Guide to EV Charging Stations in 2024: Powering Your Electric Future

If you’re considering an electric vehicle or already own one, you’ve probably wondered about the real costs of keeping it charged at EV charging stations. As EV adoption grows, understanding these costs becomes crucial for both your wallet and the environment. That’s why we’ve put together this comprehensive guide to EV charging costs, based on real-world experience right here in Santa Clara County, California.

What you’ll learn:

• The actual costs of charging at home with PG&E
• Price comparisons for Electrify America, EVGo, ChargePoint, and Tesla charging networks
• Pros and cons of each charging option
• Real-life insights from three different EV models

Our testing ground? A family’s journey through three popular EVs:

1. 2017 Volkswagen e-Golf
2. 2022 Hyundai IONIQ 5
3. 2023 Tesla Model 3

We’ve charged these vehicles at home and at various public stations, giving us a unique perspective on the costs and conveniences of each option. Whether you’re a tech enthusiast, a budget-conscious driver, or simply curious about the EV lifestyle, this guide will help you navigate the world of electric vehicle charging.

By the end of this article, you’ll have a clear understanding of:

• How much it really costs to charge an EV at home vs. public stations?
• Potential hidden costs and how to avoid them.
• Tips for maximizing your EV’s efficiency and minimizing charging costs.

Ready to plug in and power up your EV knowledge? Let’s dive into the numbers and see how different charging options stack up in the real world.

Costs of EV Charging Stations at Home with PG&E

Peak Hours:

• Monday – Sunday: 3 PM – 7 PM

Part-Peak Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 7 AM – 3 PM, 7 PM – 11 PM

Off-Peak Hours:

• Monday – Friday: 11 PM – 7 AM
• Weekends: All hours outside of Peak and Part-Peak hours

This information is from Santa Clara County PG&E’s August 2024 data.

Costs of EV Charging Stations at Electrify America Charging Network

Charging Speed

• Available speeds: Level 2 (7 kW), 150 kW, 350 kW (depend on location)
• Real-world speeds: Actual charging speeds often fall below maximum capacity, especially at 350 kW stations.
• Average speed: Personal experience suggests 50-80 kW at 350 kW stations.

Reliability

• Inaccurate station status: App often displays incorrect availability.
• Malfunctioning stations: Frequent instances of broken or non-functional chargers.
• Customer support: Time-consuming troubleshooting with Electrify America customer support.

Costs

• Pass: Free membership with standard rates.
• Pass+: $7 monthly fee, offering a 25% discount on charging rates.

Pricing varies by location.

According to September 2024 data from the Electrify America app, most stations charge $0.56/kWh for guest and Pass members, while Pass+ members pay $0.42/kWh.

Costs of EV Charging Stations at EVGo Charging Network

Charging Speed

• Available speeds: 50kW, 100kW, 200 kW, 350 kW (depend on location)
• Real-world speeds: Actual charging speeds often fall below maximum capacity, especially at 350 kW stations.

Reliability

• Inaccurate station status: App often displays incorrect availability.
• Malfunctioning stations: Frequent instances of broken or non-functional chargers.
• Customer support: I don’t use EV Go enough to have any experience with their customer support.

EVgo Pricing in the Bay Area, California (50 kWh Example)

Given:

• Average rate: $0.59/kWh
• Membership plans:
  • Pay As You Go: $0/month, $0.99 session fee
  • EVgo Basic: $0.99/month, no session fees (8% discount)
  • EVgo Plus: $6.99/month, no session fees (15% discount)
  • EVgo PlusMax: $12.99/month, no session fees (25% discount)

Calculations:

1. Pay As You Go:

• Cost per kWh: $0.59/kWh
• Session fee: $0.99/session
• Total cost: ($0.59/kWh * 50 kWh) + $0.99 = $30.49

2. EVgo Basic (8% discount):

• Monthly fee: $0.99
• Discounted rate: $0.59/kWh * 0.92 = $0.5428/kWh
• Total cost: ($0.5428/kWh * 50 kWh) + $0.99 = $28.03

3. EVgo Plus (15% discount):

• Monthly fee: $6.99
• Discounted rate: $0.59/kWh * 0.85 = $0.5015/kWh
• Total cost: ($0.5015/kWh * 50 kWh) + $6.99 = $26.075

4. EVgo PlusMax (25% discount):

• Monthly fee: $12.99
• Discounted rate: $0.59/kWh * 0.75 = $0.4425/kWh
• Total cost: ($0.4425/kWh * 50 kWh) + $12.99 = $34.025

Costs of EV Charging Stations at ChargePoint Charging Network

Charging Speed

• Available speeds: Level 1, Level 2 Level 3 (up to 62.5 kW) varies depending on location.
• Real-world speeds: Actual charging speeds often fall below maximum capacity, especially at higher speeds.
• Constant speed: use level 1 or 2 charging.
  

