Tier one: home
Overnight home charging is the anchor — typically 4–6¢ per mile at average rates, less on time-of-use plans. This is the tier that makes EV ownership economics work; everything else is strategy around it. If you can install or access Level 2 at home, do that before optimizing anything else.
Tier two: opportunistic
Workplace chargers, free retail top-ups, and membership-priced L2 near your gym. These blur into the home tier cost-wise and can cover a surprising share of weekly miles. Treat them as found money — route them to your longest-commute days.
Tier three: fast charge
DC fast charging costs 2–3× home rates and should be planned like a toll: sometimes worth it, never routine. A driver who fast-charges twice a week for convenience can erase the entire fuel-cost advantage that justified the EV purchase — run the numbers and let the math embarrass the habit.