Ouch!! First Electric Bill since getting the Lightning….yikes!

[beatle]

My electric bill went up about 30% when I started driving an EV in 2019. On average each month I use about 354kwh at home to charge the car, and 34kwh via DCFC. I've also charged 2270 kwh for free at work, shopping centers, and family members' homes. I always take some friendly lumps for filling up at their homes, but I can take it.

Equivalent gas cost is kind of all over the place depending on what I would be driving otherwise and what gas prices are doing at the time. My Ridgeline gets around 17mpg on 87, and my Miata gets around 25mpg on 93. Even back in 2019 when gas was a little over $2.50/gal, there was a notable savings vs. gas.

I'm expecting the Lightning to use close to 500kwh/mo due to its efficiency vs. the Model S.

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[gorwell]

Here in CA a $500 electric bill is low during the summer.

I am lucky to be with SMUD

My highest bill ever was ~$150, before I upgraded HVAC like 6 years ago.

Last bill cycle, w/o Solar I would have only spent $157 (1040 today kWh used).

That's w/ always charging my current EV @ home, and running AC at 73F almost all day.


Energy Used:

Cost:

Can clearly see the days I charged


I expect to have my highest bill ever (if w/o Solar) this billing cycle b/c of the heat. My credits will offsite it though.

 

[hturnerfamily]

my math says that if I drive my Lightning 1,000 miles per month, at my current GA POWER rate, it will cost me less than $60 monthly charging at home. My peak rate is about 13 cents per kwh.

-98kwh battery in the PRO is expected to provide ~ 230 miles
-1,000 miles divided by 230 miles = 4.35 full battery charges
-98kwh of power x 4.35 = 426.3 kwh of total power usage
-426.3kwh x my power utility 'per kwh' charge, at peak hours, of 13cents = ~ $55

if some of this travel is using DC Fast chargers, well, of course, that will be more, but it would also
limit this home charging cost. Everyday home use of the truck will be very inexpensive.
$55 of today's fuel cost, regular, at an average of $4, would only equate to less than 14 gallons.

Towing? double that cost for those miles.

I just saw that GA POWER provides an 'overnight' EV Charging rate of only 5 cents, so that will lower this even more dramatically.

check my math, I'm only an Insurance Agent.

 

[hturnerfamily]

and, as a note, and as a former Mayor of my small town, where we had our OWN Electric Power Utility, and billing to customers, I saw many folks try to 'compare' a current monthly bill to one from last month, or last year - it's just not possible or reasonable to try to make that comparison - the weather is NOT the same month to month or year to year - NEVER. Your usage is also NEVER the exact same, or sometimes even CLOSE to the same, from year to year. Don't get caught up in simply looking at the bottom 'You Owe this much' number - compare the actual TRUE usage difference, IF you can even make those calculations, which is VERY difficult without separate METERS on each device, appliance, or EV charger. Everything else is pure guessing and speculation.

 

[RickLightning]

For those new to EVs, make sure you thoroughly investigate all rate options with your utility. In addition, you may find that they have historical data you can download and analyze and/or an app that does the same.

Some utilities offer the ability to add a meter just for an EV, and provide a lower rate (perhaps at specific times). Make sure you understand the cost to put one in (may not be a utility cost, just an electrician) AND any additional monthly cost (like a flat rate for the meter), plus any limitations, or penalties for charging at their peak times.

In addition, your utility may offer several choices of "time of day" charging. When we ordered a PHEV in 2018 that would use a paltry amount of electricity, I looked into this. By analyzing historical data that I got off my utilities app (now downloadable 13 months back online), I realized that we could switch to TOD before the PHEV and save money, and that as compared to the separate meter plan it was still cheaper. Yes, in times of peak summer AC usage, we pay a bit more, but it's more than made up for the rest of the year.

And make sure you incorporate ALL costs into your analysis. I've posted before that my off-peak rate is very low, but when I add in all the other costs it WAS 12.5 cents, now closer to 15.5 cents.

Lastly, make sure you always take advantage of free charging. I have the F-150L demo yesterday and today from my dealer, and last night plugged into a 3kW charger at a restaurant.

 

[beatle]

my math says that if I drive my Lightning 1,000 miles per month, at my current GA POWER rate, it will cost me less than $60 monthly charging at home. My peak rate is about 13 cents per kwh.

-98kwh battery in the PRO is expected to provide ~ 230 miles
-1,000 miles divided by 230 miles = 4.35 full battery charges
-98kwh of power x 4.35 = 426.3 kwh of total power usage
-426.3kwh x my power utility 'per kwh' charge, at peak hours, of 13cents = ~ $55

check my math, I'm only an Insurance Agent.

Your math is solid, but to get really accurate you'll want to account for the charging efficiency loss. Average efficiency on my Model S is 86.59% while charging at home. I think the Ford's onboard charger(s) are around 90-91% efficient, so I'd say your monthly estimate should be ~474kwh or $61.57/mo.

The number will also likely change based on average efficiency. On average I only get about 91% of the EPA rated range. Ford is often closer to EPA than Tesla, however.

