Cheap and Expensive States for EV Charging
Who doesn’t love electric vehicles? They’re eco-friendly, save money, and drive like a dream. But none of that matters if your state doesn’t have good charging options. Scroll through our list to find out if your state is cheap or expensive for EV charging, according to AAA.
Kansas - Cheap
Good news, Kansans! Kansas is currently the cheapest state to charge your EV in. The average cost per kWh is $0.26, and there are more than 650 chargers, too, so there’s plenty to go around. Despite its rurality, the Kansan EV market is growing, too.
West Virginia - Expensive
By contrast, West Virginia is the most expensive state for EV charging. Even worse, it only has 129 chargers, which is nothing considering there are more than 1,800 West Virginian EV drivers. When they can get to a charger, they pay $0.53 per kWh.
Missouri - Cheap
Missouri currently ranks as the seventh most affordable state, so it’s no wonder that it’s also a super cheap place to charge your EV. You can confidently drive across this diverse state and pay just $0.28 per kWh at over 1,800 chargers.
Alaska - Expensive
Alaska is the largest state, so it must cater to drivers, right? Wrong! Not EV drivers, anyway. It’s the second-most expensive state to charge up in, costing $0.51 per kWh, and there are only 53 chargers because there’s a lack of good charging infrastructure.
Maryland - Cheap
If you live in Maryland, you’ll know that it is trying to encourage more people to buy EVs, and it’s doing a pretty good job so far. It’s currently the third-cheapest state for EV charging at $0.28 per kWh, with 2868 charging stations.
Hawaii - Expensive
Hawaii is a gorgeous state, and to keep it looking that way, the government is eager to increase EV ownership. However, there are several drawbacks. The first is how pricey it is to charge up an EV ($0.47 per kWh), and the second is the fact that there are fewer than 250 chargers.
Utah - Cheap
Utah is often a mixed bag in terms of prices. But for EV charging, it’s very cheap, and you should expect to pay $0.29 per kWh. What’s more, Utah is very EV-friendly, so there are charging points across the state.
Tennessee - Expensive
We appreciate all the effort that Tennessee is going to to promote EV usage, but it’s still one of the most expensive states to charge one in. For the 958 chargers in Tennessee, you’ll pay $0.46 per kWh, which is towards the pricier end of Level 2 charging.
Nebraska - Cheap
At just $0.30 per kWh of EV charging, we’d definitely recommend buying an electric car if you live in Nebraska. But you’d be better off installing a charging port at home because there are very limited options for charging elsewhere.
Montana - Expensive
If you’re thinking of getting an EV in Montana, think again! It’s one of the most expensive places to charge one, costing $0.49 per kWh, and also has hardly any charging points. There are fewer than 75 chargers, despite Montana’s sheer size.
Delaware - Cheap
Delaware may not be a leading state for EVs just yet, but it’s working to increase its charging infrastructure and make choosing electric more convenient. We can’t complain about the low charging price either, which is currently $0.31.
South Carolina - Expensive
If you like affordable prices, we’d usually recommend South Carolina, but for EV charging, forget it! Sadly, the Palmetto State charges $0.44 per kWh to charge your car, and many drivers find it difficult to complete long journeys because chargers are so scarce.
North Carolina - Cheap
Next up on the cheap states list, we’ve got South Carolina’s sister state, which is at the opposite end of the spectrum. North Carolina only charges $0.33 per kWh, on top of having over 2,000 chargers. In this sibling competition, it’s a northern win!
New Hampshire - Expensive
New Hampshire has been described as an “EV charging desert” because of its sparse charging points. And the ones that it does have are very expensive, costing around $0.43 per kWh, so it’s definitely not the most EV-friendly state.
Colorado - Cheap
If you’ve been planning a big cross-state trip for your EV, do it in Colorado! Not only are there almost 2,500 charging points, but you’ll only pay $0.33 per kWh. Colorado is stunning, and how better to explore it than in an eco-friendly car?
Wisconsin - Expensive
Wisconsin is another state currently working to increase EV charging options, but it lacks enough appropriate infrastructure. To add insult to injury, it’s also among the most expensive states to charge up an EV in, costing $0.43 per kWh.
