EV Charging Cost vs Gas Calculator
Should you switch to electric? This free EV charging cost vs gas calculator compares what you pay to fuel a gas car against what you'd pay to charge an EV, and shows your estimated yearly savings in seconds.
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Results update as you type. All figures are estimates.
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How to use this calculator
Start with your driving: enter how many miles you drive in a typical year. Check your odometer or insurance estimate if you're unsure — most US drivers land between 10,000 and 15,000 miles.
Next, describe your gas car: its combined fuel economy in MPG and the gas price you usually pay per gallon. Then describe the EV: its efficiency in kWh per mile (use the mi/kWh switch if your car shows that instead) and your electricity rate per kWh.
Finally, adjust the charging mix. Home charging is far cheaper than public fast charging, so set the percentage of charging you do at home and the rate you pay at public chargers. The calculator blends both rates into your real charging cost.
How it works
The math is straightforward. Yearly gas cost = (miles driven ÷ MPG) × gas price per gallon. Yearly EV charging cost = miles driven × EV efficiency (kWh per mile) × your blended electricity rate, where the blended rate = home rate × home share + public rate × public share. Yearly savings = gas cost − EV cost.
Assumptions, stated honestly: gas prices and electricity rates stay at the values you enter for the whole year, your efficiency is constant, and charging losses (roughly 10–15% of electricity lost as heat) are not included — so EV costs are a slightly optimistic estimate. These are fueling costs only: maintenance, insurance, and the purchase price of the car are not part of this comparison.
Frequently asked questions
Is it really cheaper to charge an EV than to buy gas?
Usually yes. At typical US prices, an EV driven 12,000 miles a year costs roughly $600 to $900 in electricity at home, while a 28 MPG gas car costs about $1,500 in fuel. Public fast charging is much pricier than home charging, so your mix of home vs public charging is the biggest factor.
What EV efficiency number should I enter?
Most EVs use between 0.28 and 0.38 kWh per mile, which is about 2.6 to 3.6 miles per kWh. Small sedans sit at the low end and large trucks and SUVs at the high end. If your car shows miles per kWh instead, use the unit switch next to the field.
Why does the calculator ask about home vs public charging?
Because the price gap is huge: home charging often costs $0.12 to $0.20 per kWh, while public fast chargers typically charge $0.40 to $0.60 per kWh. The calculator blends the two rates according to the percentage of charging you do at home.
Does the calculator include charging losses?
No, and that is an intentional simplification. About 10 to 15 percent of electricity is lost as heat during charging, so real EV costs run a little higher than the raw kWh math shows. Think of the result as a slightly optimistic estimate.
Are these results exact, or estimates?
They are estimates. Gas prices, electricity rates, weather, driving style, and hills all move the real numbers. The tool also covers fueling costs only, not maintenance, insurance, or the purchase price of the car.