EV vs Gas Cost Calculator
An electric car is usually much cheaper to fuel than a gas car. Enter your annual mileage, the EV’s efficiency and the gas car’s mpg, plus your local electricity and fuel prices, to see your annual fuel saving, the break-even point if the EV costs more upfront, your cost per mile, and the CO₂ you’d avoid each year.
Using US averages. Set your state or ZIP for local electricity, fuel, sun and grid figures. Stays on your device.
Typical 3–4 mi/kWh.
Assumptions & purchase prices
Set both prices to compare upfront cost and break-even.
Wall-to-battery; AC charging loses ~10–15%.
Net saving with the EV over 8 years
$5,261
Fuel cost only — add purchase prices to include upfront cost.
Verdict: An EV saves about $658 a year on fuel — roughly $5,261 over 8 years, and avoids about 2.0 t of CO₂ a year.
Get a shareable image- Annual fuel saving
- $658
- Break-even
- Immediate
- CO₂ saved / year
- 2.0 t
- EV fuel / year
- $662
- Gas fuel / year
- $1,320
- Cost per mile
- 5.5¢ vs 11.0¢EV vs gas
Fuel and energy only — maintenance, insurance and resale are not included. Estimate only; not financial advice.
Save & compare
Save the current inputs and compare up to 4 side by side. Stored on this device only.
How it works
This calculator compares what it costs to run an electric car versus a gas car, and — if you add purchase prices — when the EV pays back any higher sticker price.
- Annual mileage drives both vehicles’ energy use.
- EV efficiency (mi/kWh) and gas economy (mpg) set how much energy or fuel each car needs.
- Electricity and gas prices turn that energy into a dollar cost. We account for charging losses, so the EV cost is based on energy drawn from the wall.
The headline figure is your net saving over the comparison period. The chart shows each vehicle’s cumulative cost over time; where the lines cross is your break-even point.
Methodology & assumptions
Results use the inputs you provide plus these representative defaults. Every one is editable in the calculator and tied to a dated source. Maintenance, insurance and resale are deliberately excluded.
| Assumption | Default | Source |
|---|---|---|
| EV efficiency (default)Editable; typical 3–4 mi/kWh. | 3.5 mi/kWh | U.S. DOE / EPA — fueleconomy.gov |
| Gas fuel economy (default) | 30 mpg | U.S. DOE / EPA — fueleconomy.gov |
| Electricity price | $0.17 /kWh | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |
| Gasoline price | $3.30 /gal | U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) |
| Charging efficiencyWall-to-battery losses for AC charging. | 88% | U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) |
| Grid carbon intensity | 0.39 kg CO₂/kWh | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), eGRID |
| Gasoline emissions | 8.887 kg CO₂/gal | U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) |
Full formula, every default and its source: EV vs gas cost methodology.
Worked example
Take a driver covering 12,000 miles a year with an EV rated at 3.5 mi/kWh versus a 30 mpg gas car, paying $0.17/kWh and $3.30/gal:
- EV energy from the wall: 12,000 ÷ 3.5 ÷ 0.88 ≈ 3,896 kWh → about $662/year.
- Gas: 12,000 ÷ 30 = 400 gallons → $1,320/year.
- Annual fuel saving ≈ $658, or about 5.5¢ vs 11¢ per mile.
- CO₂: 400 gal × 8.887 − 3,896 kWh × 0.39 ≈ 2.0 tonnes saved per year.
If the EV costs $10,000 more to buy, that gap takes roughly 15 years to repay on fuel alone — which is why local prices, efficiency and any purchase incentives matter so much. Put in your own numbers above.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric car really cheaper than gas?
For most drivers, yes — on fuel. At typical US prices, charging an efficient EV costs roughly half to a third of fueling a comparable gas car per mile. Whether the EV wins overall also depends on the purchase-price difference, which the calculator lets you add to find a break-even point.
Does this include the higher purchase price of an EV?
Only if you enter it. Leave the purchase prices at zero to compare fuel cost alone, or enter both vehicles’ prices to see the upfront difference, the break-even year, and the net saving over your chosen period.
Why is charging efficiency in the calculation?
You pay for the electricity drawn from the wall, not just what reaches the battery. AC charging typically loses 10–15%, so we divide the energy needed at the wheels by a charging efficiency (88% by default) to get the energy — and cost — at the meter.
How is the CO₂ saving worked out?
We multiply annual gasoline use by the EPA figure of 8.887 kg CO₂ per gallon, and annual grid electricity (from the wall) by the grid’s carbon intensity (0.39 kg CO₂/kWh US average). The difference is your yearly CO₂ saving. A cleaner local grid increases the saving.
Does it account for maintenance, insurance or resale?
No. This tool compares energy and fuel cost plus optional purchase price. Maintenance, insurance and resale vary too much by model and region to default honestly — treat the result as the fuel-and-purchase part of total cost of ownership.
What electricity and gas prices should I use?
Your own. The defaults are representative US averages, but both prices vary by region and over time. Enter your actual electricity rate (check a recent bill) and your local pump price for an accurate result.
Related calculators
Related guides
- EV vs gas: total cost of ownership comparedDo EVs really cost less than gas cars? We model fuel, charging, maintenance and break-even with representative US prices so you can see when an EV wins.
- How much does it cost to charge an electric car?Charging an EV at home costs about $11 per full charge and roughly $5 per 100 miles. See home, public and DC fast-charging costs, plus how to cut your bill.
By EnergyTally Team · Editorial & analysis team
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- EnergyTally Team,