Gas vs Electric Car Cost per Year Calculator
Annual energy cost, gas car vs EV.
Gas car fuel cost / year
EV charging cost / year
Yearly savings with EV
Savings over 5 years
How to use this calculator
Enter your annual miles, the gas car's fuel economy, gas price, and your EV's efficiency and electricity rates. Adjust the home-charge share to match your habit.
What the result means
This compares fuel and energy only. It does not include the higher purchase price of most EVs, or their lower maintenance. Use it to size the day-to-day savings, then add the car costs you actually face.
What the comparison covers
This tool compares only the fuel or energy cost of driving the same miles in a gas car versus an EV. It multiplies your annual miles by each car's per-mile energy cost, which keeps the comparison fair because usage is identical.
Worked example
12,000 miles a year at $3.20 gas in a 28 MPG car costs about $1,370. The same miles in an EV doing 3.6 mi/kWh, charged 85% at home at $0.15 and 15% in public at $0.45, costs about $560 - a yearly saving near $810.
The assumptions that move the answer
- Public charging share is the biggest lever; relying on fast chargers erases much of the saving.
- EV efficiency (mi/kWh) varies from about 2.5 for big trucks to 4+ for efficient sedans.
- Gas price swings change the gas side; electricity prices are more stable.
What it does not compare
It leaves out purchase price, insurance, maintenance and resale value - all of which can favor one side or the other. Use this tool for the running-cost gap, then add the car costs you actually face.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EV always cheaper to run?
At home rates, almost always. The gap narrows if you rely on expensive public fast charging.
Do EVs really cost less per mile than gas?
At typical home electricity rates, yes - often half or less of the per-mile fuel cost of an efficient gas car.