EV vs Gas Cost Calculator
Decide if an EV makes financial sense for you. Compare purchase price, fuel/charging cost, maintenance, tax credits, and resale value over 5 years.
Electric Vehicle
Gasoline Vehicle
How to use EV vs Gas Cost Calculator
This EV-vs-gas calculator compares the cost of driving an electric vehicle against a gasoline car so you can see which is cheaper for your mileage and energy prices. It weighs fuel cost per mile, annual fuel/charging spend and the cumulative difference over years of ownership, helping you decide whether the EV’s savings justify any price premium.
- Enter your annual mileage.
- Add the gas car’s fuel economy and local fuel price.
- Add the EV’s efficiency and your electricity rate.
- Optionally include the purchase price difference.
- Review cost per mile, annual savings and the break-even year.
Your data never leaves your device — 100% private processing.
Comparing cost per mile
For gas, cost per mile = fuel price ÷ miles per gallon. For an EV, cost per mile = electricity rate × kWh per mile (efficiency). EVs are usually much cheaper to "fuel" per mile because electric motors are efficient and electricity is often cheaper per unit of energy, but the gap depends heavily on local gas and electricity prices.
Total cost of ownership and break-even
EVs can cost more upfront but save on fuel and often maintenance (no oil changes, fewer moving parts). The break-even point is where cumulative fuel savings offset the higher purchase price. Home charging versus public fast charging, available incentives, and resale value all shift the comparison, so test a few scenarios.
| Vehicle | Assumption | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|
| Gas car | 30 mpg · $3.50/gal | $1,400 |
| EV (home) | 0.30 kWh/mi · $0.15 | $540 |
| Difference | — | ~$860 saved/yr |
Worked examples
Fuel only
Inputs: 12,000 mi · 30 mpg @ $3.50 vs EV @ $0.15
Result: ~$860/yr saved with EV
With $8k premium
Inputs: apply savings to price gap
Result: break-even ~9 years
Glossary
- Cost per mile
- The energy cost to drive one mile, used to compare vehicles.
- MPG
- Miles per gallon — a gas car’s fuel economy.
- kWh per mile
- An EV’s electricity use per mile; lower is more efficient.
- Break-even point
- The year fuel savings offset a higher EV purchase price.
Related reading
Frequently Asked Questions
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Why use EV vs Gas Cost Calculator?
- Transparent formulas so you understand every calculation
- Supports multiple currencies and regional tax rules
- Saves you from spreadsheet errors with validated inputs
- Shareable results for discussions with advisors or partners
Common use cases
- Calculate how long to pay off a credit card balance
- Model different mortgage scenarios before house hunting
- Forecast investment growth with compound interest
- Break even analysis for a new product or service
- Compare net salary after tax across different countries
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