Charging an EV at home in the US: cost per 100 miles vs gas in 2026

Gas averaged $4.478 a gallon nationally in the week of September 21, 2026, according to the EIA, up from $3.173 a year earlier. The jump followed a summer of supply disruptions in the Middle East that pushed Brent crude to an average of $91 a barrel in August. If you have an EV and a driveway, that gap is the whole argument for charging at home. If you are thinking about buying one, the federal credits are gone, so the running-cost math matters more than it used to.

Cost per 100 miles: home electricity vs gas

The DOE’s Alternative Fuels Data Center uses 27 kWh per 100 miles as its example efficiency for an EV. At the EIA’s July 2026 residential averages:

A gas car that gets 30 mpg burns 3.33 gallons per 100 miles. At the September 21 national average of $4.478 that is about $14.93; at the Gulf Coast average of $3.972 the same week, about $13.24.

Your numbers will differ: winter driving and highway speeds raise EV consumption, and some energy is lost in charging. But even in New York, home charging costs around half of what gas does per mile at today’s pump prices.

The EIA expects gasoline to ease to an average of $3.35 a gallon in 2027 as Middle East flows recover. The gap narrows then, but it does not close.

Level 1 or Level 2?

Level 1 means a regular 120-volt outlet. The DOE says it needs only an outlet on a dedicated branch circuit near where you park, with no extra installation cost. If you drive 30 or 40 miles a day and park overnight, it often covers you.

Level 2 runs at 240 volts, like a dryer, and charges much faster. The DOE notes it needs a certified electrician, must meet the National Electrical Code (Article 625) and local codes, and usually needs a building permit. Some homes need a panel upgrade first. Ask for a quote that includes the permit and any panel work, not just the charger box.

Charge at night, on the right plan

Most of the saving comes from when you charge. Many utilities offer time-of-use or EV rates with cheaper overnight hours, and in Texas, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois and the other choice states some retail suppliers sell plans with free or discounted nights. Set the car or charger to start after the off-peak hour begins.

Two cautions. Time-of-use plans usually charge more in the late afternoon, when the AC is working hardest, so a plan that is great for the car can cost you on the rest of the house. And in Texas, “free nights” plans can carry a noticeably higher daytime rate. Read the Electricity Facts Label and run a month of your real usage through it. Our appliance calculator helps with the non-car part of the bill, and you can compare plans in the choice states.

Federal incentives: what ended when

The 2025 budget law (Public Law 119-21) closed the main federal EV incentives early:

• New EV credit (30D, up to $7,500): not available for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. Acquired means a binding written contract plus a payment.
• Used EV credit (25E): same cut-off, September 30, 2025.
• Home charger credit (30C): covered property placed in service at your main home from January 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026, at 30% of cost up to $1,000 per item, and only in eligible low-income or non-urban census tracts. Anything installed from July 2026 on does not qualify.

Some states and utilities still offer charger rebates or EV rates with incentives. The list changes often, so check your utility’s website before buying a charger.

Public charging prices

Fast charging on the road costs much more than charging at home. Networks such as Electrify America price by location and time and show the live price in their app and on the charger screen; its Pass+ membership says it saves about 25% on charging. As a rule, treat public fast charging as the exception you use on trips, and budget for a much higher price per kWh than you pay at home.

Rooftop solar and an EV

Solar and an EV pair well on paper: daytime generation can charge a car that sits at home. In practice most cars are at work during the day. Unless you work from home or have a battery, you will mostly charge at night from the grid. See our solar guide for what changed after the 30% credit ended.

Bottom line

At today’s gas prices home charging costs far less per mile than gas in every state, and by a wide margin in Texas. The bigger variable is the electricity plan. If you live in a choice state, compare supply offers with your charging hours in mind, and set a contract alert so a cheap plan does not quietly roll onto a pricier one.