For many people and daily commuters, e-Bikes can be an effective replacement for cars. Many commutes by car or other forms of transport are short enough to be comfortably substituted by riding an e-Bike. There are also cargo e-Bikes to carry passengers or haul heavy items, but some car trips may not be appropriate to take via an e-Bike.
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Bike?
Written by: Rémy Rossi | June 16, 2025 | Time to read 4 min
Ever wondered what it costs to "fill up" an electric bike?
More about the Author: Remy Rossi
Rémy Rossi is a bike writer, mechanic, and educator who got his start in community-based bike shops and co-ops. With a decade in the industry, he still wrenches on bikes when he can and plays bike polo on a fixie.
Let’s get down to brass tacks and copper wire to talk about how much it really costs to charge an electric bike. You’ve probably already heard shmoozers like me tout the many benefits of e-Bikes and how much you can save riding an e-Bike compared to driving. But the truth is in the numbers, so let’s figure out how pretty of a penny is needed to top off your e-Bike.
Spoiler alert: It’s just a handful of pennies, and they don’t even have to be pretty.
How to calculate e-Bike charging costs
Electric bikes are powered by rechargeable lithium-ion batteries with chargers that work with standard wall outlets. The exact cost of charging the battery depends on the price of electricity where you live and the size of your e-Bike’s battery.
As of summer 2025, the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. is around 16.44 cents per kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). But this price can vary significantly by state and even by utility company.
Electric bike batteries typically have a capacity of around 400 Wh (watt hours) or 500 Wh, but there are models with larger batteries of more than 800 Wh. Some e-Bikes even have two battery packs.
As of summer 2025, the average residential electricity rate in the U.S. is around 16.44 cents per kWh, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). But this price can vary significantly by state and even by utility company.
Electric bike batteries typically have a capacity of around 400 Wh (watt hours) or 500 Wh, but there are models with larger batteries of more than 800 Wh. Some e-Bikes even have two battery packs.
Here’s the equation to calculate how much your e-Bike costs to charge fully:
Price per kWh x (battery capacity in Wh/1000) = cost in cents
Take a 500 Wh Bosch battery, for example:
16.44 x .500 = 8.22 cents ≈ $0.08 per charge
How much does it cost to charge an electric bike?
On average, it costs eight to ten cents to fully charge an electric bike. But don’t just take my word for it— the E-Bike 1000 MPG Project analyzes the e-Bike use of many riders across 30 different models.
The study found that electric bikes required, on average, 1.36 kWh of energy to travel 100 miles. There was a variety, of course, with the most efficient e-Bike needing just 800 Wh for a range of 100 miles to 3.3 kWh for the least efficient model.
The study used the then-current average US residential rates of electricity of $0.159/kWh to calculate the average cost per 100 miles. The average charging cost to ride 100 miles was $0.22, ranging from $0.13 for the most efficient e-Bike to $0.33 for the least efficient one.
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Another interesting finding was that riders charged their e-Bikes, on average, every 28 miles. That is likely not the full range of the electric bikes since riders may charge after every ride or simply top up after a short outing. Of course, the cost of a partial charge will be less than the price of charging the battery from completely empty to full.
Wondering how much do electric bikes cost to buy? High-quality electric bikes typically retail for $2,000 to $4,000, with top-tier models priced even higher. At Upway, you’ll discover a wide selection of new and certified pre-owned e-Bikes from top brands— often available for as much as 60% off!
Frequently Asked Questions
Can an e-Bike replace a car?
Are e-Bikes worth it for commuting?
Definitely! E-Bikes can provide the right balance of comfort, speed, and cost-effectiveness on your daily commute. Electric bikes are faster than standard bicycles and require less effort on the climbs, so you can arrive at work or school sweat-free. Pedal-assisted bikes are also cheaper to operate than cars and can help you save money on parking or public transit.
Is it better to have a removable battery on an electric bike?
I’m a big fan of removable batteries since they offer more options for charging, along with the advantage of swapping in a spare battery to extend the range. Most electric bikes have a removable battery so a majority of bike manufacturers and riders must agree with me. However, a non-removable battery is definitely not a deal breaker.
Should I remove my e-Bike battery when not in use?
For short-term storage, it’s encouraged to leave the battery on the bike where it’s designed to be. For long-term storage, take it out and keep it at room temperature. Modern chargers are designed to prevent overcharging, but keeping it at 100% charge levels still puts extra stress on the battery.
Key Takeaways
- Charging your e-Bike costs just $0.08–$0.10 on average, based on typical U.S. electricity rates and standard battery sizes.
- Riding 100 miles costs about $0.22 in electricity, with energy use varying by model from $0.13 to $0.33.
- Most riders charge every 28 miles, often topping off partially, which reduces charging costs even further.
