Free preview · from the dealership side of the desk
The EV pitch is usually “you’ll never buy gas again.” It skips the part that decides whether the car saves you money: where you’ll charge it. For example, at 15 cents per kWh and about 3.5 miles per kWh, home charging costs roughly 4 cents a mile. A 30-mpg gas car at $3.30 a gallon costs about 11 cents. At a fast charger around 45 cents per kWh, the same EV costs about 13 cents a mile, more than the gas car.
Before you sign for an EV, know three numbers: your cost per mile at home, what setup will cost, and your backup plan if you can’t charge at home. A Level 2 install can run a few hundred dollars or several thousand, depending on your panel and where you park. Below: whether you actually need Level 2, typical install costs, the full per-mile worked example, options for renters and apartment dwellers, how dealers sell charging, and the questions to ask before you buy the car.
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In the full guide
- Level 1, Level 2 and DC fast charging
- Do you actually need Level 2?
- What a Level 2 install typically costs
- The per-mile math: a worked example
- Renters and apartment dwellers
- How dealers sell charging, and what to watch for
- Questions to ask before you buy the car
- Your game plan
- What to say
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