The short answer: A 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD costs about $8.18 per 100 miles to charge at home in California, and $26.75 for the energy to drive its 327-mile EPA range. That uses the August 2026 residential average of 29.75¢/kWh, down from 30.92¢/kWh in August 2025 and about 64% above the U.S. residential average of 18.16¢/kWh. The same 100 miles cost about $19.90 in a 30-mpg gas SUV at AAA’s California average of $5.971 a gallon (October 28, 2026), and about $14.85 at a public DC fast charger.
EV vs gas in California: cost per 100 miles
California’s regular gas averaged $5.971 a gallon on October 28, 2026, the most expensive among the 50 states and the District (AAA). Electricity in California is the 4th-highest residential average among the 50 states and the District of Columbia.
| How you fuel | Math | Per 100 mi | 12,000 mi/yr | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, charged at home | 29.75¢/kWh × 27.50 kWh | $8.18 | $982 | EPA · EIA |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD, public DC fast | $0.540/kWh × 27.50 kWh | $14.85 | $1,782 | Paren, U.S. average |
| 2026 Toyota RAV4 (2.5 L hybrid, 2WD) | $5.971/gal ÷ 43 mpg | $13.89 | $1,666 | EPA · AAA |
| 2026 Honda CR-V FWD (1.5 L turbo, gas) | $5.971/gal ÷ 30 mpg | $19.90 | $2,388 | EPA · AAA |
- Home charging vs the gas SUV: about $1,407 a year less at 12,000 miles. Home charging stays cheaper until electricity reaches about 72.37¢/kWh, 2.4× the state average.
- Home charging vs the hybrid: home charging is about $685 a year cheaper. The break-even against the hybrid is 50.49¢/kWh.
- Public fast charging vs gas: relying on DC fast charging costs less than the gas SUV at these prices ($14.85 vs $19.90 per 100 miles). The savings come from charging at home.
Checked on the Model Y: 27.50 kWh/100 mi × $0.2975/kWh = 8.1813, which rounds to $8.18 per 100 miles. The gas SUV is 100 ÷ 30 mpg × $5.971 = 19.9020, or $19.90. The break-even electricity price is $19.90 ÷ 27.50 kWh = 72.37¢ per kWh.
Utility EV rates in California
The Alternative Fuels Data Center lists 18 utilities in California with a residential EV time-of-use rate or managed-charging program: Alameda Municipal Power, Anaheim Public Utilities, Azusa Light & Water, Bear Valley Electric Service, Burbank Water & Power, Colton Public Utilities, and 12 more. AFDC records the program type, not the price, so check the tariff before you assume an off-peak rate.
- Alameda Municipal Power: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Anaheim Public Utilities: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Azusa Light & Water: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Bear Valley Electric Service: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Burbank Water & Power: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Colton Public Utilities: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Glendale Public Service Department: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Glendale Water and Power: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Liberty Utilities: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- MCE: EV time-of-use rate and managed-charging program. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Pacific Gas and Electric: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Pacific Power: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Riverside Public Utilities Department: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Sacramento Municipal Utility District: EV time-of-use rate and managed-charging program. AFDC record · utility EV page
- San Diego Gas & Electric: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Sonoma Clean Power: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Southern California Edison: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
- Southern California Public Power Authority: EV time-of-use rate. AFDC record · utility EV page
Why it matters: the state average above blends every rate plan. An overnight EV rate is usually the cheapest power a utility sells, and the car can be scheduled to charge only in that window. Put the off-peak price from your tariff into the calculator to see the difference.
Public charging in California
The AFDC counted 69,626 public charging ports at 20,373 locations in California on October 28, 2026: 49,680 Level 2 and 19,650 DC fast, plus 284 Level 1. AFDC also counts about 1,843,100 battery-electric vehicles registered in California through 2025 (4.8% of light-duty registrations). That is about 26.5 EVs per public port, against 21.7 nationally, the 8th-most EVs per port among the 50 states and the District. The two counts are from different dates, so treat the ratio as a rough measure of how busy public charging is.
Paren’s Q3 2026 report does not state a California fast-charging average, so this page uses its U.S. average of $0.540 per kWh (off-peak $0.438, peak $0.637). Tesla Supercharger members averaged $0.396 and non-members $0.569 nationally.
Fast chargers usually bill the energy delivered to the car, which is less than the EPA wall figure. A rough estimate of delivered energy, the wall figure × 0.894 (mean Level 2 AC efficiency from Sears, Roberts, and Glitman, 2014, not a DC fast measurement), puts the Model Y at about $13.28 per 100 miles at $0.540/kWh. Per-minute billing and idle fees are not modeled.
Cost to charge five common EVs in California
| Vehicle | EPA kWh/100 mi | EPA range | Home / 100 mi | Home full charge | Public DC / 100 mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD | 27.50 | 327 mi | $8.18 | $26.75 | $14.85 |
| 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD | 24.30 | 321 mi | $7.23 | $23.21 | $13.12 |
| 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD | 31.08 | 319 mi | $9.25 | $29.50 | $16.78 |
| 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD | 30.00 | 318 mi | $8.93 | $28.38 | $16.20 |
| 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD | 31.44 | 260 mi | $9.35 | $24.32 | $16.98 |
Swipe the table sideways on a small screen.
