Cost to charge an EV in South Carolina
South Carolina residential electricity runs 15.47 cents per kWh as of July 2026, which is 16 percent below the national average of 18.31 cents. That makes it the 20th cheapest of the 51 states and territories the EIA reports.
What it costs here
A full charge is battery size times your rate, plus the 12 percent a car draws from the wall beyond what the battery holds. Every cost below uses South Carolina's own rate. Range is the one estimate on this page: it assumes 37.1 kWh per 100 miles, the median EPA rating across current model-year electric cars, so a car more or less efficient than average will differ.
| Battery capacity | Full charge | Range added |
|---|---|---|
| 40 kWh | $6.93 | about 120 miles |
| 60 kWh | $10.40 | about 180 miles |
| 75 kWh | $12.99 | about 230 miles |
| 100 kWh | $17.33 | about 300 miles |
| 131 kWh | $22.70 | about 400 miles |
Charging at home in South Carolina costs $5.74 per 100 miles at 37.1 kWh per 100 miles, the median EPA rating across current model-year electric cars. That is energy measured at the wall, so it carries no separate loss factor.
By how much you drive
Charging at home in South Carolina, by monthly mileage:
| Usage | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| 500 miles a month | $28.70 | $344 |
| 1,000 miles a month | $57.39 | $689 |
| 1,500 miles a month | $86.09 | $1,033 |
How South Carolina compares
Driving 1,000 miles a month and charging at home costs $689 a year in South Carolina. The same driving costs $566 in Louisiana, the cheapest state at 12.72 cents, and $2,137 in Hawaii, the most expensive at 48.00 cents. Rates come from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and are refreshed on the schedule described on the methodology page.
Charging cost questions
- How much does it cost to charge an EV in South Carolina?
- At 15.47 cents per kWh, a full charge on a 75 kWh battery costs $12.99, and driving costs $5.74 per 100 miles. At 1,000 miles a month that is $57.39 a month and $689 a year. A smaller 40 kWh battery costs $6.93 to fill and a 131 kWh battery $22.70.
- Is electricity expensive in South Carolina?
- South Carolina residential electricity is 15.47 cents per kWh, 16 percent below the national average of 18.31 cents. That ranks it 20th of the 51 states and territories the EIA reports, counting from the cheapest.
- How does that compare with the cheapest and most expensive states?
- Driving 1,000 miles a month costs $689 a year in South Carolina, $566 in Louisiana and $2,137 in Hawaii. The spread between the cheapest and most expensive state is $1,571 a year on identical driving.
- Why is a full charge more than the battery's rated size times the rate?
- Because a car draws more from the wall than the battery ends up holding: conversion and thermal losses run about 12 percent, so a 75 kWh battery pulls roughly 84 kWh to fill. The per 100 miles figure above already accounts for this, because the EPA measures its 37.1 kWh per 100 miles at the wall rather than at the battery.
- Where does this rate come from?
- The U.S. Energy Information Administration's residential electricity price series, for July 2026. It is an average across the state, so your own utility's rate and any time of use plan will differ. Sourcing and refresh cadence are described on the methodology page.
Prices and specifications verified October 5, 2026, and re-checked weekly after that. How these numbers are checked.
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