And we are assuming drivers are charging at home. Public chargers would increase the cost compared to the statewide average: In California, it’s an average of 42 cents per kWh to charge, according to AAA, though it can be as high as 60 to 70 cents per kWh depending on the location and charger type. (Jason Zimbler of CalStart told the Chronicle in 2025 that most EV owners use public chargers primarily to get enough juice to make it to their destination or the next charging station.) And some workplaces offer electric vehicle charging for free, while others implement per-kWh, per-hour or flat fees, which would change the ownership math a lot.