Reliability

• Inaccurate station status: App rarely displays incorrect availability.
• Malfunctioning stations: Frequent instances of broken or non-functional chargers.
• Customer support: Fortunately, I have not needed to call customer support.

Costs

• Independent ownership: Station owners set their own prices.
• Price variation: Significant differences between stations.

Pricing Types

• Per kilowatt-hour (kWh): Common pricing method.
• Per hour: Hourly rate for charging.
• Flat fee: Fixed fee for charging, regardless of duration or usage.
• Minimum/maximum fee: Set minimum or maximum charges.
• Overnight/idle fee: Additional fees for extended charging periods.
• Discounted pricing: Some stations offer reduced rates.

According to September 2024 data from the ChargePoint app, FREE is the lowest price in the Bay Area, California.

Costs of EV Charging Stations at PowerFlex Charging Network

Charging Speed

• Available speeds: Level 1, Level 2 (6.7 kW), Level 3 (up to 100 kW) varies depending on location.
• Real-world speeds: Actual charging speeds often fall below maximum capacity, especially at higher speeds.
• Constant speed: use level 2 charging.
  

Reliability

• Inaccurate station status: App rarely displays incorrect availability.
• Malfunctioning stations: Frequent instances of broken or non-functional chargers.
• Customer support: Fortunately, I have not needed to call customer support.

Costs

• Independent ownership: Station owners set their own prices.
• Price variation: Significant differences between stations.

Pricing Types

• Per kilowatt-hour (kWh): Common pricing method.
• Per hour: Hourly rate for charging.
• Flat fee: Fixed fee for charging, regardless of duration or usage.
• Minimum/maximum fee: Set minimum or maximum charges.
• Overnight/idle fee: Additional fees for extended charging periods.
• Discounted pricing: Some stations offer reduced rates.

According to September 2024 data from the PowerFlex app, FREE is the lowest price in the Bay Area, California.

Costs of EV Charging Stations at Tesla Charging Network

Charging Speed

• Available speeds: 72, kW, 150kW, 250kW (depending on location)
• Real-world speeds: Actual charging speeds will fluctuate depending the state of the battery and other factors.

Reliability

• Inaccurate station status: The Tesla app rarely displays incorrect availability. Most more reliable than other charging networks.
• Malfunctioning stations: Non-functional chargers are common at all charging stations. Fortunately, Tesla apps are accurate in displaying this information the majority of the time.
• Customer support: I have not yet needed to call Tesla charging support in my first year of owning a Tesla.

Costs

• Per kilowatt-hour (kWh): Most common method.
• Per minute: Charging based on time, often with tiered rates for different power levels.
• Time-of-use: Prices vary based on the time of day.

According to September 2024 data from the Tesla app, $0.47/kWh is the average price in the Bay Area, California.

Pros and Cons of Different EV Charging Options

As an EV owner who drives about 100 miles six days a week, I’ve had plenty of experience with various charging options. Let me share my personal take on charging at home and using different networks like Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint, and Tesla Superchargers.

Charging at Home: Convenience Comes at a Price

There’s no beating the convenience of home charging. I just plug in when I get home, and my car’s ready to go in the morning. But here’s the catch – peak hour rates can be a real wallet-drainer. Off-peak rates are better, but still not the cheapest option out there. Still, for sheer convenience, home charging takes the cake.

Electrify America: A Mixed Bag of Experiences

When we got our Hyundai Ioniq 5 in 2022, we scored two years of free charging with Electrify America. Awesome, right? Well, sort of. The savings were great, but man, those stations can get packed!The good:

• Lots of locations
• Sometimes you hit the jackpot with a super-fast charger

The not-so-good:

• That app? Unreliable as heck. Nothing worse than driving to a station the app says is available, only to find it’s not working.
• Charging speeds can be a real gamble

My take? If you’ve got a free membership, use it. Otherwise, it’s middle-of-the-road in terms of pricing and reliability.

EVgo: My Least Favorite Option

I’ll be honest, I’ve used EVgo the least. Their monthly membership structure just doesn’t jive with me. It might work for folks without home charging, but those rates? Yikes. Based on what I’ve read, reliability seems on par with other networks (read: not great), but I can’t speak from much personal experience here.

Chargepoint: Second Place

ChargePoint is a close second, and here’s why:

1. It’s the most convenient option for my wife.
2. There’s a station at my wife’s work.
3. My wife pays $0.25/kWh at work.

