About the EV vs Gas Calculator
This EV vs gas calculator compares the total cost of owning an electric vehicle with a gasoline car over the same number of years. It combines each car’s purchase price and any incentive, yearly fuel or electricity cost from your own mileage and local prices, maintenance, and the resale value at the end, then shows which is cheaper overall and how long the EV takes to pay back any extra upfront cost.
Use it when shopping for your next car, when weighing a specific EV against a comparable gas model, or when checking how your electricity rate and driving habits change the answer. Drivers who cover many miles and charge at home at low rates tend to save the most; low-mileage drivers who rely on expensive public fast charging may not.
Electricity use is entered as miles per kWh at the wall, so include charging losses if you know them. Prices are held constant over time, and the tailpipe CO₂ figure uses the EPA factor of about 8.887 kg per gallon of gasoline; it does not include power-plant emissions from charging. The federal clean vehicle tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so as of 2026 only state, utility or dealer incentives belong in the incentives field.
With the default inputs, the ev savings over ownership is $4,085.71. Change any value above to recalculate instantly.
How to use the ev vs gas calculator
- 1Enter the prices of the EV and the gas car you are comparing, plus any EV incentives.
- 2Enter your yearly mileage, the gas car’s mpg and your local gas price.
- 3Enter the EV’s efficiency and what you pay per kWh to charge.
- 4Adjust maintenance, years of ownership and expected resale values.
- 5Check total savings and the payback period.
Formula and method
Each car’s total cost is its purchase price (less any EV incentive), plus yearly energy and maintenance costs multiplied by the years of ownership, minus its resale value (a percentage of the original price). The EV saving is the gas total minus the EV total.
The payback period divides the EV’s extra upfront cost by the yearly running-cost saving (fuel plus maintenance), ignoring resale. If the EV costs no more upfront it pays back immediately; if running costs are not lower it never pays back. Prices are constant and there is no discounting.
- mpg
- Gas car fuel economy in miles per gallon
- mi/kWh
- EV efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour
- Resale
- Resale % × original purchase price
Worked examples
$42k EV vs $32k gas car, 12,000 miles, 8 years
Gas costs 12,000 ÷ 30 × $3.50 = $1,400 a year versus 12,000 ÷ 3.5 × $0.15 ≈ $514 for electricity. With $500 lower maintenance the EV saves about $1,386 a year, paying back its $10,000 premium in 7.2 years and saving about $4,086 over 8 years after resale.
High-mileage driver with cheap home charging
Driving 15,000 miles in a 25-mpg car costs $2,340 a year in gas versus about $545 of electricity. Adding $700 less maintenance, the EV pays back its $8,000 premium in about 3.2 years and saves about $17,445 over a decade.
Low mileage and expensive public charging
At 30¢ per kWh the EV costs $600 a year to charge, more than the $480 of gas for an efficient 40-mpg car. Only $180 a year is saved overall, so the $7,000 premium would take 38.9 years to recover and the gas car is $4,700 cheaper over 5 years.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electric car cheaper to run than a gas car?+
Usually per mile, especially when charging at home. At 15¢ per kWh and 3.5 miles per kWh, electricity costs about 4.3¢ a mile, while a 30-mpg car at $3.50 a gallon costs about 11.7¢ a mile. Expensive DC fast charging can narrow or erase that gap.
Do EVs really cost less to maintain?+
EVs have no oil changes, spark plugs or exhaust systems and regenerative braking reduces brake wear, so routine maintenance is typically lower. Tires can wear faster because EVs are heavier, and battery replacement outside warranty is a potential large cost.
How do I find my EV’s miles per kWh?+
Check the car’s trip computer or the EPA rating: divide 100 by the kWh/100 mi figure on the window sticker. For example, 28 kWh/100 mi is about 3.6 mi/kWh. Real-world efficiency drops in cold weather and at highway speeds.
Is there still a federal EV tax credit?+
The federal clean vehicle credit for new and used EVs ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. Some states and utilities still offer rebates or charging incentives, which you can enter in the incentives field.
Do electric cars hold their value?+
Resale values vary widely by brand and model, and some EVs have depreciated faster than comparable gas cars as technology and prices change. Adjust the resale percentages to match used-market listings for the models you are considering.
Results are estimates for educational purposes and are not financial advice. Rates, fees and terms vary — confirm with your lender or a licensed advisor before making decisions.