EV Charge Pick any two electric cars and a state to see which one is cheaper to charge, per 1,000 miles, per year and over five years. At the U.S. average of 18.16¢ per kWh, a Tesla Model Y costs $599 a year to charge at home and a Ford F-150 Lightning $1,044: the most efficient EVs cost about half as much to run as the thirstiest ones.
Every popular EV ranked by charging cost
| EV | kWh/100 mi (EPA) | Per 1,000 miles | Per year (12,000 mi) | Full charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lucid Air | 25.2 | $46 | $549 | $19.72 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 6 | 26.0 | $47 | $567 | $16.15 |
| Tesla Model S | 27.1 | $49 | $591 | $20.18 |
| Tesla Model Y | 27.5 | $50 | $599 | $16.33 |
| Subaru Solterra | 28.0 | $51 | $610 | $14.64 |
| Toyota bZ | 28.0 | $51 | $610 | $14.64 |
| Chevrolet Bolt | 28.2 | $51 | $615 | $13.42 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric | 29.1 | $53 | $634 | $13.79 |
| Volvo EX30 | 29.2 | $53 | $636 | $13.84 |
| Tesla Model 3 | 29.6 | $54 | $645 | $16.61 |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 29.8 | $54 | $649 | $15.75 |
| Nissan Leaf | 30.0 | $54 | $654 | $15.69 |
| BMW i4 | 30.8 | $56 | $671 | $14.04 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 31.7 | $58 | $691 | $16.69 |
| Tesla Model X | 32.2 | $58 | $702 | $20.58 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | 32.6 | $59 | $710 | $18.17 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | 33.6 | $61 | $732 | $14.64 |
| Cadillac Optiq | 34.0 | $62 | $741 | $18.71 |
| Nissan Ariya | 34.4 | $62 | $750 | $18.05 |
| Audi Q4 e-tron | 34.6 | $63 | $754 | $15.77 |
| Honda Prologue | 35.3 | $64 | $769 | $18.14 |
| Chevrolet Blazer EV | 35.7 | $65 | $778 | $18.35 |
| Cadillac Lyriq | 36.8 | $67 | $802 | $21.79 |
| Polestar 3 | 37.5 | $68 | $817 | $21.25 |
| Acura ZDX | 37.7 | $68 | $822 | $22.11 |
| BMW iX | 37.7 | $68 | $822 | $20.33 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 9 | 38.0 | $69 | $828 | $22.08 |
| Volkswagen ID. Buzz | 40.8 | $74 | $889 | $17.34 |
| Kia EV6 | 41.0 | $74 | $893 | $17.20 |
| Mercedes-Benz EQE SUV | 42.0 | $76 | $915 | $19.30 |
| Rivian R1T | 42.9 | $78 | $935 | $23.37 |
| Tesla Cybertruck | 42.9 | $78 | $935 | $25.32 |
| Kia EV9 | 43.0 | $78 | $937 | $20.30 |
| Rivian R1S | 44.4 | $81 | $968 | $23.30 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 47.9 | $87 | $1,044 | $27.84 |
| Chevrolet Silverado EV | 49.5 | $90 | $1,079 | $36.86 |
| GMC Sierra EV | 49.5 | $90 | $1,079 | $36.86 |
Why two EVs cost so differently to charge
Efficiency is everything. The Lucid Air uses 25.2 kWh per 100 miles and the GMC Sierra EV 49.5, so the same 1,000 miles cost $46 versus $90 at home. Heavier vehicles, big wheels and boxy shapes use more energy, and the gap grows in states with expensive power.
Frequently asked questions
Which EV is the cheapest to charge?
Of the popular models we track, the Lucid Air at 25.2 kWh per 100 miles: about $549 a year at the U.S. average rate.
Is a Tesla Model Y cheaper to charge than an F-150 Lightning?
Yes. At home, about $50 vs $87 per 1,000 miles at the U.S. average, or $445 a year.
Does the comparison change by state?
The ratio between two cars stays the same, but the dollar gap grows where electricity is expensive, like California or Hawaii.
More tools: EV vs gas savings calculator · road trip cost calculator · charging cost by ZIP code.
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly (August 2026) and EIA gasoline prices (week of October 12, 2026); fueleconomy.gov (EPA efficiency and range); DCFC Tracker (Supercharger prices, October 2026). How we calculate.