EV vs gas cost calculator
Fuel versus electricity, per mile or per kilometre, with home and public charging mixed the way you actually drive.
Your driving
Your cost comparison
10-year running cost — gas vs EV (energy + maintenance)
| Gas car fuel cost | — |
| EV electricity use | — |
| — | |
Includes 10% charging losses. Maintenance defaults: gas $0.10/mi, EV $0.06/mi (editable estimates). Excludes purchase price, insurance and depreciation.
How we compare EV and gas costs
For the gas car: distance ÷ fuel economy × fuel price. For the EV: distance ÷ efficiency × 1.10 (about 10% of energy is lost in charging) × your blended electricity price. The blend matters — home charging is usually far cheaper than public DC fast charging, so the share of charging you do at home drives the result.
Worked example
12,000 miles at 30 mpg is 400 gallons; at $3.40 that's $1,360 a year. An EV at 3.5 miles/kWh needs 12,000 ÷ 3.5 × 1.10 ≈ 3,771 kWh. With 85% charged at home at $0.17 and 15% at $0.45, the blended price is about $0.21/kWh — roughly $800 a year. That's around $560 saved on energy alone, before lower maintenance.
Make the EV maths even better
- Charge off-peak. Time-of-use plans can cut home charging costs sharply — see time-of-use rates explained.
- Charge from solar. Daytime charging from your own panels can bring the energy cost close to zero.
- Install Level 2. Faster home charging makes it easy to skip public fast chargers. See EV home charging.
Frequently asked questions
Is it cheaper to charge an EV than buy gas?
In most places, charging at home costs significantly less per mile than gasoline. Relying mostly on public fast charging can narrow or erase the gap.
What is a good EV efficiency?
Many EVs achieve roughly 3–4 miles per kWh (about 15–21 kWh per 100 km). Larger SUVs and trucks use more; cold weather and highway speeds reduce efficiency.
Does this include the price of the car?
No — it compares running costs only. Add purchase price, financing, insurance and resale value for a full total-cost-of-ownership view.