One of the central selling points of EV ownership has always been the cost of charging versus the cost of filling a gas tank. That math has been getting harder to defend, particularly for drivers who rely on public charging networks rather than home charging. The cost of electricity at public DC fast chargers in the US has been climbing steadily, and in some markets the per-mile cost of driving electric is no longer significantly cheaper than driving a fuel-efficient gasoline car.
The trend in Germany — where energy costs spiraled dramatically following the energy crisis — was an early warning sign of what electricity price volatility can do to the EV ownership equation. Some German public charging operators saw per-kWh rates rise to levels that pushed the fuel cost comparison to parity or even against EVs during peak pricing periods. The assumption that electricity is inherently cheaper than gasoline isn’t a law of physics; it’s a function of energy market conditions, and those conditions can shift.
In the US, the rapid expansion of DC fast charging networks has come with pricing structures that are less consumer-friendly than home charging rates. Network operators have moved away from flat membership fees toward per-kWh pricing that more accurately reflects their costs — but also means drivers pay closer to retail electricity rates rather than off-peak residential rates. Add in network access fees, session start fees, and idle fees, and the cost of a fast-charge session can climb quickly.
The distinction between home charging and public charging is critical and often glossed over in EV cost comparisons. A driver who can charge at home overnight at residential electricity rates — ideally on an off-peak time-of-use rate — still has a genuine cost advantage over gasoline. A driver who primarily relies on public DC fast charging does not. For apartment dwellers, condo residents, and anyone without dedicated parking that can accommodate a home charger, the public charging cost problem is very real.
None of this means EVs don’t make economic sense. For the right buyer profile — home charging access, regular commuting pattern, favorable local electricity rates — the economics are still compelling. But the era of promotional pricing and network subsidies that made public fast charging look artificially cheap is fading, and the true cost picture is becoming clearer. Buyers should run the actual numbers for their situation rather than relying on generic claims about EV cost advantages.
Nobody has yet to tell the costs of charging , why not ? Average cost and time to charge is something we all need to know for wise decisions .
Thank You for publishing the absolute truth! There is no pie in the sky story here, but day to day living! This is just the tip of the iceberg. I’m an electrician and I can tell you the vast majority of older homes in America have over extended 100 amp services that cant safely handle car charging. So you have to go to a 200 amp upgrade, another expense up to $2,500.00 before you spend thousands on chargers and the labor to wire them in. God help the elderly and working poor that need cheap transportation to make a living or simply go shopping or to the doctor.
Anyway you look at it we must get off gasoline. Gasoline cars are dirty. Contribute slowly to making the world inhabitable. Cities stink from the emissions produced by their tailpipes. Are highly costly to maintain. Oil changes, transmission fluid. Transmission. Belts. Brake pads and rotors that have to be replaced. Electric cars use Regen most of the time. Living your brake pads to do very little work throughout the years. Not to mention the gasoline that’s highly subsidized by the government. Would be quite a bit more expensive to fill up your gas tank. Then throw in the billions and billions of dollars we have to spend managing and protecting oil resources around the world. Gasoline cars are the worst old school technology we are trying to keep around. Time to move on and stop fooling ourselves that they’re here to stay. Too many moving parts in an engine to make it our best source of transportation.