EV Versus Gas Energy Cost CalculatorFree online financial calculator — instant results, no sign-up
Compare energy costs using electricity drawn from the wall and gasoline consumption.
Estimates only, based on the inputs and assumptions shown. This is not financial, investment, tax, or legal advice. Prices, rates and local rules may change; crypto scenarios do not predict returns. Confirm important decisions with a qualified professional.
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About the EV Versus Gas Energy Cost Calculator
The EV Versus Gas Energy Cost Calculator compares annual electricity and gasoline spending for the same driving distance. It uses electricity drawn from the wall, rather than just energy delivered to the EV battery, alongside gasoline fuel economy and local energy prices. The result shows how much more or less you would spend on energy by driving the EV.
- Annual distance (miles)
- The distance driven by each vehicle over one year, measured in miles and defaulting to 12000.
- Wall energy per 100 miles (kWh)
- The electricity drawn from the wall to drive the EV 100 miles, including charging losses, measured in kilowatt-hours and defaulting to 32.
- Electricity price ($/kWh)
- The price paid for charging electricity in dollars per kilowatt-hour, defaulting to 0.16.
- Gas fuel economy (mpg)
- The gasoline vehicle's fuel economy in miles per US gallon, defaulting to 30.
- Gasoline price ($/gallon)
- The price paid for gasoline in dollars per US gallon, defaulting to 3.5.
Formula and method
C_EV = (D / 100) × W × P_e; C_gas = (D / M) × P_g; S = C_gas − C_EV.
- DAnnual distance in miles.
- WWall electricity consumption in kWh per 100 miles.
- P_eElectricity price in dollars per kWh.
- MGasoline fuel economy in miles per US gallon.
- P_gGasoline price in dollars per US gallon.
- C_EVAnnual EV energy cost in dollars.
- C_gasAnnual gasoline cost in dollars.
- SAnnual EV savings in dollars, calculated as gasoline cost minus EV energy cost.
First, multiply annual distance divided by 100 by wall energy per 100 miles to find annual electricity use, then multiply by the electricity price. Next, divide annual distance by gasoline fuel economy to find annual gallons consumed, then multiply by the gasoline price. Subtract EV energy cost from gasoline cost to find savings. With the defaults, EV electricity use is (12000 / 100) × 32 = 3840 kWh, costing 3840 × $0.16 = $614.40. Gasoline use is 12000 / 30 = 400 gallons, costing 400 × $3.5 = $1,400.00. Annual EV savings are $1,400.00 − $614.40 = $785.60.
Worked example
These are the calculator's starting values and the results it actually produces for them.
Inputs
- Annual distance12000 miles
- Wall energy per 100 miles32 kWh
- Electricity price0.16 $/kWh
- Gas fuel economy30 mpg
- Gasoline price3.5 $/gallon
Results
- Annual EV energy cost$614.40
- Annual gasoline cost$1,400.00
- Annual EV savings$785.60
How to use the EV Versus Gas Energy Cost Calculator
- 1Enter your annual driving distance in miles; the calculator applies this distance to both vehicles.
- 2Enter the EV's wall electricity consumption in kWh per 100 miles, making sure charging losses are already included.
- 3Enter your electricity price per kWh, using a charging-energy-weighted average if you charge at multiple rates.
- 4Enter the gasoline vehicle's fuel economy in mpg and your gasoline price per gallon.
- 5Review the annual EV energy cost, annual gasoline cost, and annual EV savings to compare energy spending.
Reading your result
Annual EV energy cost is the estimated yearly charge for electricity drawn from the wall: $614.40 with the defaults. Annual gasoline cost is the estimated yearly fuel spending for the same distance: $1,400.00 with the defaults. Annual EV savings is gasoline cost minus EV energy cost: $785.60 with the defaults. Positive savings mean the EV costs less to power; negative savings mean it costs more; zero means equal energy costs.
Limitations
This is an energy-cost comparison, not a total ownership-cost calculation. It excludes purchase prices, financing, depreciation, insurance, maintenance, incentives, charger installation, and fees not included in the entered energy prices. It assumes both vehicles cover the same annual mileage and that consumption and prices remain constant. Weather, speed, terrain, towing, and cabin heating or cooling can change actual consumption. Wall energy must already include charging losses; battery-only consumption can understate electricity spending. Fuel economy must be greater than zero, and distance, consumption, and prices should be nonnegative.
Common questions
Why does this calculator use wall energy instead of battery energy?+
You pay for electricity supplied by the charger, including energy lost during charging. Using wall consumption captures those losses; do not add a separate charging-loss allowance if your entered value already includes them.
What electricity price should I enter if I use home and public charging?+
Use total charging electricity charges divided by total kWh supplied over a representative period. This gives a kWh-weighted average rate; separate session, parking, or subscription fees are not captured unless you allocate them into that rate.
Do the default savings mean an EV is cheaper to own overall?+
No. The default $785.60 in annual EV savings covers electricity versus gasoline only. Any purchase-price difference and other ownership costs must be evaluated separately.
Should I use rated or observed gasoline mpg and EV consumption?+
Observed mpg and wall kWh per 100 miles from comparable driving conditions usually make the comparison more representative of your use. Rated values can provide a starting point, but verify that the EV figure includes charging losses and that mpg uses US gallons.
Does the calculator save my information?+
Calculations run in your browser. While signed in, inputs and results are automatically recorded in account history; saving a result creates a separate saved record.
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Results are estimates for informational purposes and are not financial, medical or legal advice.