As gas prices continue to rise, electric cars are becoming more and more accessible, both in choices and cost. For many, weaning themselves from fossil fuels and helping the environment makes buying an EV an easy choice. For others, it’s a simple matter of cost or convenience. Plug in your car, wait a while, and off you go.
In the Pittsburgh area, a mid-range gas will run you close to four dollars per gallon. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average miles per gallon for U.S. cars is just about 25 miles. If the gas tank holds 15 gallons, that comes to $60 for around 375 drive miles or about a buck for every six miles.
The U.S. Department of Energy states, “The fuel efficiency of an EV may be measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh) per 100 miles. To calculate the cost per mile of an EV, the cost of electricity (in dollars per kWh) and the efficiency of the vehicle (how much electricity is used to travel 100 miles) must be known.”
The average cost of one kilowatt-hour is approximately 14 cents in the State of Pennsylvania. With an EV formula with national averages, the cost of an eGallon in the Model Y Tesla looks like this: 25.4 (this is the average U.S. rating of 25.4 mpg for model year 2020 vehicle) x .26 (Tesla Model Y RWD, which uses 26 kWh per 100 miles. We need to express this number by the mile, so we will divide by 100, or .26 kWh) x 15.42 (The National Average Electricity Price) = $1.02. That means using an EV charger to fill up a Model Y is like gassing up a traditional vehicle for around a dollar a gallon.
So the cost to charge an electric car offers some pretty good savings over gas! Of course, people don’t buy cars or trucks or SUVs based strictly on the cost to run them. The size, power, and even the look of the vehicle can come into play. But if you’re in the market, you may be wondering what an EV charging station installation cost is.
Residential electric vehicle charging stations
Charging an EV in your home isn’t quite as easy as you think. You’ll want to look into a Level 2 charging station that uses a 240v circuit. You actually already have this circuit in your home, but it’s being used by an electric stove or clothes dryer. And we would think that hot food and dry clothes are important, so you’ll want to add to your electrical panel.
Home Advisor pegs the average cost of a Level 2 charger for your home anywhere from $500 to more than $2,000. This doesn’t include adding another 240v circuit to your electrical panel, installing the proper wiring, and other labor costs associated when you install an EV charging unit.
If your panel is located in the garage or somewhere near an exterior wall, the cost to install an electric charging station won’t be as much as if the panel is located somewhere more central in the home. A wall-mounted Level 2 charging station may require a permit from your local municipality to install.
In fact, any charging station will require a permit. Depending on where you live, permits can cost up to $100 or more. However, you may be able to get most if not all of that back through incentive programs. Make sure to ask your electrician about these plans.
Considering an EV Charging Station?
Thinking about buying an electric vehicle, want to purchase that car with a big red bow on it this holiday season? Well you will want to make sure your home is equipped to charge it!
Contact Northern Electrical and we’ll set up a time to come to your home. We can take a look at your current panel, discuss locations for the charging station, and what level you’re interested in.
No matter what your situation, Northern Electrical has the experience to deliver exactly what you need!