For Road & Track: What it Really Costs to Charge an Electric Vehicle / by William Watts

I recently wrote another article about EVs for Road & Track, this time exploring the various factors that determine how much it costs to charge an EV, whether at home or on public charging networks. A section about EV-specific rates offered by utilities is below.

Inevitably, EV ownership means that total electrical usage will go up, so it may be difficult for customers to take advantage of the allowance-limited rates. Electrical utilities generally want to encourage EV adoption, so many, like PG&E, have introduced EV-specific rates. These rates generally trade a higher peak rate for a much lower off-peak rate, recognizing that EV charging can be as much as half of your electrical bill but can be done easily during off-peak hours. Under this scheme, our 1000-mile Model 3 example charged off-peak would cost just $67.50 per month—quite a savings.”