EV vs Gas Cost Comparison

How to Use This Tool

Enter your annual driving distance, then fill in all EV and gas vehicle details including efficiency, fuel/energy rates, purchase prices, and recurring costs like maintenance and insurance.

Select your distance unit (miles or kilometers) and comparison period in years, then click Calculate to see a detailed cost breakdown.

Use the Reset button to clear all fields and start a new comparison.

Formula and Logic

Total cost for each vehicle type is calculated as:

Total Cost = Adjusted Purchase Price + (Annual Fuel Cost × Years) + (Annual Maintenance Cost × Years) + (Annual Insurance Cost × Years)

For EVs: Adjusted Purchase Price = Sticker Price - Tax Credits/Rebates. Annual Fuel Cost = (Annual Miles / EV Efficiency in miles/kWh) × Electricity Rate per kWh.

For Gas Vehicles: Annual Fuel Cost = (Annual Miles / Gas Efficiency in MPG) × Gas Price per Gallon.

All distance values are converted to miles automatically if you select kilometers as the input unit.

Practical Notes

Real-world efficiency varies based on driving conditions: EVs lose 20-30% range in freezing temperatures, while gas vehicles see 10-20% lower MPG in cold weather or stop-and-go traffic.

EV maintenance costs are typically 50% lower than gas vehicles, as they have no oil changes, spark plugs, or exhaust systems to service. Gas vehicles require regular oil changes, tire rotations, and scheduled engine maintenance.

Insurance rates for EVs may be higher in some regions due to expensive battery repair costs, but many insurers offer green vehicle discounts.

EV depreciation is currently steeper than gas vehicles due to rapid battery technology improvements, but this gap is narrowing as EV adoption increases.

Why This Tool Is Useful

Fleet managers can use this tool to decide between transitioning to electric delivery vehicles or keeping gas fleets. Individual drivers can see if federal or state EV tax credits offset higher upfront purchase prices over time.

It accounts for often-overlooked recurring costs like maintenance and insurance, which are major factors in long-term ownership expenses.

You can adjust inputs to test scenarios like rising gas prices or falling electricity rates to see how they impact long-term savings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to include home charging station installation costs in this calculation?

This tool does not include charging station costs by default. If you plan to install a Level 2 home charger, add that cost to the EV purchase price field to get a more accurate total.

How do I find my local electricity rate?

Check your monthly utility bill for the "supply" or "energy charge" per kWh. Residential rates in the US average $0.13 per kWh, but rates vary widely by state and utility provider.

Does this calculation account for EV battery replacement costs?

Most EV batteries are warrantied for 8-10 years or 100,000 miles, and failure rates are low. If you plan to keep the vehicle beyond the warranty period, you can add an estimated battery replacement cost to the EV purchase price field.

Additional Guidance

When entering efficiency values, use EPA estimates for EVs (miles per kWh) and gas vehicles (MPG) for the most accurate results. Real-world efficiency is often 10-15% lower than EPA ratings for both vehicle types.

If you qualify for multiple EV incentives (federal, state, local), add them together in the tax credit field. Some regions also offer HOVs lane access or reduced registration fees not included here.

For fleet comparisons, use average efficiency and maintenance costs across all vehicles in your fleet rather than individual vehicle specs.