EV vs Gas Cost Calculator — Compare Annual Fuel Costs
Calculate and compare the true annual fuel cost of driving an electric vehicle versus a gasoline car. Includes charging costs, miles per year and CO2 savings.
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Annual fuel cost comparison
Gas car annual fuel cost
$1,400
EV annual charging cost
$480
Annual savings with EV
5-year fuel savings
CO2 reduction
EV cost per mile
How to use this calculator
- Enter your annual mileage (check your odometer or estimate based on your driving habits).
- Enter the current average gas price in your area.
- Enter your current car's fuel efficiency in MPG (miles per gallon).
- Enter your home electricity rate in $/kWh (check your bill or use the state selector).
- Enter your EV's efficiency in miles per kWh (typically 3–4 for most EVs).
- Your annual fuel cost comparison, 5-year savings and CO2 reduction appear instantly.
Understanding your results
Gas cost is calculated as (annual miles ÷ MPG) × gas price per gallon.
EV charging cost is calculated as (annual miles ÷ miles per kWh) × electricity rate.
CO2 savings accounts for both tailpipe emissions from gasoline (~8.887 kg CO2/gallon) and the emissions from electricity generation (~0.386 kg CO2/kWh US average).
Note: Electricity rates vary significantly. Home charging (overnight) is typically much cheaper than public DC fast charging.
Frequently asked questions
At current average prices ($3.50/gallon gas, $0.14/kWh electricity), driving an EV costs roughly 3-4 times less per mile than a comparable gas car. The exact savings depend heavily on your local electricity and gas prices.
Tesla Model 3: ~4.0 mi/kWh. Tesla Model Y: ~3.5 mi/kWh. Chevy Bolt: ~3.5 mi/kWh. Ford F-150 Lightning: ~2.2 mi/kWh. Rivian R1T: ~2.0 mi/kWh. BMW iX: ~3.0 mi/kWh.
This calculator assumes home charging. Public DC fast charging typically costs $0.25–0.45/kWh — 2-3x more expensive. If you primarily charge at home, these results are accurate. If you charge mostly at public chargers, the savings will be lower.
No — this calculator focuses on fuel costs only. EVs typically cost $5,000–10,000 more to purchase but qualify for a $7,500 federal tax credit (for eligible models). Total cost of ownership favors EVs for most drivers over a 5-year period.