America's best-selling EV costs about $13.50 to charge at home.
Pre-filled with the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD: 75 kWh usable battery, 3.57 mi/kWh. Change any number to match your car.
The Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD is the best-selling electric vehicle in America, and it is also one of the cheapest to run. Its 75 kWh usable battery and excellent efficiency of 28 kWh per 100 miles mean a full home charge at the US average electricity rate costs about $13.50 — enough for an EPA-estimated 320 miles of driving. That works out to about 5 cents per mile, less than a third of what a comparable gas SUV costs in fuel.
What makes the Model Y so cheap to charge is not just the battery size, it is the efficiency. Tesla's heat pump, aerodynamic shape and software-managed drivetrain squeeze more miles out of every kilowatt-hour than almost any other SUV. The Long Range AWD is the sweet spot of the lineup: it adds all-wheel drive and the bigger battery over the base rear-wheel-drive car, while keeping the same 250 kW Supercharger access that makes road trips painless.
| Specification | Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD |
|---|---|
| Battery (usable) | 75 kWh (usable, est.) |
| EPA-estimated range | 320 miles |
| Efficiency | 3.57 miles per kWh (28 kWh/100 mi (EPA)) |
| 10–80% DC fast charge | ~25 minutes |
| Max DC fast-charge power | 250 kW |
| Charge port | NACS |
| Starting MSRP | From $44,990 (approx. — verify with dealer) |
Efficiency is the number that matters most for your wallet. At 3.57 miles per kWh, every kilowatt-hour of electricity takes you 3.57 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 | $403.36 | $1,075.63 | $537.82 |
| 12,000 miles | $605.04 | $1,613.45 | $806.72 |
| 15,000 miles | $756.30 | $2,016.81 | $1,008.40 |
Home charging is where the Model Y saves you the most money. On a 240V Level 2 home charger the car adds about 44 miles of range per hour at 11.5 kW, so an overnight charge easily covers a full day of driving — and most owners wake up to a full battery every morning. At the US average home rate of about $0.18 per kWh, a typical driver covering 1,000 miles a month pays around $50 a month for home charging. In Washington, where electricity averages just $0.146 per kWh, that drops to about $41. In California, at $0.298 per kWh, the same driving costs about $84 — still far less than gas, but it shows why your state matters so much. If your utility offers an off-peak EV rate, charging overnight can cut the bill further, sometimes by 30% or more.
On the road, the Model Y uses Tesla's Supercharger network, the largest and most reliable fast-charging network in the country. The Long Range AWD peaks at 250 kW and goes from 10% to 80% in about 25 minutes under good conditions — roughly a coffee stop. Supercharger pricing varies by state and time of day, typically $0.25 to $0.45 per kWh for Tesla owners, which puts a full charge at roughly $19 to $34. Non-Tesla fast chargers such as Electrify America usually cost more, around $0.48 per kWh on average, so a full public charge there runs about $36. The lesson is simple: charge at home whenever you can, and use fast chargers for road trips, where the time saved is worth the premium.
Against its closest gas rival, the Toyota RAV4, the Model Y wins the fuel math by a wide margin. A RAV4 averaging 30 mpg needs 2,000 gallons to cover 60,000 miles over five years — about $8,200 at $4.10 a gallon. The Model Y needs about 16,800 kWh for the same distance, costing roughly $4,030 at a typical 80% home / 20% public charging mix. That is a saving of more than $4,100 in fuel alone over five years, before counting the Model Y's lower maintenance (no oil changes, fewer brake jobs thanks to regenerative braking). The Model Y does cost more up front — from about $44,990 — but the fuel saving closes much of that gap within the first few years of ownership.
| 5 years / 60,000 miles | Tesla Model Y | Toyota RAV4 (gas) |
|---|---|---|
| Energy used | 16,807 kWh | 2,000 gallons |
| Fuel cost (5 years) | $4,033.61 | $8,200.00 |
| You save with the Tesla Model Y | $4,166.39 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 30 mpg combined and $4.10 per gallon (AAA, November 2026). Fuel costs only — purchase price, insurance and maintenance are not included.
Electricity prices vary enormously by state. The table below shows what a full 0–100% home charge of the Tesla Model Y costs in the ten biggest EV states, at each state's average residential rate (EIA, August 2026).
| State | Rate ($/kWh) | Full home charge |
|---|---|---|
| California | $0.297 | $22.31 |
| Texas | $0.159 | $11.93 |
| Florida | $0.150 | $11.24 |
| Washington | $0.146 | $10.97 |
| New York | $0.286 | $21.49 |
| Arizona | $0.150 | $11.29 |
| Colorado | $0.172 | $12.88 |
| Oregon | $0.159 | $11.94 |
| New Jersey | $0.246 | $18.46 |
| Georgia | $0.159 | $11.93 |
| US average | $0.180 | $13.50 |
A full 0–100% home charge of the Tesla Model Y Long Range AWD costs about $13.50 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 $36.00 at the national average of $0.48 per kWh.
About $0.050 per mile on home charging alone, or about $0.067 per mile on a typical mix of 80% home and 20% public charging. Driving 1,000 miles a month costs about $67.23 on that mix, or about $806.72 a year for 12,000 miles.
On a DC fast charger, the Tesla Model Y goes from 10% to 80% in ~25 minutes at up to 250 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.
Yes — it is one of the cheapest electric SUVs to charge. At 28 kWh per 100 miles it uses less electricity per mile than the Ford Mustang Mach-E, Chevrolet Equinox EV and Kia EV9, so the same 1,000 miles a month costs about $50 at home versus $58–$70 for those rivals. Only the smaller and lighter Tesla Model 3 and Hyundai Ioniq 6 beat it on efficiency.
Estimates only. Battery capacity is usable capacity (usable, est.); 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 Long Range AWD 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.