Comparing EV charging cost to gasoline requires the same unit on both sides: cost per mile, not cost per fill-up or per charge.
Charging speed on any DC fast charger follows a curve, not a flat rate — it’s fastest between roughly 10% and 60% battery, then tapers to protect battery longevity as the pack approaches full. This is why fast-charging stops are usually most time-efficient when planned to top up to around 80%, not 100%.
| Battery Level | Relative Charging Speed |
|---|---|
| 0–10% | Ramping up |
| 10–60% | Peak speed |
| 60–80% | Gradually tapering |
| 80–100% | Significantly slower |
Practical tip
On a road trip, planning stops around the 10–80% window is almost always faster overall than charging any single stop to 100%.