What it costs to charge an electric truck, state by state
Where you live changes the running cost of an electric truck by a factor of four. This is the arithmetic, with real rates, and an honest account of how much the answer can move.
The spread is enormous
Residential electricity averaged 18.44 cents per kWh across the US as of May 2026. The range behind that average is what matters: Idaho at 12.35 cents, Hawaii at 52 cents. California, at 33.25 cents, is roughly two and a half times Idaho.
For an electric pickup, that is roughly the difference between $5 and $20 per 100 miles.
Why we give ranges, not numbers
Cost per mile needs an efficiency figure, and Ford has published none for the Fathom — no EPA range, no battery capacity, nothing. So we use the band real electric pickups actually occupy, roughly 1.8 to 2.8 miles per kWh, and show both ends.
We also account for charging losses. Roughly 10% of what comes out of the wall never reaches the battery, and a calculator that ignores this understates the real cost.
Your bill beats any state average
State averages hide enormous variation by utility, by rate plan, and by time of day. Most EV owners charge overnight, and many utilities offer off-peak rates well below the average — sometimes half.
If you do one thing before running the numbers, find the actual per-kWh rate on your electricity bill. Our calculator takes it directly, and the answer it gives you will be far more accurate than any state figure.
If you cannot charge at home, this arithmetic changes completely. Public DC fast charging often costs two to three times residential electricity, and at those rates an electric truck can cost about the same as a gas one to run.
Common questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric truck at home?
At the US average residential rate of 18.44 cents per kWh, roughly $7 to $11 per 100 miles for an electric pickup, including charging losses. Driving 12,000 miles a year works out to roughly $880 to $1,370. Your state rate and your own utility plan can move this substantially.
Which state has the cheapest electricity for EV charging?
As of May 2026, Idaho at 12.35 cents per kWh was the cheapest, with North Dakota, Utah, and Oklahoma also low. Hawaii is by far the most expensive at 52 cents, followed by California at 33.25 cents.
Is charging an EV cheaper than buying gas?
Usually, substantially. At the US average electricity rate an electric pickup costs roughly $7 to $11 per 100 miles, against roughly $16 for a 25 MPG vehicle at $4.10 a gallon. In very high electricity-rate states, compared against an efficient hybrid, the advantage can disappear.
Do EV charging losses matter?
Yes. Roughly 10% of the electricity drawn from the wall is lost to the onboard charger and thermal management before it reaches the battery. Any cost estimate that ignores this understates your real bill by about a tenth.