EV Charge At 13.80¢ per kWh, Kentucky is one of the cheapest states to charge an EV: about $38 per 1,000 miles for a Tesla Model Y, or $0.038 a mile. A 30-mpg gas car spends roughly $144 on the same miles.
Electricity: EIA August 2026 · Gas: EIA week of October 12, 2026 · How we calculate
What Kentucky drivers pay to charge at home
| Vehicle (EPA efficiency) | Per 1,000 miles | Per year (12,000 mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD (27.5 kWh/100 mi) | $38 | $455 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV AWD (32.6 kWh/100 mi) | $45 | $540 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning 4WD ER1 (47.9 kWh/100 mi) | $66 | $793 |
| Gas car, 30 mpg | $144 | $1,732 |
What’s going on with electricity prices in Kentucky
Kentucky is one of the cheapest states to charge an EV: 13.80¢ per kWh, #44 of 51, against a U.S. average of 18.16¢. Prices rose 5.3% over the past year.
Coal still supplies much of Kentucky’s power, and the state’s low prices have long been tied to it. As older coal plants are retired and replaced, rates have been rising, so the gap with the national average may narrow over the next few years.
Kentucky vs. its neighbors
| State | Price per kWh | Per 1,000 miles (Model Y) | vs. Kentucky |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kentucky | 13.80¢ | $38 | — |
| Tennessee | 13.42¢ | $37 | -3% |
| Missouri | 16.02¢ | $44 | +16% |
| West Virginia | 16.31¢ | $45 | +18% |
| Indiana | 17.02¢ | $47 | +23% |
| Virginia | 17.64¢ | $49 | +28% |
| Illinois | 19.32¢ | $53 | +40% |
| Ohio | 19.38¢ | $53 | +40% |
Kentucky borders seven states and one of them pay less per kWh. Tennessee comes closest at 13.42¢; Ohio pays 19.38¢.
What popular EVs cost to charge in Kentucky
| EV | Per 1,000 miles | Per year (12,000 mi) |
|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y | $38 | $455 |
| Tesla Model 3 | $41 | $490 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | $44 | $524 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV | $45 | $540 |
| Ford Mustang Mach-E | $46 | $557 |
| Kia EV9 | $59 | $712 |
| Rivian R1S | $61 | $735 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning | $66 | $793 |
Home charging vs Tesla Superchargers vs gas in Kentucky
| How you fuel 1,000 miles (Tesla Model Y) | Cost |
|---|---|
| Home, Kentucky average (13.80¢/kWh) | $38 |
| Tesla Supercharger, standard rate ($0.57/kWh) | $156 |
| Tesla Supercharger, member rate (est. $0.39/kWh, $12.99/month fee) | $108 |
| Gas car, 30 mpg ($4.33/gal) | $144 |
In Kentucky, a standard-rate Supercharger session costs about 4.1 times as much per kWh as charging at home, and more than the gas a 30-mpg car burns over the same miles. Fast charging is for road trips; the savings come from charging at home.
How to pay less to charge in Kentucky
Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities serve much of the state, with Kentucky Power in the east, Duke Energy in northern Kentucky, and cooperatives and TVA-supplied utilities elsewhere. Kentucky is not a retail-choice state. Ask your utility whether it has a time-of-use or EV rate before you assume the flat price applies.
LG&E, KU and Kentucky Power publish their residential rates and any time-of-use options. Compare yours with the 13.80¢ average in the EV charging cost calculator.
Kentucky EV charging FAQ
How much does it cost to charge an EV in Kentucky per month?
At the Kentucky average of 13.80¢ per kWh, 1,000 miles a month costs about $38 in a Tesla Model Y, $45 in a Chevrolet Equinox EV and $66 in a Ford F-150 Lightning, charging at home.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV than to buy gas in Kentucky?
Yes, if you charge at home. A Model Y driving 12,000 miles a year costs about $455 to charge here, against about $1,732 in gas for a 30-mpg car, a difference of roughly $1,280 a year.
How much does a Tesla Supercharger cost in Kentucky?
The average standard (non-member) peak price at Kentucky Superchargers open to all EVs was $0.57 per kWh in October 2026 (DCFC Tracker). That’s about $156 per 1,000 miles in a Model Y, against $38 at home.
When is the cheapest time to charge in Kentucky?
On a standard flat-rate plan the hour doesn’t matter. On a time-of-use plan, the cheapest hours are usually overnight; our time-of-use guide explains how to check your plan. To use your exact rate, try the EV charging cost calculator.