How many kW is a level 2 charger?
Charging at home is the preferred choice for many electric vehicle (EV) owners, but have you ever wondered how much electricity your home charger actually consumes? Different types of chargers draw varying amounts of power, which directly affects charging speed and electricity costs. In this article, we’ll break down the power ranges of home EV chargers to help you better understand their energy consumption and make more informed decisions about your charging setup.
Key takeaways
- On average, a Level 2 EV charger uses 7,200 watts, or 7.2 kilowatts, of electricity
- It costs an average of $57.90 to charge an electric car for a month and $695 to run for a year
- Over a month, an average EV driver uses 408 kilowatt-hours on car charging.
- The best way to save on electricity is to install solar panels.
How much electricity does an electric car use?
In general, electric vehicles (EVs) consume approximately 7,200 watts (W) of electricity when charging at home, depending on the charging mode and the home charger. Most EV chargers draw 32 to 40 amps and connect to a 240-volt outlet in your home circuit breaker box.
How often you drive your EV has the greatest impact on the amount of power it consumes for long-term charging. On average, Americans drive about 14,000 miles per year, and according to fueleconomy.gov, electric vehicles consume about 0.35 kilowatt hours (kWh) per mile driven. According to the figures below:
14,000 miles per year equates to approximately 38.4 miles per day. Using a Level 2 home EV charger, it consumes approximately 13.4 kWh of electricity per day.
If based on weekly driving, the weekly electricity consumption would be approximately 93.8 kWh.
The average monthly electricity consumption is 406.5 kWh.
Different models of cars use different amounts of electricity and have different kWh per mile ratings. Assuming you drive your car like the average American (14,000 miles per year), you would use the following amounts of electricity over the course of a year while driving a car with different kWh/mile ratings:
How many watts do different electric cars use in a month?
| K Wh Per Mile Usage | Miles Driven Per Year | Monthly K Wh Of Electricity |
| 0.50 kWh/mi | 14,000 | 583 kWh |
| 0.45 kWh/mi | 14,000 | 525 kWh |
| 0.40 kWh/mi | 14,000 | 467 kWh |
| 0.35 kWh/mi (average) | 14,000 | 408 kWh |
| 0.30 kWh/mi | 14,000 | 350 kWh |
| 0.25 kWh/mi | 14,000 | 292 kWh |
| 0.20 kWh/mi | 14,000 | 233 kWh |
For the purposes of this article, we’ll be measuring electric vehicle power consumption primarily in kilowatt hours (kWh). The reason for this is simple: your electric bill is measured in kWh, and you pay your electric bill each month based on the number of kWh used!
How much does it cost to power an electric car charger?
The cost of powering an EV charger depends on a number of factors, including the power of the charger, the amount of electricity it consumes per month, and the average price of electricity in your area. Based on an electric vehicle charger with a power of 7,200 watts (7.2 kW), the monthly electricity consumption is 408 kWh. Below are the monthly and yearly electricity costs based on these figures:
Monthly and yearly costs to run an electric car by state
| State | Average Electricity Rate | Cost Per Month | Cost Per Year |
| Washington | 10.38 ¢ / kWh | $42.35 | $508 |
| Maryland | 14.48 ¢ / kWh | $59.08 | $709 |
| New Jersey | 16.20 ¢ / kWh | $66.10 | $793 |
| Virginia | 12.58 ¢ / kWh | $51.33 | $616 |
| Florida | 12.21 ¢ / kWh | $49.82 | $598 |
| Massachusetts | 22.59 ¢ / kWh | $92.17 | $1,106 |
| Texas | 12.56 ¢ / kWh | $51.24 | $615 |
| New York | 20.59 ¢ / kWh | $84.01 | $1,008 |
| California | 22.00 ¢ / kWh | $89.76 | $1,077 |
| US Average | 14.19 ¢ / kWh | $57.90 | $695 |
Note: average electricity rates are based on October 2021 data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA).
While the initial investment in an electric vehicle charging station may seem high, the long-term operating costs of electric vehicles are much lower, especially when it comes to fuel expenses. The average American spends over $1,500 annually on gasoline, whereas the cost of charging an electric vehicle is typically much lower. As a result, electric vehicles offer significant savings on fuel costs for their owners.
Conclusion
While the initial investment in an electric vehicle charging station may seem high, the long-term operating costs of electric vehicles are much lower, especially in terms of fuel expenses. This makes electric vehicles a cost-effective and environmentally friendly choice for many drivers.