Study finds that only using public EV chargers and not charging at home is still cheaper than paying for gas

Published on Jul 08, 2025 at 3:19 PM (UTC+4)
by Henry Kelsall

Last updated on Jul 08, 2025 at 9:11 PM (UTC+4)
Edited by Emma Matthews

A study has found that only using public EV chargers, and not charging at home, is still cheaper than buying gas for a regular car.

CNET conducted a survey looking at how much people spend on gasoline, versus the cost of charging an EV via a public charger.

While charging at home can be quite cheap, it’s always been hit or miss when it comes to public chargers.

But, CNET found some interesting results in its study. They showed a fascinating price difference between paying for gas versus paying for a recharged electric car.

DISCOVER OUR SUPERCAR AUCTION SITE – View live auctions on SBX Cars

How much does charging an EV at home cost?

To work out the cost, CNET used government data sources and AAA fuel prices to map out the monthly charging and fueling costs.

The data that they collected made for some interesting reading.

According to their results, the average MPG in America is 25. An EV requires, on average, three miles per kWh.

Charging an EV at home costs $0.17 per kWh versus $3.16 per gallon.

That means that home charging can cost $70.72 a month for an EV versus the $158 total for an ICE car.

Yet it is the public charging cost that is the most interesting.

While the price does go up, it still ends up being cheaper than refueling a car.

How much do public EV chargers cost?

Pricing is up to the owners of the charging stations, as many are independently owned.

CNET took data from Tesla, which charges on average 50 cents per minute versus 17 cents at home.

Of the charging available, DC charging is faster and, on average, costs $10-$30 per session.

AC public charging can be much cheaper, costing possibly just a couple of dollars, according to the study.

Even if you’re factoring in the increase in public charging, an electric car will still cost less to ‘refuel’ than a regular car.

CNET also worked out that on average, it could cost $1,896 per year to refuel an ICE car.

But for an EV, that average could come down by $1,047.36 to $848.64 a year.

That is a massive saving and one of the biggest benefits that awaits owners of electric vehicles.

Click the star icon next to supercarblondie.com in Google Search to stay ahead of the curve on the latest and greatest supercars, hypercars, and ground-breaking technology.

DISCOVER SBX CARS: The global premium car auction platform powered by Supercar Blondie

user

Henry is a content writer with nearly ten years experience, having written for various publications since 2017. Qualifying with a Sports Journalism degree from Staffordshire University, Henry loves all things automotive but has a particular soft spot for classic Japanese cars and anything Lancia. He also has a curious passion for steam locomotives.