spencerl32•1mo agoProlific Poster

My home charger finally paid for itself after 2 years of driving in Chicago traffic

I did the math last night and realized the $700 I spent on the Level 2 install back in 2021 broke even with what I would have paid for gas during my stop-and-go commute from Lincoln Park to the Loop, so now every mile feels like free money.

3 comments

3 Comments

jamieperez1mo ago

Paid for itself after 2 years" - I read that some chargers pay off even faster with Chicago's crazy gas prices.

dylan4131mo ago

Ive seen it happen. My neighbor got a level 2 charger installed last summer and he was telling me his break even point was closer to 18 months with the rates here. @jamieperez is right that Chicago gas prices are brutal, but you also have to factor in the city's electricity rates which are on the higher side too. Still, if you drive a lot like he does it pencils out pretty quick. Just make sure you shop around for installation quotes because those can vary a lot and mess up your math.

rubyreed26d ago

18 months is optimistic if youre factoring in city electricity rates AND the upfront cost of a good level 2 charger. My cousin in Evanston paid $1,200 just for the install because his panel needed an upgrade. @dylan413 your neighbor might be forgetting about the winter range loss too, like that cuts your efficiency by a solid 20-30 percent. With ComEd's current rate hikes, I actually did the math on my Jetta and it came out to almost the same per mile as charging a Bolt. Unless you're getting free charging at work or a big solar setup, the break even point keeps getting pushed back.