How much does it cost to charge an electric car? Your California travel question answered

Editor’s note: This story was originally published March 11, 2022, and has been updated.

Electric vehicles are being sold at higher rates than gas-powered cars across the U.S., according to the U.S Energy Information Administration.

California recorded more than 1 million new zero-emission registered vehicles through 2021. That, coupled with the ban on the sale of new gas-powered passenger cars and trucks by 2035, has motivated people to start thinking about electric vehicles and the day-to-day routine of owning one.

A reader asked The Bee to answer this question: “how does [charging an electric car] work and what does it cost?”

According to a 2020 Consumer Reports electric vehicle post, while electric vehicle owners spend less on gas and maintenance, they traditionally cost more to purchase than gas-powered cars and might not be ideal for some homes.

So before you consider switching over to an electric car, consider this: the daily miles you drive, if you have regular access to an outlet and if you could afford a possibly high electricity bill.

What are the different types of electric vehicles?

Here are the several types of electric vehicles-based on a driver’s need, according to Drive Clean:

BATTERY ELECTRIC CARS

Battery-electric cars are entirely electric and don’t use fuel. According to Drive Clean, these cars could have more than a 300-mile driving range and don’t require too much maintenance.

PLUG-IN HYBRID ELECTRIC CARS

Plug-in hybrid cars can run on gas or electricity. When a car uses up its electric range (around 20 to 55 miles), it switches to gas and drives on fuel.

FUEL CELL ELECTRIC CARS

Fuel cell electric cars are similar to battery electric cars in that they run on electricity, but the power system is different.

According to Drive Clean, the car’s system is composed of cells that chemically combine hydrogen gas from the car’s tank and oxygen from the air to produce electricity.

Fuel cell cars have a driving range of about 400 miles.

How much does it cost to charge an electric vehicle?

The cost of charging an electronic vehicle depends on the type and location of the charge.

If a level two charger is installed inside a home, costs vary depending on the system, permit fees for the area and the home’s configuration. To offest the cost of installation, you can search for charging incentives and filter by location.

Once a level two charger is installed, the cost will then depends on the car’s battery size and the price of electricity within the area.

According to Drive Clean’s electric car charging page, the average price to charge at home is about 18 cents per kilowatt hour. At this price for example, it would cost about $7 to fully charge a 150-mile range electric Nissan LEAF car.

Many electric cars can be set to charge overnight during off-peak hours to save on electricity costs. SMUD customers in Sacramento County can get a 1.5-cent per kilowatt hour discount for charging their cars between midnight and 6 a.m.

That can drop the cost to as low as 9.5 cents per kilowatt hour, depending on the season, which would charge a Nissan LEAF for less than $4.

CHARGING AT PUBLIC STATIONS

California public charging stations can be free, paid or subscription-based and costs are established by the station’s owners, according to the electric car charging overview page. Motorists pay around 30 cents per kilowatt hour for level two charging and roughly 40 cents for direct current charging.

For example, at a public charging station it would cost around $12 to fully charge a Nissan LEAF car empty to full using level two charging and $16 with direct current charging, according to Direct Clean.

Where is the nearest charging station?

Here are a couple of sites to help you find the nearest charging station:

• Plug Share
• U.S. Department of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy alternative fueling station locator

This story was originally published March 11, 2022 at 5:00 AM with the headline "How much does it cost to charge an electric car? Your California travel question answered."