PowerFlex: The Pleasant Surprise

PowerFlex has become my go-to, and here’s why:

1. It’s the most convenient option for me.
2. There’s a station at my workplace (I teach at a community college).
3. It has one of the cheapest option for me.

Get this – I pay $0.12/kWh at work compared to $0.33/kWh at home during off-peak hours. For me, PowerFlex is the perfect combo of low prices and convenience.

Tesla Superchargers: The Gold Standard of Reliability

I picked up a Tesla Model 3 in late 2023, and I’ve got to say, their Supercharger network is impressive. In my experience, it’s the most reliable of the bunch. The app actually shows accurate availability info – a refreshing change from some other networks (looking at you, Electrify America). One thing to note – charging speed varies depending on your battery’s state of charge. It starts fast and slows down as you fill up, but that’s true for all EVs.I’ve taken my Tesla on road trips from the Bay Area to Los Angeles and Las Vegas, and finding a Supercharger has never been an issue.

VW E-Golf

My Journey with the Volkswagen e-Golf: A Real-Life EV Experience

I jumped into the EV world back in 2018 with a Volkswagen e-Golf, and boy, what a ride it’s been! A buddy of mine was leasing a 2016 e-Golf and couldn’t stop raving about it. His daily 50-mile commute was a breeze, but I needed something that could handle my hefty 100-mile daily drive.

Lucky for me, our local VW dealership was having a clearance sale on 2017 e-Golfs. I snagged one for just under $20,000 after incentives – felt like I’d won the lottery! This 2017 model came with a beefier 35 kWh battery, promising about 120 miles on a full charge. Perfect for my needs.

At the time, gas was flirting with $4 a gallon, so switching from my trusty 2004 Toyota Matrix (which got about 30-35 mpg) to the e-Golf was a no-brainer for my wallet. I didn’t crunch the exact numbers, but the savings were obvious every time I plugged in instead of filling up.

Now, I won’t lie – after years of daily 100-mile round trips, my e-Golf’s range has dipped to just under 100 miles on a full charge. But you know what? I’m still thrilled with this little car. It’s been reliable, fun to drive, and has saved me a ton on fuel and maintenance.

Last year, I upgraded to a Tesla Model 3 for my long commute, but I couldn’t bear to part with the e-Golf. It’s found a new life with my dad, who rarely drives. He charges it maybe once every two weeks using just a regular wall outlet. Talk about efficient!

While I love my Tesla for long trips, there’s still a special place in my heart for that e-Golf. It was my gateway to EVs, proving that electric cars can be practical, economical, and just plain enjoyable to drive.

2022 Ioniq 5

Our Family’s Journey from Prius to Ioniq 5: A Real-Life EV Experience

After 12 years and nearly 500,000 miles with our trusty 2010 Toyota Prius, it was time for a change. My wife’s 80-90 mile daily commute, plus weekend trips for the kids’ activities, had pushed our hybrid workhorse to its limits. When the Prius finally gave up the ghost with a stubborn gasket leak (believe me, I tried everything to fix it myself), we knew it was time to go full electric.

Enter the 2022 Hyundai Ioniq 5. With its promise of over 300 miles on a full charge, it seemed perfect for our high-mileage lifestyle. Let me tell you, scoring one of these in early 2022 felt like winning the lottery – they were flying off the lots!

The cherry on top? Two years of free charging with Electrify America. For a family that racks up miles like we do, this was a game-changer.

Now, I’ve always appreciated Hyundai’s warranties, but I’ve got to be honest – their service departments can test your patience. Whether we’re at the San Jose or Gilroy dealership, getting anything fixed feels like it takes an eternity. It’s the one downside in our Ioniq 5 experience.

But when this car is running smoothly (which, thankfully, is most of the time), it’s a dream. My wife, the primary driver, absolutely loves it. And as a dad of three grown boys, I can’t say enough about the backseat space. Seeing my sons comfortable in the back, with actual legroom, is a small miracle after years of cramped car rides.

Transitioning from our reliable Prius to the Ioniq 5 has been an adventure, with its share of ups and downs. But overall, it’s been a positive shift into the world of EVs for our always-on-the-go family.

Tesla Model 3

My Transition to the Tesla Model 3: A Real Driver’s Perspective

After years with my trusty VW e-Golf, I found myself needing more range for my daily commute. I’d been eyeing the new Model 3 “Highland” version, but with its U.S. release uncertain, I decided to take the plunge with the 2023 Model 3. Let me tell you, it’s been quite the ride!

The deal was too good to pass up, especially with six months of free Supercharging. As someone who’s battled with Electrify America chargers for two years, I can’t overstate how refreshing Tesla’s charging network is. It’s night and day, folks.

