Buying tool
EV vs gas energy cost calculator
Enter yearly miles, EV efficiency, charging prices and gas figures to compare one-year and five-year energy costs. Start from a preset or adjust each field — defaults use US prices, and the update button pulls the latest national averages from the U.S. EIA.
EV energy saving per year
$1,092
EV energy cost per mile is 37% of the gas car's
At these inputs, the EV's yearly energy cost is $648, saving $1,092 over gas each year and $5,460 over five years.
| EV | Gas car | Difference | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per mile | $0.05 | $0.14 | $0.09 |
| Per month | $54 | $145 | $91 |
| Per year | $648 | $1,740 | $1,092 |
| Five years | $3,240 | $8,700 | $5,460 |
Yearly energy use: 3,600 kWh / 400 gal
Price-gap payback
How it is calculated
EV yearly energy cost = annual miles ÷ 100 × kWh per 100 miles × price per kWh. Gas yearly energy cost = annual miles ÷ MPG × price per gallon.
When the public charging share is above zero, the electricity price is the weighted blend of the home and public prices.
"Fetch latest US prices" pulls the national weekly retail gasoline price and the monthly residential electricity price from the U.S. EIA open API; both fields stay editable.
Only energy spend is counted. Purchase price, tax, insurance, maintenance and resale value are excluded, and prices stay fixed at the entered values.
How to fill each field
- EV efficiencyUse the EPA window-sticker figure in kWh/100 mi, or the car's real-world readout; most EVs run 25–35.
- Charging priceUS residential electricity averages about $0.18/kWh (EIA). DC fast charging commonly runs $0.35–0.55/kWh including fees.
- Gas figuresEnter the gas car's real MPG and the local price per gallon; the update button fills the latest EIA national average.
FAQ
Why are maintenance, insurance and resale excluded?
This page only counts energy spend. EV maintenance is generally cheaper than a gas car's, while insurance and resale vary by model, so including them would remove a like-for-like baseline. Use the energy saving to judge the scale, then add maintenance and insurance quotes for a fuller picture.
What public charging share should I enter?
Drivers with a home charger who only fast-charge on trips can use 10–30%. Without home charging, 80–100% is closer to reality.
Are 30 kWh/100 mi and 30 MPG reasonable reference values?
30 kWh/100 mi is the EPA-class figure for a mainstream EV, and 30 MPG is close to a new midsize sedan's combined rating. SUVs and performance models run higher on both.
Will the result match my actual spend?
It is an estimate. Efficiency moves with temperature and driving style, and gas and electricity prices drift over time, so treat the result as an order-of-magnitude comparison rather than a precise bill.