The cheapest long-range EV in America costs about $15.30 to charge at home.
Pre-filled with the Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD (85 kWh): 85 kWh usable battery, 3.32 mi/kWh. Change any number to match your car.
The Chevrolet Equinox EV is the value champion of the electric SUV world. It starts from about $34,995 — the lowest price of any long-range EV in America — yet its 85 kWh usable battery delivers an EPA-estimated 319 miles of range. A full home charge at the US average electricity rate costs about $15.30, or roughly 5 cents per mile. No other EV gives you this much range per dollar, and GM's Ultium battery platform has proven reliable across hundreds of thousands of cars.
The Equinox EV works because Chevrolet did not try to reinvent the SUV. It is a normal, comfortable, family-sized crossover with a roomy back seat and a big cargo area, quiet on the highway and easy to live with every day. The front-wheel-drive version is the efficiency pick at 319 miles, and for 2025 Chevrolet added a native NACS port, so it plugs directly into Tesla Superchargers. If your priority is maximum range for minimum money, this is the car the rest of the market is measured against.
| Specification | Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD (85 kWh) |
|---|---|
| Battery (usable) | 85 kWh (usable) |
| EPA-estimated range | 319 miles |
| Efficiency | 3.32 miles per kWh (112 MPGe (EPA)) |
| 10–80% DC fast charge | ~30 minutes |
| Max DC fast-charge power | 150 kW |
| Charge port | NACS (2025+) |
| Starting MSRP | From $34,995 (approx. — verify with dealer) |
Efficiency is the number that matters most for your wallet. At 3.32 miles per kWh, every kilowatt-hour of electricity takes you 3.32 miles. A more efficient car needs fewer kilowatt-hours for the same trip, so it costs less to charge even with the same battery size.
The table below uses the US average home rate of $0.18 per kWh (EIA, August 2026) and the national public fast-charging average of $0.48 per kWh (estimate). The "mixed" column assumes 80% home charging and 20% public charging, which matches how most owners actually charge.
| Annual mileage | Home only | Public only | Mixed (80/20) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8,000 miles | $433.73 | $1,156.63 | $578.31 |
| 12,000 miles | $650.60 | $1,734.94 | $867.47 |
| 15,000 miles | $813.25 | $2,168.67 | $1,084.34 |
Home charging is where the Equinox EV's value really shows. The 11.5 kW onboard charger adds about 34 miles of range per hour on a Level 2 wall connector, and a full charge takes around 7 to 8 hours overnight. Driving 1,000 miles a month at the US average home rate of $0.18 per kWh costs about $54; in Texas ($0.159) that is about $48, in Florida ($0.150) about $45, and in Washington ($0.146) about $44. In California ($0.298) the same month costs roughly $90. Because the battery is big and the car is efficient, most owners charge just two or three times a week and never worry about range.
On DC fast charging the Equinox EV peaks at 150 kW and takes about 30 minutes to go from 10% to 80% — solidly mid-pack. It will add about 77 miles in 10 minutes at peak power, which is enough to make road-trip stops painless even if it cannot match the 18-minute wonders from Hyundai and Kia. With its native NACS port, Superchargers are available at typical Tesla rates of $0.25 to $0.45 per kWh. At the national average public rate of about $0.48 per kWh, a full charge costs around $41, and a 10–80% stop costs about $29. As with every EV, public charging costs roughly two and a half times home charging, so the driveway remains the cheapest fuel station you will ever own.
The gas Equinox is the natural comparison, at about 28 mpg combined. Over 60,000 miles in five years it burns about 2,143 gallons, costing roughly $8,786 at $4.10 a gallon. The Equinox EV uses about 18,100 kWh for the same distance, costing around $4,340 on a typical 80% home / 20% public mix. The five-year fuel saving is about $4,450 — and the EV starts at almost the same price as a well-equipped gas Equinox. That combination is why the Equinox EV is the easiest EV recommendation in America right now: same money up front, half the fuel cost, and far less maintenance.
| 5 years / 60,000 miles | Chevrolet Equinox EV | Chevrolet Equinox (gas) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy used | 18,072 kWh | 2,143 gallons |
| Fuel cost (5 years) | $4,337.35 | $8,785.71 |
| You save with the Chevrolet Equinox EV | $4,448.36 over 5 years | |
EV figure uses a typical 80% home / 20% public mix at the US average home rate ($0.18/kWh) and the $0.48/kWh public average. Gas figure uses 28 mpg combined and $4.10 per gallon (AAA, November 2026). Fuel costs only — purchase price, insurance and maintenance are not included.
Electricity prices vary enormously by state. The table below shows what a full 0–100% home charge of the Chevrolet Equinox EV costs in the ten biggest EV states, at each state's average residential rate (EIA, August 2026).
| State | Rate ($/kWh) | Full home charge |
|---|---|---|
| California | $0.297 | $25.29 |
| Texas | $0.159 | $13.52 |
| Florida | $0.150 | $12.74 |
| Washington | $0.146 | $12.44 |
| New York | $0.286 | $24.35 |
| Arizona | $0.150 | $12.79 |
| Colorado | $0.172 | $14.59 |
| Oregon | $0.159 | $13.53 |
| New Jersey | $0.246 | $20.92 |
| Georgia | $0.159 | $13.52 |
| US average | $0.180 | $15.30 |
A full 0–100% home charge of the Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD (85 kWh) costs about $15.30 at the US average residential rate of $0.18 per kWh (EIA, August 2026). At a public DC fast charger, the same charge costs about $40.80 at the national average of $0.48 per kWh.
About $0.054 per mile on home charging alone, or about $0.072 per mile on a typical mix of 80% home and 20% public charging. Driving 1,000 miles a month costs about $72.29 on that mix, or about $867.47 a year for 12,000 miles.
On a DC fast charger, the Chevrolet Equinox EV goes from 10% to 80% in ~30 minutes at up to 150 kW. At home on a Level 2 charger, a full charge takes roughly 7 to 10 hours overnight, depending on your charger's power.
Yes — for almost every EV owner. Home electricity averages about $0.18 per kWh in the US, while public fast charging averages about $0.48 per kWh. A home Level 2 charger typically costs $500 to $1,500 installed (before any utility rebates), and most owners recover that cost in one to two years of fuel savings.
Among large EV states, Washington is cheapest at about $0.146 per kWh, followed by Florida at $0.150 and Texas at $0.159. California is the most expensive large state at about $0.298 per kWh. Your state can change your monthly charging bill by $40 or more.
It is the cheapest long-range EV to buy and one of the cheapest to charge. A full home charge costs about $15.30 at the US average rate, and 1,000 miles a month costs about $54 at home. Only the smaller Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 cost less per month, and both cost more to buy. For a family SUV, the Equinox EV is the value leader.
Estimates only. Battery capacity is usable capacity (usable); Tesla does not publish usable capacity, so Tesla figures are widely reported estimates. Electricity rates are statewide averages from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (August 2026); your utility, rate plan, time of use, taxes and fees will change your actual bill. Public charging at $0.48/kWh is a national average estimate. EPA range and efficiency are estimates for the FWD (85 kWh) trim; real-world figures vary with speed, temperature, terrain and driving style. MSRP is approximate — verify with the dealer. Rates updated November 2026. Not financial advice.