Iowa - Cheap
Iowa is a very underrated state, but any EV driver will appreciate it. You can get a good charge for just $0.34 per kWh at any of the 751 chargers available across the state. Iowa is also pioneering many fast-charging options.
Arkansas - Expensive
We’re shocked to rank Arkansas among the 25 most expensive states to charge up an EV because it’s otherwise the most affordable state to live in. But you’ll pay $0.43 per kWh of charge, and chargers aren’t too plentiful either.
South Dakota - Cheap
Many things about South Dakota are cheaper than the national average, including its EV charging! South Dakotans enjoy the excellent low price of $0.34 per kWh. It’s just a shame that there are only 78 stations available for them.
North Dakota - Expensive
Like the Carolinas, the twin Dakota states are also exact opposites on the cheap-to-expensive spectrum. North Dakota is more expensive overall, and its EV charging costs $0.42 per kWh. Funnily enough, it also has fewer than 80 charging points.
Virginia - Cheap
What do they say about Virginia? It’s for lovers, and we’re definitely enamored with its EV charging options. It has almost 2,000 charging points, and Virginians only pay $0.34 per kWh, which is well below the national average.
Kentucky - Expensive
Kentucky is another underrated but gorgeous state to drive through. However, if you drive an EV, beware of the hidden costs. Many drivers are disappointed to discover that Kentucky charges an above-average $0.42 per kWh and only has 412 charging points.
Massachusetts - Cheap
If there’s one state that knows its locals, it’s Massachusetts! It has plenty of traffic, so there are ‘refueling’ options for every type of vehicle. At any of the 5,058 charging points across the state, you will pay a comfortable $0.34 per kWh.
Louisiana - Expensive
Prices often fluctuate in Louisiana, but EV charging costs have remained stubbornly stuck at $0.42 per kWh. This is towards the higher end of the spectrum for Level 2 charging, and there aren’t that many chargers for locals to count on, either.
Washington - Cheap
It’s a big state, so we’re surprised to see Washington fall on the ‘cheap’ side of our list. Its numbers are also very satisfying to look at, with 3,434 charging points available, each charging $0.34 per kWh!
Arizona - Expensive
Despite being a relatively affordable state to live in, Arizona is expensive when it’s time to charge up your EV. Like several other pricey states, Arizona charges drivers $0.42 per kWh. But we can’t fault its efforts to increase the number of charging points.
Vermont - Cheap
Some people find Vermont cheap, others find it expensive, but its EV charging options are definitely on the affordable side. You can expect to pay $0.35 per kWh, with lots of good charging stations to choose from across Vermont.
Nevada - Expensive
Nevada has been slowly but surely growing its number of charging stations, and there are now over 500. The only downside is that it’s among the more expensive states to charge an EV in, costing $0.41 per kWh, so be sure to factor in those extra costs.
Rhode Island - Cheap
Rhode Island is known for its incredible natural beauty, so it’s definitely best experienced in the most eco-friendly car available. Luckily for EV drivers, it’s another state with very reasonable charging prices. For just $0.35 per kWh, you can get a full charge.
Alabama - Expensive
Unfortunately for those who love to drive everywhere, you’ll have to explore many of Alabama’s most beautiful spots on foot. But that’s not such a problem when you consider that it costs just over $0.40 per kWh to charge up your EV!
New York - Cheap
Yes, you read that right! Despite having some of the largest living costs in the entire US, New York falls on the cheaper side for EV charging. It costs $0.35 per kWh, which is very reasonable for Level 2 charging, and there are stations everywhere.
Oklahoma - Expensive
Oklahoma has faced several challenges when it comes to creating efficient EV charging options. It only has 222 charging points, many of them have been reported as non-functional, and the ones that work cost an expensive $0.40 per kWh.
New Mexico - Cheap
You can easily drive for hours in New Mexico, so long as you pass several of the few charging stations available! But one good thing is how cheap they are, costing just $0.35 per kWh, so you can charge away in peace.
