EV Charge Charging an electric truck or a big three-row SUV at home costs roughly $935 to $1,044 a year at the U.S. average rate of 18.16¢, based on 12,000 miles. That’s well above the $599 a Tesla Model Y costs, but still below the $1,732 a 30-mpg gas car spends on fuel over the same miles.
Trucks and big SUVs compared
| Vehicle | kWh/100 mi (EPA) | Per year, Nevada | Per year, U.S. average | Per year, Hawaii |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Cybertruck | 42.9 | $655 | $935 | $2,429 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | 47.9 | $731 | $1,044 | $2,713 |
| Rivian R1S | 44.4 | $677 | $967 | $2,512 |
| Kia EV9 | 43.0 | $656 | $937 | $2,434 |
| Tesla Model Y (for comparison) | 27.5 | $420 | $599 | $1,557 |
| 30-mpg gas car (for comparison) | – | – | $1,732 | – |
Why the numbers look like this
The gap comes almost entirely from efficiency. Electric trucks and large SUVs are heavy, tall and boxy, so they need more energy to push through the air and to get moving, and big wheels and all-terrain tires add rolling resistance. Because the price per kWh is the same whatever you plug in, every extra kWh per mile turns directly into a bigger bill. Towing, roof racks and highway speeds push consumption up further, while gentle driving in mild weather brings it down. Even so, these vehicles stay cheaper to fuel than a 30-mpg gas car at average U.S. prices, as long as most charging happens at home.
What you can do
- Charge at home overnight on a time-of-use plan if your utility offers one; it matters more the bigger the battery.
- Check tire pressure and remove roof racks or bed accessories you aren’t using, since drag and rolling resistance hit heavy vehicles hardest.
- Use fast chargers mainly on road trips: at public prices a large truck’s bill climbs much faster than at home.
- Before buying, compare the EPA kWh per 100 miles of the models you’re considering, not just the battery size.
Frequently asked questions
Is a Cybertruck expensive to charge?
At the U.S. average rate, charging a Cybertruck at home costs about $935 a year for 12,000 miles. That’s more than a Model Y at $599 but less than a 30-mpg gas car at $1,732.
Do electric trucks cost more to charge than electric cars?
Yes. Trucks and big SUVs use more kWh per mile, so the same electricity price produces a bigger bill than for an efficient crossover.
Is an electric truck still cheaper than a gas car to fuel?
At U.S. averages, yes: the trucks and big SUVs in this comparison cost between $935 and $1,044 a year at home, versus $1,732 for a 30-mpg gas car. Frequent fast charging narrows that advantage.
How much does it cost to charge a Kia EV9 or Rivian R1S?
About $937 a year for the EV9 and $967 for the R1S at 18.16¢ per kWh and 12,000 miles. Their EPA ratings are 43.0 and 44.4 kWh per 100 miles.
Your bill depends on your own rate and miles. Put them in the EV charging cost calculator, or see every state in the cost by state table and the monthly price index.
Cite or embed this data
Journalists, bloggers and researchers are welcome to use these numbers. Please credit EV Charge Math with a link: EV Charge Math, “What It Costs to Charge an Electric Truck or Big SUV (vs a Model Y)”, August 2026 data, https://evchargemath.com/electric-truck-charging-cost/
More EV charging data
- Cheapest states to charge an EV
- Most expensive states to charge an EV
- EV charging cost per month, by state
- EV charging cost per mile by state
- EV vs gas: fuel cost in every state
- Electricity cost per kWh by state
- How much it costs to charge a Tesla
- Tesla Supercharger cost by state
- How long it takes to charge an EV (Tesla and more)
- Level 2 charger installation cost by state
- EV charging cost by state (map)
- EV charging cost calculator
- Cost to charge every EV model
Sources: EIA Electric Power Monthly, table 5.6.A; EIA gasoline prices; fueleconomy.gov (EPA). Method: how we calculate. Updated October 25, 2026.
