How EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator Works?
This tool works by subtracting the yearly charging cost of an electric vehicle (EV) from the yearly fuel cost of a gasoline car. The result is the yearly saving of driving electric.
Price the gas car
Calculate yearly fuel cost. The default is 15,000 miles at 28 miles per gallon (MPG) and $3.60 per gallon: $1,928.
Price the EV
Calculate yearly charging cost. The default is 15,000 miles at 3.5 miles per kilowatt-hour (kWh) and $0.15 per kWh: $642.
Enter both yearly costs
Type the gas car total, then the EV charging total.
Read the EV saving
The tool returns yearly dollars saved by the EV.
EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator Formula
The formula is EV Savings = Gasoline Yearly Cost − Electric Yearly Cost.
EV Savings = Gasoline Yearly Cost − Electric Yearly CostFormula variables
- Gasoline Yearly Cost
- (Miles ÷ MPG) × Price per Gallon.
- Electric Yearly Cost
- (Miles ÷ Miles per kWh) × Price per kWh.
Worked example
- Gas Car (28 MPG @ $3.60/gal): $1,928.00/yr
- EV (3.5 mi/kWh @ $0.15/kWh): $642.00/yr
- Gas car: (15,000 ÷ 28) × $3.60 = $1,928.
- EV: (15,000 ÷ 3.5) × $0.15 = $642.
- Savings: $1,928 − $642 = $1,286.00 per year.
Result: $1,286.00 ($/year EV savings)
The US average residential electricity price sits near $0.16 to $0.17 per kWh. Charging at home overnight on a time-of-use plan often drops the price to $0.08 to $0.12 per kWh.
EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator Conversion Table
The table shows the yearly EV saving for 3 gasoline costs and 3 EV charging costs.
Rows: Gas Car (28 MPG @ $3.60/gal) ($/yr). Columns: EV (3.5 mi/kWh @ $0.15/kWh) ($/yr). Cells: $/year EV savings.
| $/yr | $450.00/yr | $642.00/yr | $900.00/yr |
|---|---|---|---|
| $1,500.00/yr | $1,050.00 | $858.00 | $600.00 |
| $1,928.00/yr | $1,478.00 | $1,286.00 | $1,028.00 |
| $2,500.00/yr | $2,050.00 | $1,858.00 | $1,600.00 |
A driver spending $2,500 per year on gasoline saves $2,050.00 by switching to an EV that costs $450 per year to charge.
What is EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator?
The EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator is a tool that compares the yearly energy cost of an electric vehicle with a gasoline car. The tool shows the running-cost saving of going electric.
EVs turn more than 77% of grid electricity into energy at the wheels, while gasoline vehicles turn 12% to 30% of fuel energy into motion, according to the US Department of Energy (DOE). That efficiency gap drives the cost gap.
The tool compares energy costs only. Insurance, maintenance, and purchase price need separate comparisons.
What are the uses of EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator?
There are 4 main uses of the EV vs Gasoline Cost Calculator: deciding on an EV purchase, estimating EV payback, comparing charging plans, and planning fleet electrification.
Deciding on an EV purchase
Buyers compare yearly charging costs with yearly gas costs.
Estimating EV payback
Owners pair the saving with the price premium to find break-even.
Comparing charging plans
Drivers test home, workplace, and public charging prices.
Planning fleet electrification
Fleet managers price the fuel saving of switching vans to electric.
Need every metric in one place? Open the main MPG Cost Calculator or browse all 101 fuel calculators.