Ohio - Expensive
Ohio is one state that frustrates many EV drivers because its stations aren’t suitable for many electric cars. And if that wasn’t enough, they’re also on the expensive side, costing $0.40 per kWh. However, we hope to see some changes in the future.
Texas - Cheap
Texas is known for its bad traffic, so we’re glad to see that its government is at least looking after the EV drivers. For $0.36 per kWh, you can refill your battery, and there are plenty of opportunities to charge up in major cities like Austin and Houston.
Idaho - Expensive
Idaho is a middling state; not too pricey, but not cheap, either. For EV drivers, however, it’s on the more expensive side, costing the same $0.40 per kWh as many of the other more costly states. We just wish there were more charging points around.
Pennsylvania - Cheap
Pennsylvania may be a cheaper state, charging $0.36 per kWh at charging points, but that doesn’t make it an overall cheap state for EV ownership. The state has recently implemented a ‘Road User Charge’, which charges EV drivers an additional $200 each year!
Oregon - Expensive
If you live in Oregon, you’re probably not surprised to see it on the expensive side. Prices have been slowly rising in general, including the cost of EV maintenance. If you want to use one of 1,827 chargers in Oregon, you’ll pay $0.39 per kWh.
Connecticut - Cheap
If there’s one thing Connecticut is doing right, it’s environmentalism! Among other eco-friendly moves, Connecticut is eager to get more electric cars on the road, and having cheap charging costs (at a respectable $0.37 per kWh) is definitely helping.
Wyoming - Expensive
Prices vary across Wyoming depending on which city you live in, but all residents will agree that EV charging options are a little overpriced. At $0.38, it falls into the ‘most expensive’ category, but we’re more shocked that it has just 35 chargers!
Indiana - Cheap
Indiana sometimes gets a bad rep, but we’re here to defend the state. It has well-maintained roads and excellent traffic control, and plenty of respect for EVs. There are more than 900 chargers available to use, costing $0.37 per kWh each.
Florida - Expensive
EVs can be charged using solar energy, so we’re surprised that the Sunshine State isn’t more enthusiastic about them. Currently, the price of charging is stuck at $0.39 per kWh, which quickly adds up. But we can’t fault its high number of charging options.
Michigan - Cheap
Michigan is routinely flagged as having terrible air pollution, so hopefully, its cheap EV charging costs will encourage more residents to switch to electric. If they do, they’ll join current EV drivers in paying $0.37 per kWh when charging their cars.
New Jersey - Expensive
While New Jersey has some more affordable areas, most locals would agree that it’s not as cheap as it used to be. Among other costs of living, EV charging is on the more expensive side and currently costs $0.38 per kWh.
California - Cheap
We’ve got to hand it to California! This state certainly caters to its EV-owning population. Not only is it one of the cheapest 25 states to charge up an EV, priced at $0.38 per kWh, but it also has the most chargers in the country. There’s a whopping 21,783!
Mississippi - Expensive
Mississippi is another of the cheapest states to live in unless you own an EV! Although it’s among the least expensive states, and costs around $0.38 per kWh. What would put us off more is the severe lack of charging points.
Maine - Cheap
Here’s where the list starts to overlap. At one of Maine’s 487 charging stations, you’d pay around $0.38 per kWh, too. However, the full sum is $0.376, which technically makes it one of the cheapest states for charging. Maine also has a lot of love for EVs.
Illinois - Expensive
Illinois is a top manufacturer of EVs and hopes to have 1 million on its roads by 2030, so we’re more forgiving of its pricier charging costs. Residents and visitors currently pay $0.38 per kWh, though this could decrease in the future.
Georgia - Cheap
With a full sum of $0.378 per kWh, which would round up to $0.38, Georgia is the 25th state to make it onto the ‘cheapest’ side of the list. We’d also like to praise its hard work to provide more EV-friendly architecture for charging.
Minnesota - Expensive
Finally, Minnesota rounds off the list as the 25th most expensive state. It also has an actual cost of $0.378, so it’s technically tied with Georgia; however, it has far fewer chargers, and it has also been less swift about encouraging EV purchases.