Where California sits
California is the 4th-highest residential average among the 50 states and the District of Columbia for August 2026, at 29.75¢/kWh. The U.S. average in the same table is 18.16¢/kWh. California is in the Pacific Contiguous census division.
States next to California on price
Also in Pacific Contiguous
All 50 states and D.C., ranked
Use the rate on your bill
The calculator opens with California’s August 2026 average and the 2026 Model Y Long Range AWD selected. Replace the rate with the all-in energy price on your bill, or your off-peak EV rate, before you treat the result as yours.
Open the calculator at 29.75¢/kWh
Related: what a Level 2 charger costs to install in California, home charger rebates in California, the extra EV registration fee in California, whether your panel can take a Level 2 circuit, home charger comparison, and all free EV tools.
Home hardware, if you are pricing a Level 2 charger. The ChargePoint Home Flex is the adjustable 16–50A unit covered in the charger guide and the Home Flex review. Amazon listing.
Check Home Flex on AmazonFAQ: charging an EV in California
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in California?
At the EIA August 2026 average residential price of 29.75¢ per kWh, a 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD costs about $8.18 per 100 miles and $26.75 for the wall energy to drive its 327-mile EPA range. Across the five EVs on this page the home cost is $7.23 to $9.35 per 100 miles. EPA consumption is measured at the wall, so charging losses are already included.
Is charging an EV cheaper than buying gas in California?
At home, yes, against a gas SUV. With AAA’s California average of $5.971 a gallon for regular on October 28, 2026, a 2026 Honda CR-V FWD (30 mpg EPA combined) costs about $19.90 per 100 miles, versus $8.18 for the Model Y charged at the August 2026 residential average. A 2026 Toyota RAV4 hybrid (43 mpg) costs about $13.89, so home charging is also cheaper than that hybrid in California. Home charging stays cheaper than the gas SUV until electricity reaches about 72.37¢ per kWh.
Is public DC fast charging more expensive than gas in California?
For the Model Y at Paren’s Q3 2026 U.S. average of $0.540 per kWh, 100 miles of EPA wall energy costs about $14.85. That is less than the $19.90 the gas SUV spends on the same miles at the AAA average, and $6.67 more than charging at home. Prices at a given station vary, and some stations bill by the minute.
Do California utilities offer EV charging rates?
The Alternative Fuels Data Center lists 18 utilities in California with a residential EV time-of-use rate or managed-charging program: Alameda Municipal Power, Anaheim Public Utilities, Azusa Light & Water, Bear Valley Electric Service, Burbank Water & Power, Colton Public Utilities, and 12 more. AFDC records the program type, not the price, so check the tariff before you assume an off-peak rate.
How many public EV chargers are there in California?
The AFDC station count for October 28, 2026 shows 20,373 public charging locations in California with 69,626 ports: 49,680 Level 2 and 19,650 DC fast, plus 284 Level 1. AFDC counts about 1,843,100 battery-electric vehicles registered there through 2025, or about 26.5 EVs per public port.
Is 29.75¢ per kWh the rate on my California electric bill?
No. It is the statewide average residential retail price for August 2026 from EIA Table 5.6.A, and EIA marks 2026 values as preliminary. A time-of-use period, rider, tax, or fixed fee can move your all-in price. Open the VoltEdge charging-cost calculator and replace the prefilled average with the energy rate on your bill.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, Table 5.6.A. Average Price of Electricity to Ultimate Customers by End-Use Sector, by State, August 2026 and 2025 (Cents per Kilowatthour). Retrieved 2026-10-24. Workbook: table_5_06_a.xlsx. EIA labels the 2026 values in this table as preliminary estimates based on a cutoff model sample from Form EIA-861M (formerly EIA-826). Values for 2025 are final. These are state or district-wide residential averages, not a household tariff.
- AAA Gas Prices, state averages (regular unleaded), October 28, 2026.
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD (record 49744).
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Tesla Model 3 Standard RWD (record 50251).
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD (record 49953).
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD (record 49960).
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Ford Mustang Mach-E RWD (record 50204).
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Honda CR-V FWD (1.5 L turbo, gas) (record 49352).
- fueleconomy.gov: 2026 Toyota RAV4 (2.5 L hybrid, 2WD) (record 50285).
- Paren, US EV Fast Charging — Q3 2026, October 13, 2026. Retrieved 2026-10-24.
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, Alternative Fueling Station Counts by State, public and available, updated October 28, 2026.
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, Vehicle Registration Counts by State, 2025. Approximate light-duty registrations through 2025, derived by the National Laboratory of the Rockies from Experian data and rounded to the nearest 100. EV means battery-electric; plug-in hybrids are counted separately. The EV share is battery-electric vehicles divided by the total of all fuel types in the AFDC table.
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, utility incentive records (Laws and Incentives database), retrieved 2026-10-28.
- Justine Sears, David Roberts, and Karen Glitman, “A comparison of electric vehicle Level 1 and Level 2 charging efficiency,” 2014 IEEE Conference on Technologies for Sustainability (SusTech). Across 115 usable charges on two Nissan Leafs and two Chevrolet Volts in Vermont (June–November 2013), mean Level 2 efficiency was 89.4% and mean Level 1 efficiency was 83.8%.