EV vs Gas Cost Calculator
Compare the annual fuel cost of an electric car versus a gas car from your mileage, efficiency, and local electricity and gas prices.
How to use this tool
- Enter your annual miles driven.
- Enter the gas car's MPG and your local gas price.
- Enter the EV's efficiency in kWh per 100 miles.
- Enter your home electricity price per kWh.
- Read the annual fuel savings and each car's fuel cost.
Will an electric car actually save you money on fuel? Enter your mileage, the gas car's MPG, and your local gas and electricity prices to compare annual fuel costs side by side.
Formula
Each car's annual fuel cost comes from miles, efficiency, and energy price:
Gas cost = (Miles ÷ MPG) × Gas price
EV kWh = Miles × (Efficiency ÷ 100), where efficiency is kWh per 100 miles
EV cost = EV kWh × Electricity price
Annual savings = Gas cost − EV cost
How it works
Electric and gas cars are fueled in completely different units, so the only way to compare them is to convert both to annual dollars. For the gas car, miles divided by MPG gives gallons, times the pump price gives the cost. For the EV, efficiency in kilowatt-hours per 100 miles times your mileage gives total kWh, times your electricity rate gives the cost.
The savings depend heavily on local prices. Cheap off-peak home charging makes EVs dramatically cheaper to fuel; expensive electricity or reliance on public DC fast chargers narrows or erases the gap. Likewise a thirsty gas SUV widens the EV's advantage, while an efficient hybrid shrinks it. Enter your own rates for a realistic result.
This tool compares fuel cost only. It excludes the EV's typically higher purchase price, any tax credits, home-charger installation, and the lower scheduled maintenance EVs usually enjoy (no oil changes, less brake wear). For a complete picture, fold these into a total-cost-of-ownership comparison over the years you plan to keep the car.
Worked example
12,000 mi/yr: 28 mpg @ $3.50 vs 30 kWh/100mi @ $0.15
- Gas cost = (12,000 ÷ 28) × $3.50 = 428.57 gal × $3.50 = $1,500.00.
- EV energy = 12,000 × (30 ÷ 100) = 3,600 kWh.
- EV cost = 3,600 kWh × $0.15 = $540.00.
- Annual savings = $1,500.00 − $540.00 = $960.00.
- EV cost per mile = $540.00 ÷ 12,000 = $0.045.
Annual fuel savings (EV) $960.00 | Gas car annual fuel $1,500.00 | EV annual fuel $540.00 | EV cost per mile $0.045
Cost to drive 100 miles: gas car vs EV
| Scenario | Gas cost | EV cost | EV savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| 25 mpg @ $3.50 vs 30 kWh @ $0.15 | $14.00 | $4.50 | $9.50 |
| 30 mpg @ $3.50 vs 28 kWh @ $0.15 | $11.67 | $4.20 | $7.47 |
| 20 mpg @ $4.00 vs 34 kWh @ $0.13 | $20.00 | $4.42 | $15.58 |
Key terms
- kWh per 100 miles
- An EV's energy use — the electric equivalent of fuel economy. Lower is more efficient; 25-35 kWh/100mi is typical.
- MPGe
- Miles per gallon of gasoline-equivalent, an EPA measure that translates EV efficiency into familiar MPG units.
- Off-peak charging
- Charging during low-demand hours when many utilities offer cheaper electricity, lowering EV fuel cost.
- Total cost of ownership
- The all-in cost of a vehicle including purchase, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation — broader than fuel alone.
Frequently asked questions
- Is an EV cheaper to fuel than a gas car?
- Usually yes when charging at home — electricity per mile typically costs a third to a half of gasoline. The advantage shrinks with cheap gas, expensive electricity, or heavy reliance on public fast charging.
- What is a typical EV efficiency?
- Most EVs use about 25-35 kWh per 100 miles. Smaller, aerodynamic cars are near the low end; large trucks and SUVs are higher. Cold weather and highway speeds raise consumption.
- Does this include the EV's higher purchase price?
- No — this compares fuel cost only. To decide whether an EV pays off overall, add the purchase-price difference, tax credits, charger costs, and lower maintenance into a total-cost comparison.