One thing that’s blown me away is the over-the-air updates. It’s like getting a new car feature while you sleep! The value proposition of Tesla is hard to beat, and I’m already thinking my next family car might be another Tesla unless something truly groundbreaking comes along.

Now, it hasn’t all been perfect. Like many Tesla owners, I noticed some panel alignment issues – more of a cosmetic gripe than anything functional. But the ease of use and reliability more than make up for it.

I’ve done my homework on battery care too. I keep my charges to 80% max for daily use, aiming to preserve battery life. It’s all about maintaining that battery integrity for the long haul.

Switching from my e-Golf to this Model 3 has been a game-changer for my commute. The efficiency is impressive – I’m getting way more miles per charge than I ever did with the e-Golf. It’s made my 100-mile daily drive so much more manageable and enjoyable.

For anyone on the fence about making the switch to a Tesla, I’d say go for it. The charging network alone is worth it, and the constant improvements via updates keep the car feeling fresh. Just be prepared for the occasional quirk – it’s part of the Tesla experience!

Potential Hidden Charges

3 Hidden Costs of Public EV Charging: A Real Driver’s Perspective

After years of charging my EVs at various networks, I’ve encountered some unexpected costs that aren’t always obvious. Let me share my experiences to help you avoid these pitfalls.

1. The Dreaded Idle Fee

I learned this lesson the hard way at a mall once. I’d plugged in my car, done some shopping, and completely lost track of time. When I returned, I was shocked to see a hefty idle fee on top of my charging cost. These fees kick in when your car is fully charged but still occupying the spot. It’s frustrating when you’re waiting for a charger and see fully-charged cars just sitting there, so I understand why the fees exist. But man, they can add up quickly if you’re not careful!

2. Confusing Pricing Structures

This one still trips me up sometimes. Most stations I use charge by the kilowatt-hour, which is straightforward. But I’ve encountered some that charge by the minute. Once, I was charging at a slower rate than expected, and my per-minute cost ended up being much higher than I’d anticipated. Now, I always double-check the pricing structure before I plug in. It varies not just by network, but sometimes even by location within the same network. It pays to be vigilant!

3. The Time Cost of “Faster” Chargers

Here’s a counterintuitive one I’ve experienced multiple times. I used to always seek out the fastest chargers, thinking I’d save time. But I’ve learned it’s not that simple. Once, I drove past a closer, slower charger to get to a 350 kW station. When I arrived, there was a queue of three cars. I ended up waiting nearly two hours to charge! My battery was too low to risk driving to another station, so I was stuck. Now, I consider not just the charging speed, but also the likelihood of availability and the extra driving distance. Sometimes, a slightly slower but more readily available charger is the better choice.These experiences have taught me that the true cost of public charging isn’t just about the price per kWh. It’s a combination of money, time, and sometimes, stress. But with some awareness and planning, you can minimize these hidden costs and make your EV charging experience much smoother. Trust me, I’ve learned these lessons the hard way so you don’t have to!

My Strategy for Minimizing EV Charging Costs: Real-World Tips

After years of driving EVs and juggling various charging options, I’ve learned that minimizing costs isn’t just about finding the cheapest rate. It’s a delicate balance of time, convenience, and money. Let me share my personal approach.

The Time vs. Cost Dilemma

I’ve often faced the decision: drive further for cheaper charging or pay more for convenience? Once, I drove 15 minutes out of my way to a cheaper station, only to find a long queue. The money I saved was offset by the time wasted. Now, I factor in potential wait times when choosing a station.

Charging Speed: When It Matters

During my workday, I’m happy to use the slower Level 2 charger at my office. But on road trips? I’ve learned the hard way that a 350 kW charger can be a lifesaver. I remember frantically searching for a fast charger on a trip to LA, watching my range dwindle. Now, I always plan my route around high-speed chargers for long journeys.

My Personal Charging Hierarchy

1. Work Charging: I hit the jackpot with a $0.12/kWh ChargePoint station at work. It’s my go-to option.
2. Home Charging: I use this mainly during off-peak hours when rates are lowest.
3. Public Networks: I use these as a last resort, always checking my apps for the best combination of price and availability.

Real-World Cost-Saving Tips

• I’ve learned to be flexible. Sometimes, I’ll grab a quick charge at a more expensive station if it means avoiding a long wait elsewhere.
• I keep a mental map of reliable, cheaper stations along my regular routes. There’s a sweet spot ChargePoint station near my grocery store that’s almost always available.
• For my daily commute, I’ll often charge to 80% instead of 100%. I’ve found the time saved usually outweighs the extra stop I might need to make.

Remember, what works for me might not work for everyone. It took me months of trial and error to figure out my optimal charging strategy. Don’t be afraid to experiment and find what works best for your lifestyle and driving habits. Happy charging!