different models, the amount can be:

Tesla Model 3: -$2.17 ($4.58 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.82 ($5.95 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$4.74 ($10.00 for full charge)

Idaho

Idaho comes next In the list of the least expensive states for EV charging. You’ll likely pay $4.27 less than average for fully charging your vehicle. The breakdown for different models is as follows:

Tesla Model 3: -$1.96 ($4.79 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.54 ($6.23 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$4.27 ($10.47 for full charge)

Utah & Wyoming

Utah and Wyoming are tied and rank at number 4 as the least expensive states to charge an EV. You can expect to save up to $3.90 from the average charging cost for fully charging your vehicle. Here is the breakdown for different models.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.79 ($4.96 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.32 ($6.45 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.90 ($10.83 for full charge)

Arkansas

Next on the list is the state of Arkansas. While living here, you’re likely to pay $3.84 less than average for fully charging your EV. Here is the amount you can save from the average charging cost for different models.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.76 ($4.99 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.29 ($6.49 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.84 ($10.90 for full charge)

Nevada & Washington

Nevada and Washington are tied and come next on this list of cheap states for EV charging. In both areas, you can save up to $3.80 when fully charging your EV. The cost varies depending on the model you have.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.75 ($5.00 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.28 ($6.50 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.83 ($10.91 for full charge)

Texas

Texas is the next ideal state for EV owners. You’ll pay up to $3.7 less than the average charging cost for fully charging your vehicle. Remember, you can save varying amounts on different EV models.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.73 ($5.02 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.25 ($6.52 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.79 ($10.95 for full charge)

North Dakota

North Dakota is also an affordable state for EV charging, requiring owners to pay up to $3.56 less than what people pay on average.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.63 ($5.12 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.12 ($6.65 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.56 ($11.17 for full charge)

Kentucky

Next on the list is Kentucky, where you can expect to pay up to $3.5 less than the average cost for fully charging your vehicle.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.60 ($5.15 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$2.08 ($6.69 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.50 ($11.24 for full charge)

West Virginia

The last is West Virginia, where EV owners have to pay a maximum of $3.28 less than the average cost for a full charge. You can save more or less than this amount, depending on your EV model.

Tesla Model 3: -$1.50 ($5.25 for full charge)
Volvo XC40: -$1.95 ($6.83 for full charge)
Ford F-150 Lightning: -$3.28 ($11.46 for full charge)

How Can You Lower the Charging Costs of Your EV?

You can reduce the charging costs of your electric vehicle with a few tips. Below are some most effective ones.

Develop a Time of Use (TOU) Schedule

Creating a TOU plan is the most effective way to minimize the charging costs of your electric vehicle. As you may know, electricity is calculated in kWh (kilowatt-hours). With a TOU plan, your charging rate may vary depending on non-peak and off-peak hours. This means you won’t pay for your EV charging per the flat rate.

Your state’s TOU play may be different from the others. So, always check the website of your local electricity provider to be confident.

Charge at Home

You can install an EV charging at your home and save considerable money every month. Charging an EV at home is calculated based on $0.11, the average per-kWh cost.

Free Charging

You can find free charging stations at grocery stores and similar areas. In fact, many EV manufacturers also offer free charging at a specific limit.

Summary

Louisiana is the least expensive, and Hawaii is the most expensive state to charge an EV in the U.S. You can save up to $4.90 in Louisiana compared to the average cost people pay for fully charging their EVs. On the other hand, you can expect to pay up to $21.35 more than the average charging cost in Hawaii. The difference is massive! Check with your state to see what you’d have to pay, as this pricing structure bears importance in your overall EV purchasing (or leasing) decision!

The Most and Least Expensive States to Charge an EV FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What state has the most EV charging stations?

California has the most electric vehicle charging stations in the U.S. at 15,182. This figure makes up 29% of the total charging stations in the country. Additionally, the Golden State has double the number of chargers available in Florida, New York, and Texas combined.

Which state has the least EV chargers?

Louisiana has the least EV chargers compared to the total per capita. Only 8.3 chargers are available per 100,000 citizens in the state.

What is the highest amount I can expect to pay in Hawaii?

Huawei is the most expensive state to charge an EV across the U.S. You can expect to pay up to $21.35 higher than the average cost for fully charging your vehicle.

Is charging an EV cheap in Louisiana?

Yes, charging an EV is the cheapest in Louisiana. You can save up to $4.90 from the average cost by fully powering up your vehicle in the state.

Is electric charging free in the U.S.?

Charging an EV at public stations is the most common method. It can be free, subscription-based, or pay-as-you-go, depending on the network’s or property owners’ determined prices. If you have a Hyundai, Tesla, or Nissan, you can use complimentary public charging from your EV’s manufacturer at specific stations.

Is charging an EV cheaper at night?

Charging an EV during off-peak hours is cheaper, starting from 11 pm to 9 am. You can charge your vehicle at less than 50% of the charging cost during peak hours.

Is charging at Walmart free?

No, charging at Walmart isn’t free. However, most Walmart stores provide fast electric chargers to customers, allowing them to charge their electric vehicles within 15 to 30 minutes while shopping. But remember, not every store supports electric charging.