About
Honest answers for real EV owners
Owning an EV is full of small details that nobody really explains up front — how fast your home charger actually charges, why range per hour matters more than kW, what a public session really costs, when to plug in to save money. What's The Charge exists to make those details easy to understand and easy to plan around.
EV charging has more nuance than most owners are told. Two cars on the same charger can add range at very different speeds. A "Level 2" charger can mean 5 kW or 11 kW. "Fast charging" can mean 50 kW or 350 kW, and the difference is an hour of your life. This site exists to surface that nuance with real data, transparent math, and numbers measured from actual cars in an actual garage.
What this site does
The What's The Charge calculator estimates how long it will take to charge a specific EV at a specific kW rate — at home or in public — so you can plan your day around a real number instead of a marketing one. The Learn section publishes guides backed by firsthand testing.
We're independent
What's The Charge is an independent project. It is not affiliated with any automaker, charging network, or utility company.
Methodology & data sources
| Data | Source |
|---|---|
| Vehicle specs (battery, efficiency, max charge rate) | EPA + manufacturer published specifications |
| Electricity rates | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |
| Public charging prices | Published network pricing (Tesla Supercharger, Electrify America, EVgo, ChargePoint) |
| Firsthand charging numbers | Measured by Jason on a Rivian, Ioniq 6, and Silverado EV using Emporia 24A and 48A Level 2 chargers |
Affiliate disclosure
Some links on this site are affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This does not influence calculator results or Learn content. Products and services are only recommended when they're genuinely useful for EV owners — usually because Jason already uses them.
Disclaimer
The calculations and information on this site are for educational and planning purposes only. They are not financial, legal, or professional advice. Real-world costs and charging times depend on your utility rate, battery age, climate, driving style, charger condition, and other factors. Always verify rates with your local utility and consult qualified professionals for important financial decisions.
Contact
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