EV vs Gas Savings Calculator
See how much an electric car saves you on fuel each year — and over five years — versus a comparable gas car.
Is an EV cheaper to run than a gas car?
On fuel alone, almost always. At this tool's defaults — 12,000 miles a year, $0.16/kWh electricity and $3.40/gallon gas — an EV at 3.5 mi/kWh costs about $549 a year to charge versus roughly $1,457 in gasoline for a 28 MPG car. That is about $909 saved a year, or near $4,540 over five years.
Your numbers
Annual fuel savings
$909
EV vs gas
5-year savings
$4,543
EV cost per mile
$0.05
vs 0.12 gas
Insight — Most of an EV's lifetime savings come from cheaper 'fuel': electricity at home is typically a fraction of the per-mile cost of gasoline. The gap widens as gas prices rise or as you drive more miles each year.
Data behind the defaults
- $0.17/kWh·Editorial estimate· as of 2026-06-01· medium confidence
- $3.4/gal·Editorial estimate· as of 2026-06-01· medium confidence
These defaults are starting points from the sources above — every field is editable, and results are estimates, not quotes. All data sources →
What if Annual mileage changes?
| Annual mileage | Annual fuel savings |
|---|---|
| 6,000 mi | $454 |
| 12,000 mi · now | $909 |
| 18,000 mi | $1,363 |
| 24,000 mi | $1,817 |
Run the real EV numbers
Charging, payback and running cost depend on your mileage and local prices — benchmark them before you commit.
Explore EV toolsFree · No sign-up · Independent, source-based math
For context: at roughly the 2026 US averages of $0.16/kWh and $3.40/gal, a 3.5 mi/kWh EV works out to about 4.6¢ per mile to fuel versus roughly 12.1¢ per mile for a 28 MPG gas car. Replace the prices and efficiency above with your own to see your figure.
How this calculator works
The calculator compares only the energy cost of driving the same miles in each car. It converts your annual mileage into kilowatt-hours for the EV (miles ÷ mi/kWh) and gallons for the gas car (miles ÷ MPG), prices each at the rate you enter, and subtracts to show annual and five-year fuel savings plus the cost per mile of each. It deliberately isolates fuel so you can see that single line item clearly; purchase price, incentives and maintenance live in the EV payback calculator.
Formula
EV fuel cost = (annual miles ÷ EV efficiency in mi/kWh) × electricity price per kWh. Gas cost = (annual miles ÷ MPG) × gas price per gallon. Annual savings = gas cost − EV cost; 5-year savings = annual savings × 5.
Worked example
12,000 miles ÷ 3.5 mi/kWh = 3,429 kWh × $0.16 = $549 to charge. 12,000 ÷ 28 MPG = 429 gallons × $3.40 = $1,457 in gas. Savings ≈ $909 a year (4.6¢ vs 12.1¢ per mile), about $4,540 over five years.
What affects your result
- →Annual miles driven — more miles widen the gap
- →Electricity price per kWh (home rates beat public fast charging)
- →Gas price per gallon
- →EV efficiency in mi/kWh
- →Gas car fuel economy (MPG)
What this estimate includes
- ✓Annual and 5-year fuel (energy) savings
- ✓Electricity and gasoline cost per year
- ✓Cost per mile for each car
What it does not include
- ×Vehicle purchase price and any EV price premium
- ×Federal, state or utility incentives
- ×Insurance, maintenance and depreciation
- ×Public DC fast-charging premiums beyond your entered rate
- ×Fuel only — for total break-even use the EV payback calculator
Good to know
Clear, practical answers about the ev vs gas savings calculator.
How much does an EV really save on fuel each year?＋
For a typical 12,000-mile-a-year driver, an efficient EV often costs around $550 a year to charge versus $1,450 or more in gasoline for a comparable car — savings of roughly $900 a year, or about $4,500 over five years. Your exact number depends on local electricity and gas prices.
Does home charging or public charging change the math?＋
Yes. Home charging at residential rates is usually the lowest-cost way to fuel an EV. Public DC fast charging can cost two to four times more per kWh, which narrows or even erases the savings if you rely on it heavily. This tool assumes your blended price per kWh.
What about higher electricity prices?＋
Even in high-cost electricity markets, EVs usually stay cheaper per mile than gas because they convert energy far more efficiently. Raise the electricity price field to your local rate to see the honest comparison for where you live.
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