This article was originally published on August 15, 2019. The calculator has been updated twice, first in 2023 to include a mechanism that allows users to input EV charging station customer pricing by the kilowatt-hour instead of only by the minute, and again in 2025 to help users estimate the impacts of state policies—such as kilowatt-hour taxes and inspection fees—on charger economics. Please contact the Transportation & Fuels team with any questions about the calculator.
As part of GPI’s research on the economics of DC fast charging, we created a model to calculate the costs and revenue of operating an electric vehicle (EV) charging station. Through our work with the EV industry, we’ve often heard charging operators, community leaders, and EV owners express a desire to explore how station operation impacts costs for both EV charger owners and users.
We described in a previous article that the economic feasibility of a charging station is heavily dependent on the rates its owner must pay to an electric utility for both energy (total kilowatt-hours in a month) and demand (monthly peak kilowatts). The number of customers each day and the payments they make for charging are also key factors.
The interactive calculator allows users to set utility rates for energy and demand charges, then experiment with customer pricing and utilization scenarios. By adjusting prices and daily utilization, users can explore how different variables affect charging station economics and the business decisions they can make to achieve their intended outcomes.
You can view a manual for the tool here →
Download the white paper, Overcoming Barriers to Expanding Fast Charging Infrastructure in the Midcontinent Region, to dive deeper into this topic.