I mentioned this in the Police F150 Lightning thread, but I hope that Ford logs all your charging/efficiency metrics via their E-Telemetrics service and that they allow individual owners like us access to them.

 

[bryan995]

Great topic PJ. I'm sure there will be many more like this. I'm in San Diego and I'm forecasting a major increase in my electric bill as well. I drive about 90 to 120 miles a day ( contractor). I'm putting another 14kw solar on my roof to offset this and a spa purchase. I'm hoping it works out. I did the math several times and it seems that I will be ok. I currently have a 8.5kw system on the roof, we use 11kw. The way my math works out the truck will use the 8.5kw from the old system in full.

Sdg&e rates are terrible. It's about .40 cents a kwh. My business pays for my fuel so now I need to figure out how to pay for the energy ( to pay the solar system monthly) or get reimbursed for the milage or the energy used to charge....

This is a deep topic with a ton of variables. Keep the posts going!

I

With SDGE, sign up for the EV-TOU-5 rate. Then when you only charge at night you will save significant $$.

https://www.sdge.com/residential/pricing-plans/about-our-pricing-plans/electric-vehicle-plans

 

[GDN]

Your math is solid, but to get really accurate you'll want to account for the charging efficiency loss. Average efficiency on my Model S is 86.59% while charging at home. I think the Ford's onboard charger(s) are around 90-91% efficient, so I'd say your monthly estimate should be ~474kwh or $61.57/mo.

The number will also likely change based on average efficiency. On average I only get about 91% of the EPA rated range. Ford is often closer to EPA than Tesla, however.

I mentioned this in the Police F150 Lightning thread, but I hope that Ford logs all your charging/efficiency metrics via their E-Telemetrics service and that they allow individual owners like us access to them.

This is why we desperately need a "Teslafi" like service for Ford. I reached out to Teslafi a few months back and they had no interest in tracking Ford. Plus it seems as though Ford may not make a lot of this available in their API's.

 

[SmoothJ]

With NJ, there are rebates as well, but its meant for vehicles that are under 55K. So unless you get a Pro, you are pretty much screwed.

 

[beatle]

This is why we desperately need a "Teslafi" like service for Ford. I reached out to Teslafi a few months back and they had no interest in tracking Ford. Plus it seems as though Ford may not make a lot of this available in their API's.

TeslaFi is how got those efficiency numbers (but you probably knew that). I've learned a lot about the car and EVs in general by looking at its data:

- 120v and 240v charging are significantly different in charging efficiency
- My average efficiency based on temperature
- Efficiency differences attributed to elevation changes
- Charging costs (home, away, DCFC)
- Trip logs
- Battery health/degradation + comparison to other vehicles' batteries
- Phantom battery drain while vehicle is idle

I know not everyone wants/needs all of this data, and to some it may actually be headache-inducing, but I've found it super useful in making the most of the vehicle and its capabilities. I'm thinking Ford at least recognizes this since they have what seems to be their own flavor of it. I hope they also realize there is a market for it with some of their individual vehicle owners as well.

 

[metroshot]

I have SCE in So Cal and am on the TOU-D-Prime which means it's cheapest to charge anytime except 4pm-9pm.

Rate increases are about what I expected to pay for EV.

My wife's PHEV is set to charge at 9pm every night and my Lightning will charge on the weekend mornings when temps are coolest.

Plus I can charge about half a work day during the week at m workplace for free.

 

[greenne]

I'll offer this for my upstate NY folks-- National grid allows you to try out their Time of Use rate for a period of time(I think it is one year). At the end of that trial period, National Grid will compare the TOU to what you would have been charged at the straight electric rate. If TOU is cheaper obviously you'd continue, if the old way is cheaper they will refund the difference and you can go back to the old rate.

This may come in handy if you can schedule your EV charging off peak.

It didn't apply in my case because I have net metering associated with solar.

Just FYI....check with National Grid for details.

https://www.nationalgridus.com/time...mers can reduce,timer, or EV charging station.

 

[Regular150]

This is dumb. How many KW hours did you put in to the truck. All you can tell here is you didn use as much as you used last September

We don't chat with each other saying a post is dumb. We're here to discuss, inform, and assist. :}

 

[F150ROD]

I have SCE in So Cal and am on the TOU-D-Prime which means it's cheapest to charge anytime except 4pm-9pm.

Rate increases are about what I expected to pay for EV.

My wife's PHEV is set to charge at 9pm every night and my Lightning will charge on the weekend mornings when temps are coolest.

Plus I can charge about half a work day during the week at m workplace for free.

Have you looked into the 2nd meter with SCE and how much more you would save? I need to look into it myself.

 

[metroshot]

Have you looked into the 2nd meter with SCE and how much more you would save? I need to look into it myself.

Yes, I have - my electrician said it's more cost effective to get solar as a second meter is quite pricey even with the lower rate.

I am looking around for solar but no one has been able to get enough panels on my house to offset the bills.

I may have to get the pricey Tesla solar shingles as my roof has way too many setbacks & vent pipes, etc.

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