Home Charging Still Wins
For many EV owners, home charging remains the gold standard. It’s affordable, convenient, and increasingly possible—even for people in apartment buildings. But once you step away from your garage and onto the road, things change fast. Public charging, especially on road trips, can be shockingly expensive.
Fast Isn’t Always Economical
DC fast chargers, often essential for long-distance travel, can cost 1.5x to 2x more than fueling a moderately efficient gas car over the same distance. And slower AC destination chargers aren’t always the budget-friendly alternative they should be. Some of these Level 2 stations—especially the “bring your own cable” kind—charge rates that nearly match Tesla Superchargers, despite offering much slower charging speeds.
Even Tesla’s Losing Its Edge
Tesla’s Supercharger network once had a clear edge in pricing, even for non-Tesla users. But in the past year, Supercharger prices have increased significantly, even as electricity costs have dropped in many areas. The result? One of the most reliable and cost-effective networks is losing its pricing advantage, and fast.
EV Value Isn’t So Simple Anymore
For drivers without access to home charging, the financial case for EVs is getting tougher. Not only are electric vehicles often more expensive to buy up front, but charging them in public can cost as much—or more—than gasoline, especially on long trips. If a full charge costs nearly the same as filling a tank but offers half the range, it challenges the idea of EVs as the cheaper option.
Road Taxes Are Coming Too
As more drivers switch to electric, governments are looking to recoup lost fuel tax revenue. One idea being floated is adding new taxes to EV charging, particularly public charging. While it’s unclear how home charging would be taxed, the pressure is definitely building.
