Running cost comes down to wattage, hours and your rate. In California the rate is 33.25 cents per kWh, which is 80.3 percent above the national average. Here is what that means for a level 2 ev charger.
A level 2 ev charger drawing 7,200 W costs $2.39 per hour in California. Run 4 hours a day that is $9.58 daily, $287 a month and $3,495 a year, which is $1,557 more than the same appliance at the US average rate.
Cost by hours used per day in California
| Hours/day | Energy | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 h | 7.20 kWh | $2.39 | $71.82 |
| 2 h | 14.40 kWh | $4.79 | $144 |
| 4 h | 28.80 kWh | $9.58 | $287 |
| 6 h | 43.20 kWh | $14.36 | $431 |
| 8 h | 57.60 kWh | $19.15 | $575 |
| 12 h | 86.40 kWh | $28.73 | $862 |
| 24 h | 172.80 kWh | $57.46 | $1,724 |
Cost by wattage at 33.25 cents
| Rated power | Per hour | Per day | Per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3,300 W | $1.10 | $4.39 | $132 |
| 5,000 W | $1.66 | $6.65 | $200 |
| 7,200 W | $2.39 | $9.58 | $287 |
| 9,600 W | $3.19 | $12.77 | $383 |
| 11,500 W | $3.82 | $15.30 | $459 |
Find the row matching the nameplate on your own unit. Within a single appliance category the spread is often wider than the difference between categories, so the label is worth reading.
Charging an EV in California
At the California rate, home charging works out well below the equivalent cost of gasoline for almost any vehicle. Cold weather reduces efficiency, since the battery is heated before and during charging, so winter cost per mile in California runs above the annual average.
Why California pays what it does
California is a regulated market, so your utility is the only supplier and the rate is set through the state commission rather than by competition. Pricing tends to be steadier than in deregulated states, and there is no switching decision available. The levers are all on your side of the meter.
At 33.25 cents, California ranks 50 of 51 from cheapest to most expensive. The West regional average is 19.65 cents. Roughly half of any residential bill is transmission and distribution rather than generation, which is why rates keep climbing even when fuel prices fall.
How this compares across the country
The same level 2 ev charger on the same schedule, in the cheapest and dearest states:
| State | Rate | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.35¢ | $107 | $1,298 |
| Utah | 12.96¢ | $112 | $1,362 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $287 | $3,495 |
| California | 33.25¢ | $287 | $3,495 |
| Hawaii | 52.00¢ | $449 | $5,466 |
Lowering the number in California
- Charge on an off-peak or EV tariff if one exists. This is the easiest load in the house to shift, and the savings are large.
- Set the schedule in one place only. Conflicting car and charger schedules are the usual reason people wake to an uncharged car.
- Charge to 80 percent for daily use. Better for the pack and it avoids the slow final phase.
- Precondition while plugged in. Heating the cabin from the grid rather than the battery preserves range.
- Do not pay for a bigger charger than the car accepts. Many vehicles cap AC charging at 7.2 kW.
Offsetting it with solar in California
This load uses about 28.80 kWh a day. Covering that would take roughly 20 standard 400 W panels at typical sun hours, an array of about 8.00 kW. Because it offsets electricity worth 33.25 cents rather than the national 18.44 cents, the same array is worth more here than the national payback figures suggest.
An EV is a large flexible battery that can absorb surplus solar all afternoon. Solar-aware chargers do this automatically. Full sizing, including battery and inverter requirements, is on the solar sizing page for this appliance.
Questions people actually ask
[hed_faq]How much does it cost to run a level 2 ev charger in California?About $2.39 per hour and $287 a month at 4 hours a day, using the California average rate of 33.25 cents per kWh.
How many watts does a level 2 ev charger use?Around 7,200 W while running, with a range of roughly 3,300 to 11,500 W depending on model and setting.
Is that expensive for California?California electricity runs 80.3 percent above the national average, so this appliance costs $1,557 more per year here than it would at the US average rate.
Can I lower this without replacing the appliance?Usually yes. Run time is the variable you control, and the hours table above shows exactly what each hour costs. Since California is regulated, shopping for a supplier is not an option, so usage is the lever.[/hed_faq]