It depends entirely on where you live, and the answer matters more for EV owners than most people realize, since your state’s electricity mix directly affects both what charging costs and how clean your EV’s driving actually is.
The main sources that make up a state’s grid
| Source | General characteristics |
|---|---|
| Natural gas | A major source in many states; lower emissions than coal but still fossil-fuel based. |
| Coal | Higher-emission fossil fuel source; a shrinking but still significant share in some states. |
| Nuclear | Low operational emissions; a significant baseline source in states with nuclear plants. |
| Hydroelectric | Low emissions; a dominant source in some regions with the right geography. |
| Wind and solar | Low emissions; a rapidly growing share of generation in many states. |
Every state’s mix of these sources is different, and some rely heavily on one or two sources while others have a much more diversified grid.
Why this matters for your EV
A cleaner local grid means your EV’s overall emissions footprint, once you factor in how the electricity was generated, is lower than the same EV charged in a state with a dirtier grid. Our post on whether EVs are actually better for the environment covers how this factors into the bigger lifecycle picture. Generation mix can also affect electricity prices, which ties directly into what charging actually costs you.
Where to find your specific numbers
Utility companies and government energy agencies publish generation-mix data by state and by individual utility, since even neighboring utilities within the same state can differ. Checking your specific utility’s published mix, often available on their website or in their annual disclosure, gives a more accurate picture than a statewide average alone.
💡 Tip: Once you know your state’s mix, see what electricity actually costs where you live on our Electricity Cost Per kWh post and our EV Electricity Rates page.