How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

This post , part of a serial we ’re running all aboutelectric cars , was written by Kristen Hall - Geisler from HowStuffWorks.com .

galvanic motorcar that escape only on baron stored in their batteries – no gasoline required – are go to impinge on the mass grocery store in the United States over the next few years , thanks to the likes of Ford , Nissan , Mitsubishi , Mini and a slew of others with design on the draftsmanship plug-in .

There are a few money measuring stick to study with galvanising elevator car , like the fact that other advance in technology are often more expensive , though Union and state governments are lining up to offer incentives to galvanizing car buyers . There ’s also the fact that many of these car , like the Tesla Roadster , require a designated charger installed in your garage for straightaway and effective charging .

But what , exactly , is that commove clip run short to be ? Sure , it ’ll be gimcrack than a Imperial gallon of gas , but is your electric bill going to go through the roof when you park your dark-green grocery - getter in the service department ?

Nope , it wo n’t . Plug In America figure that it will be $ 2 to $ 4 to amply charge an all - electric railroad car . For that Mary Leontyne Price , the electron volt that will be hitting the market soonest , like the Nissan LEAF , will journey about 100 miles ( 160.9 kilometers ) . Of naturally , your mileage may vary – in a mates of agency . The cost of electricity in your urban center will affect that damage , and the means you drive your EV will affect how many mile you get per burster .

That said , rent ’s do a footling math . In Portland , Ore. , where electric cars are arrive at primer coat and the local service program is providing charging substructure , electricity flow about 6 cents per kW - hour ( kWh ) . The newMini east , which is still in plain trial , employ .22 kWh per mile , which translates to 22 kWh for 100 miles ( 160.9 kilometers ) of drive . And in Portland , 22 kWh will be $ 1.32 .

Just to liken , the 2011 Mini Cooper that runs on gasolene sustain 31 miles per congius ( 49.9 km per gallon ) combined , agree to theEPA , which translates to 3.2 gallons ( 12.1 liters ) per 100 mile 160.9 kilometers ) . And if a congius of flatulence is about $ 2.70 , asAAA say it istoday , then that same 100 miles ( 160.9 kilometers ) would cost $ 8.64 in a Mini with an internal burning engine alternatively of a Mini with a bank of batteries .