Arkansas EV Charging Costs (2026)

Data updated: March 5, 2026

Arkansas remains one of the lower-cost residential electricity markets in the U.S., which usually keeps home EV charging economics favorable relative to high-cost coastal states. The practical cost signal for drivers is still utility territory and charging behavior, not a single statewide average. Arkansas also applies annual EV and PHEV registration surcharges, so total ownership math should include that fixed yearly cost before comparing fuel savings. For long-distance charging, ARDOT's NEVI deployment process remains an important planning variable because corridor execution timing can shift with federal program guidance.

Average Rate

$0.12/kWh

Rank #2 out of 50

EV Adoption

1.1%

State adoption estimate

Arkansas Electricity Rates

Current rates by utility territory, with EV program details.

$0.12/kWh

$0.06/kWh below US average

Public Level 2 (est.): $0.29/kWh ($0.24-$0.37/kWh)

Public DC fast (est.): $0.45/kWh ($0.40-$0.54/kWh)

Estimated public charging prices derived from local electricity rates. Actual prices vary by network, location, and fees.

Many utilities offer off-peak EV charging options that can lower effective charging costs.

UtilityAvg Rate
Entergy Arkansas LLC$0.13/kWh
Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co$0.11/kWh
Southwestern Electric Power Co$0.11/kWh

Utility Context for Arkansas EV Drivers

Arkansas is a regulated electricity market with utility-territory differences. For EV drivers, the strongest planning approach is pairing local tariff checks with utility charger-incentive programs and realistic home-vs-public charging behavior.

  • The Arkansas Public Service Commission notes that retail electric competition was repealed by Act 204 of 2003, so most households should plan around territory utility tariffs rather than supplier shopping.
  • Entergy's eTech program currently lists EV charger incentives for all Entergy customers, including $250 per Level 2 charger and DC fast charging incentives by power class.
  • AFDC's Arkansas utility listings show EV charging infrastructure incentives in parts of the state, including SWEPCO and Black Hills incentive categories for charging equipment.
  • AFDC's Arkansas law summary lists annual registration fees of $200 for BEVs and $100 for PHEVs (plus $50 for HEVs), which materially affects total annual EV ownership math.
  • The same AFDC summary states that entities selling electricity exclusively for EV charging are not treated as public utilities under Arkansas Code 23-1-101(9).

Rates updated monthly | Source: EIA and utility filings.

Arkansas EV Registration Fee

BEV: $200.00/year ($16.67/month)

PHEV: $100.00/year ($8.33/month)

Law reference: Arkansas Code 19-6-301, 27-14-614, and 27-24-201

Source: afdc.energy.gov

Note: Includes a $50 fee for standard Hybrids (HEV).

Arkansas Utility and Policy Insights for EV Drivers

At $0.12/kWh, Arkansas is currently below the U.S. benchmark of $0.18/kWh. On a 250 kWh monthly EV load, that is roughly $15.00 lower than the national benchmark before fees and program effects.

AFDC and Arkansas code tracking also matter for true ownership cost: Arkansas lists annual registration fees of $200.00 (BEV), $100.00 (PHEV), and $50.00 (HEV). For many drivers, those fixed annual fees are as important as small per-kWh differences when planning year-one EV budgets.

Utility programs are primarily territory-driven. Entergy's eTech program and SWEPCO charging-infrastructure incentives are the most relevant utility pathways for many Arkansas users, while ARDOT's NEVI program status is the key indicator for long-distance corridor charging reliability.

  • Use utility tariff pages for local assumptions, not a statewide headline only.
  • Include annual EV registration fees in monthly budget math.
  • Plan public fast charging as corridor use, with home charging as default.

EV Charging Costs by City in Arkansas

View more Arkansas cities ->
CityAvg RateMonthly Cost EstimateAction
Little Rock$0.13/kWh$34.21/monthView city page ->
Fort Smith$0.11/kWh$28.95/monthView city page ->
Fayetteville$0.11/kWh$28.95/monthView city page ->

How Arkansas Compares to Nearby States

StateRateRank
Arkansas (Current)$0.12/kWh#2
Texas$0.16/kWh#32
Oklahoma$0.12/kWh#6
Missouri$0.12/kWh#4
Tennessee$0.13/kWh#14
Mississippi$0.14/kWh#20

Calculate Your Arkansas EV Charging Costs

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Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to charge an EV in Arkansas?

Home charging in Arkansas averages around $0.12/kWh. Public Level 2 sessions are estimated around $0.24-$0.37/kWh with a baseline near $0.29/kWh, while DC fast charging is estimated around $0.40-$0.54/kWh with a baseline near $0.45/kWh. Actual session totals vary by network fees, location, and charging speed.

What is the cheapest time to charge an EV in Arkansas?

Overnight charging is usually the most reliable low-cost window. Arkansas is a regulated utility market, so confirm your specific utility's published TOU or managed charging terms before setting a recurring charging schedule.

How much does it cost to fully charge a Tesla Model Y in Arkansas?

Using EPA efficiency of 25.3 kWh/100 miles and an estimated 300-mile range, a near-empty to full charge is about $9.11 at home in Arkansas. The same energy is about $22.01 at public Level 2 baseline rates and about $34.16 at DC fast baseline rates.

Is home charging cheaper than public fast charging in Arkansas?

Yes - at $0.12/kWh, home charging in Arkansas costs 73% less per kWh than the DC fast baseline estimate.

What are Arkansas EV registration fees?

AFDC's Arkansas law summary lists annual fees of $200.00 for battery EVs, $100.00 for plug-in hybrids, and $50.00 for hybrids. For BEVs, that fixed cost is about $16.67 per month before electricity charges.

Does Arkansas have a statewide EV purchase rebate?

AFDC's current Arkansas incentives list does not show an active statewide consumer EV purchase rebate. Most active support is utility or charging-infrastructure focused, so check utility and corridor programs directly before making purchase assumptions.

Which Arkansas utility programs matter most for EV charging costs?

Entergy eTech and SWEPCO charging programs are the key utility references for many Arkansas drivers, especially for Level 2 and site-host charging incentives. Because Arkansas is not a retail-choice electricity market, utility tariff structure and charging hours usually drive monthly cost more than provider switching.

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Internal Resources

Data updated monthly where available.