Charge Your EV Faster and
Smarter at Home

Although electric-car charging stations are not as common as gas stations, they are growing in number, and are likely to continue doing so as more electric cars populate the roads. Take a look at Plugshare.com to find a nationwide map of charging stations. Additionally, your employer may allow you to plug in at work, but it's always best to ask first. Owners of the Tesla Model S can plug in at Tesla's Superchargers, which are springing up across the country. They provide rapid charging and are free to use.

This depends on your electric rate, but with the nationwide average at $0.12 per kWh, almost all electric-car owners can charge their cars for less than the cost of gasoline. Based on EPA estimates, today's electric vehicles consume between 0.28 kWh per mile and 0.44 kWh per mile, with smaller EVs consuming less, and larger EVs consuming more. Using these numbers, electric vehicles cost between $0.034 and $0.053 per mile to fuel. Meanwhile, the average gas-powered vehicle gets approximately 24 miles per gallon and, using the latest report on average gas prices from AAA, the average gas-powered vehicle would cost $0.144 per mile to fuel. There are a lot of variables here, so these are approximate calculations. Before buying an electric car, find out what your electric rate is, and whether your utility offers cheaper charging during off-peak hours.