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EV vs gas cost in South Carolina: $872 a year saved at 12,000 miles
With South Carolina electricity at 15.93¢/kWh and regular gasoline at $3.86/gal, a typical EV (0.3 kWh/mile, charged 80% at home) costs about 6.5¢ per mile to run versus 13.8¢ per mile for a 28 mpg gas car. That beats gas by $872 a year at 12,000 miles. South Carolina ranks #35 of 51 (50 states + DC) for annual savings and #26 for lowest residential electricity price.
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What the South Carolina numbers say
- Electricity: South Carolina residential average is 15.93¢/kWh year-to-date through July 2026, 12% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢. It is up 7.6% from the same period in 2025. Latest single month (July 2026): 15.47¢.
- Gasoline: $3.86/gal (EIA regional series: Lower Atlantic (PADD1C)), up $1.07 from a year ago. The U.S. average is $4.28.
- Cost-equivalent MPG: a gas car would need about 59 mpg to cost the same per mile as this EV in South Carolina.
- If prices move: at 20% cheaper gas ($3.09) the yearly EV saving would be $541; at 20% higher electricity (19.12¢) it would be $780.
What this leaves out: purchase price, tax credits, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, home charger installation, time-of-use rates and cold-weather range loss. Your utility's own rate may differ from the state average. See the methodology.
Cost to run common things in South Carolina
- Space heater (1,500 W): $0.24 per hour
- Electric blanket (200 W): $0.25 per 8-hour night
- Window air conditioner (1,000 W): $0.16 per hour
- Electric clothes dryer: $0.48 per load
- Dishwasher: $0.16 per load
- Refrigerator: $72 per year
- Gaming PC (300 W under load): $0.05 per hour
- EV home charging (per 100 miles): $4.78 per 100 miles
Heating this winter? In South Carolina a heat pump costs about $18.67 per million BTU of heat vs $17.80 for a gas furnace and $42.13 for propane. Heat pump vs furnace in South Carolina.