Gas vs. Electric Vehicle Cost Calculator
Compare the real annual fuel cost of your gas car against an EV at today's prices — see your monthly savings, cost per mile, and how much you'd keep in your pocket over 5 and 10 years.
About this calculator
This calculator isolates the fuel cost of owning a gas vehicle versus an electric vehicle at your specific driving volume and local energy prices. Gas cost is calculated as annual miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon. EV cost is calculated as annual miles ÷ miles per kWh × electricity rate. The difference is your annual fuel savings — projected out to 5 and 10 years to show the long-run impact. The side-by-side bar chart makes the comparison visual and immediate. Note that this calculator covers fuel energy costs only; it does not model vehicle purchase price differences, federal EV tax credits, maintenance savings, or home charging equipment costs.
Field explanations
- Annual miles driven
- Total miles you drive per year. The US average is about 13,500 miles/year (AAA). Use your odometer readings from the past year for an accurate figure, or estimate from your daily commute and typical weekend driving.
- Gas price per gallon
- Your local regular unleaded price in dollars per gallon. Check GasBuddy or your local station for current prices. Gas prices fluctuate significantly — try running the calculator at a few different prices to see how sensitive your savings are.
- Fuel efficiency (MPG)
- Your gas vehicle's real-world fuel economy in miles per gallon. Use your car's actual observed MPG (check your trip computer or calculate from fill-ups) rather than the EPA estimate, which is typically 10–15% optimistic. The presets use real-world adjusted values for common vehicle classes.
- Electricity rate (per kWh)
- Your home electricity rate in dollars per kilowatt-hour. Find this on your utility bill — it's usually between $0.10 and $0.30 depending on your state. If you charge primarily on a Time of Use (TOU) plan overnight, use your off-peak rate, which can be significantly lower than the blended average.
- EV efficiency (miles per kWh)
- How efficiently the EV converts electrical energy into distance, measured in miles per kilowatt-hour. Most passenger EVs range from 2.5 to 4.5 mi/kWh depending on the vehicle, speed, climate, and driving style. Check the EPA's fueleconomy.gov for your specific model's rated efficiency. Cold weather and highway driving reduce this figure.