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Buying an EV to save money isn’t always as straightforward as it seems, kind of like choosing a Ferrari SUV for your next home renovation project. Sure, it looks sleek, feels futuristic, and might even make the neighbors wonder where your income comes from.
But it’s a calculated game of kilowatt-hour economics, tire pressure, grid rates, and meteorology. One wrong move, a high electricity rate, a poor charging setup, or a New England cold snap, and your promised savings evaporate faster than any gas tank.
Which is an issue one Facebook user found out the hard way. He took his frustrations to a Tesla Model Y owners group:
“Anyone else pay more for electricity than gasoline? I paid $41 to charge at home. My car only has 282 miles on it.
Here in Boston, gasoline is only $2,60/gal. Electricity (via Eversource) is $0.33/kWh + a $10 fee per customer.
It actually just went down 2 cents.
However, we do get free chargers, installation, and panel upgrades, if needed (maximum $1,700). Hence, the Electric Vehicle Program charge that EVERYONE has to pay, whether they own an EV or not.
Massachusetts also gives EV buyers $3,500 to $6,000 toward any EV under $55,k
Note: We do not have variable rates. The rate is fixed 24/7.
Let us all know how your area fares. ”
That’s the EV cost paradox in action. The idea is that driving an electric car should save you money. But in Boston, it costs $41 to drive 282 miles, that’s about 33 cents a mile.
It’s not a deal-breaker, just a reminder that real-world costs can vary depending on where and how you charge.
You could run a Toyota Corolla, getting 35 mpg at $2.60 a gallon, for $0.074 per mile. That’s less than a third the cost per mile, and it doesn’t require you to worry about grid load balancing, off-peak hours, or whether your garage has the thermal insulation of a space shuttle.
Boston EV Charging Costs: Electricity Rates, Monthly Bills & Savings Programs
- As of June 2025, Boston residents pay an average of 28.27 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) for electricity, which is significantly higher than the national average of 16.15 cents per kWh. This results in an average monthly electric bill of approximately $154.01 for Boston households.
- Charging an EV at home in Boston can be cost-effective. For instance, if your electricity rate is around 14 cents per kWh, and your Level 2 charger dispenses electricity at a rate of 6 to 8 kWh, you can expect to pay about $1.00 per hour of charging. This translates to approximately $65 per month, depending on your driving habits and electricity rates.
- Public charging rates in Massachusetts vary. The city of Boston’s municipal ChargePoint stations charge $0.25 per kWh, offering a more affordable option for EV owners. However, the average cost at public charging stations across the state is about $0.52 per kWh, making it one of the more expensive states for public EV charging.
- Programs like National Grid’s Off-Peak Charging Program provide financial incentives for EV owners to charge their vehicles during off-peak hours. Participants can earn $0.05 per kWh for charging between 9:00 p.m. and 1:00 p.m. from June to September, and $0.03 per kWh during the same hours from October to May. These rebates are applied as credits on the following month’s electric bill.
In Boston, the numbers tell a more complex story, not because anything went wrong, but because incentives and utility rates sometimes overlap in ways that blur the financial picture.
It’s a reminder that even well-executed transitions come with a learning curve.
But not all EV owners are suffering.
“I’m in PA and my electricity is $.18 a kWh. Gas in our area is $3.22, so we’ve got some pretty significant savings.”
Commented another user.
“I guess in Boston, you’re driving an EV to feel good, not save money. Sorry.”
Electricity costs vary so wildly across the country that the EV savings story is no longer national, it’s local, even block-by-block. In parts of Pennsylvania or Texas, your EV can pay for itself in a matter of years. In Massachusetts?
You’re basically subsidizing the grid while driving around with a clean conscience.
Even more surreal: our Boston-based driver isn’t new to the game.
“Traded my 2024 in for a 2025, with only 1,700 miles. Now I’m trading in my 2025 with under 300 miles on it for a 2026,”
He knows what he’s getting into.
He just doesn’t care. He loves the experience, the tech, and never having to sniff around a gas pump like a lost dog. This isn’t someone trying to win the frugal commuter Olympics. This is a man who finds joy in the routine of silent, high-tech mobility, even if the dollars make less sense than a Cybertruck on a racetrack.
California EV Charging Rates & Gasoline Comparison: Off-Peak Savings Explained
California owners chimed in with their own version of grid roulette.
“I pay $0.22 per kWh from 9 pm to 4 pm the following day, and peak of $0.65 per kWh during a 4 pm to 9 pm window,” said one.
“Gas averages $5+ here, so it’s still cheaper to go electric.”
So now, EV ownership has become a part-time job, amateur energy arbitrage during off-peak hours, studying power utility graphs, etc. Miss the charging window and your savings go up in the same smoke EVs are supposed to prevent.
2025 Tesla Model Y Juniper Specs: Range, Performance, Dimensions & Pricing
- The Model Y offers varying ranges and acceleration times across its trims. The Long Range AWD variant provides an EPA-estimated range of up to 320 miles and accelerates from 0 to 60 mph in approximately 4.6 seconds. The Performance model boasts a quicker 0-60 mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 155 mph.
- All trims come equipped with a 75 kWh battery pack. The Long Range AWD model delivers around 384 horsepower and 375 lb-ft of torque, while the Performance variant increases output to approximately 456 horsepower and 497 lb-ft of torque.
- The Model Y measures 187 inches in length, 75.6 inches in width, and 64 inches in height, with a wheelbase of 113.8 inches. It offers a maximum cargo capacity of 76.2 cubic feet when the rear seats are folded down.
- The starting MSRP for the 2025 Model Y is approximately $42,990 for the base Rear-Wheel Drive model. The Long Range AWD starts around $47,990, and the Performance trim is priced at about $52,490.
And then there’s the weather. Cold climates are kryptonite to EV efficiency. In a Boston winter, an EV’s range can drop 30% just keeping the battery and cabin warm.
That means more frequent charges, even higher costs, and more time tethered to the wall instead of, you know, driving. It’s not just a matter of owning an EV, it’s managing it like a delicate science project. Keep tire pressures optimal. Precondition your battery. Pray the grid stays stable during a blizzard.
Yet for all this complexity, the core truth endures: people aren’t just buying EVs to save money. They’re buying freedom from gas stations, a smoother ride, and yes, a ticket to the future, even if it’s a bit overpriced.
What’s the highest rate you’ve paid to charge your EV? Let us know in the comments below.
Image Sources: Tesla Newsroom
Noah Washington is an automotive journalist based in Atlanta, Georgia. He enjoys covering the latest news in the automotive industry and conducting reviews on the latest cars. He has been in the automotive industry since 15 years old and has been featured in prominent automotive news sites. You can reach him on X and LinkedIn for tips and to follow his automotive coverage.
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Source: torquenews.com
