EV Charging Cost
How Much Does It Cost to Charge a BYD e6? (2020)
The 2020 BYD e6 consumes 46.6 kWh per 100 miles by EPA measure, which works out to 8.1 cents per mile at the US average electricity rate. At 12,000 miles per year that is roughly $81/month in home charging — before any TOU discount. The numbers below are computed for this specific vehicle; they are not the generic EV average.
EPA data: 2026-07-04 · Source: fueleconomy.gov · Battery: EPA-derived
2020 BYD e6 — EPA Specs
| Spec | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Battery capacity | 87.2 kWh | EPA-derived |
| EPA combined efficiency | 46.6 kWh/100 mi | EPA FuelEconomy.gov |
| Miles per kWh | 2.14 mi/kWh | Derived (100 ÷ kWh/100mi) |
| EPA combined range | 187 mi | EPA FuelEconomy.gov |
| Model year | 2020 | EPA dataset |
| Level 2 charge time (0–100%) | 13.2 hrs | 7.2 kW EVSE, 92% efficiency |
Charging Economics at US Average Rate
US residential average: $0.16/kWh (EIA 2025). Home Level 2 charging at 92% wall-to-battery efficiency. 12,000 miles/year driving assumption.
BYD e6 vs a 30 MPG Gas Car
At $3.50/gallon, a 30 MPG gas car costs $1400/year in fuel at 12,000 miles. The BYD e6 at the US average electricity rate costs $975/year — $425/year cheaper than the gas car. That gap grows in high-gas-price states and shrinks in states with expensive electricity. This comparison is fuel-only; it excludes purchase price, insurance, and maintenance.
BYD e6 Charging Cost by State
10 largest US states by population, sorted cheapest first. Rates: EIA 2025 residential averages. Assumes Level 2 home charging at 92% efficiency and 12,000 miles/year.
| State | Rate ($/kWh) | Full charge | Per mile | Monthly |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Florida | $0.150 | $14.22 | 7.6¢ | $76 |
| Georgia | $0.150 | $14.22 | 7.6¢ | $76 |
| North Carolina | $0.160 | $15.17 | 8.1¢ | $81 |
| Texas | $0.160 | $15.17 | 8.1¢ | $81 |
| Illinois | $0.190 | $18.01 | 9.7¢ | $97 |
| Ohio | $0.190 | $18.01 | 9.7¢ | $97 |
| Michigan | $0.210 | $19.90 | 10.7¢ | $107 |
| Pennsylvania | $0.210 | $19.90 | 10.7¢ | $107 |
| New York | $0.290 | $27.49 | 14.7¢ | $147 |
| California | $0.330 | $31.28 | 16.8¢ | $168 |
Source: EIA 2025 residential electricity rates. Cheapest: Florida ($0.150/kWh). Most expensive: California ($0.330/kWh).
TOU Off-Peak Charging Savings
Southern California Edison Co (CA) offers the TOU-D-PRIME TOU plan with an off-peak rate of $0.240/kWh — versus their $0.282/kWh average rate. Charging the BYD e6 exclusively during off-peak hours at 12,000 miles/year saves $261/year ($22/month). Source: OpenEI Utility Rate Database (URDB).
TOU rates vary by utility and billing period. Check your utility’s current tariff before switching plans.
Frequently Asked Questions: BYD e6 Charging
How long does it take to charge the BYD e6 on Level 2?
A 7.2 kW Level 2 EVSE fully charges the BYD e6's 87.2 kWh battery in 13.2 hours from empty. Most home charging sessions start at 20–80% state of charge, so a typical overnight top-up takes 7.9–9.2 hours. A standard 120V outlet (Level 1) would need 68–72 hours for the same full charge.
How much does a full charge cost for the BYD e6?
At the US average residential rate of $0.16/kWh, a full charge costs about $15.17. Rates vary widely: drivers in low-cost states (around $0.12/kWh) pay as little as $11.37, while high-cost states (around $0.35/kWh) can see $33.17 per charge. The BYD e6 has a 87.2 kWh usable battery; wall draw is slightly higher due to 8% charging losses.
What is the monthly charging cost for the BYD e6 at 12,000 miles/year?
At 12,000 miles per year and the US average rate of $0.16/kWh, monthly charging costs about $81. The BYD e6 achieves 2.14 miles per kWh, so 1,000 miles of monthly driving draws 508 kWh from the wall. Your actual cost depends on local electricity rates, which range from $0.10 to $0.42/kWh across US states.
How does the BYD e6 compare to a 30 MPG gas car on fuel costs?
At $3.50/gallon, a 30 MPG gas car costs $1400/year in fuel at 12,000 miles. The BYD e6 at the US average electricity rate costs $975/year — saving about $425/year. The gap widens when home charging uses a TOU off-peak rate, which can cut the per-kWh cost significantly versus peak grid rates.
Can a TOU electricity plan reduce charging costs for the BYD e6?
Yes. Southern California Edison Co offers the TOU-D-PRIME plan with an off-peak rate of $0.240/kWh, compared to their 0.282/kWh average rate. Charging the BYD e6 exclusively during off-peak hours saves about $261/year ($22/month) at 12,000 miles annually. Source: OpenEI Utility Rate Database (URDB).
Charging the BYD e6 with Solar
The BYD e6 uses 5607 kWh per year at 12,000 miles — equivalent to 3.7 kW of additional solar capacity at 1,500 kWh/kW-year. Whether solar panels cover that load depends on when the car charges relative to when the panels produce.
Methodology and Data Sources
EPA efficiency data: fueleconomy.gov vehicles.csv, filtered to pure BEVs (atvType=EV), model year ≥ 2019. Efficiency = combE (kWh/100 mi). Battery capacity is manufacturer-specified where available, otherwise derived as range × efficiency ÷ 100.
Electricity rates: EIA 2025 residential average rates from the Annual Electric Power Industry Report (Form EIA-861). State averages are used for the cost-by-state table.
TOU rates: OpenEI Utility Rate Database (URDB) via NREL API. First residential, non-closed, TOU-flagged plan per utility. Off-peak rate taken from the lowest energy rate tier.
Charging losses: 8% wall-to-battery loss (92% efficiency) is applied to all home Level 2 estimates, consistent with SAE J1772 EVSE measurement studies.
Gas comparison: EIA 2025 US average gasoline price $3.50/gallon, 12,000 miles/year, 30 MPG reference vehicle. Fuel-only comparison; excludes purchase price, insurance, and maintenance.