EV vs. Gas Vehicle Cost Calculator
Compare 5-year fuel pump expenses vs home and Supercharger electric vehicle charging costs, including routine maintenance.
Vehicle & Energy Inputs
โก Total Cost of Ownership Insight
While electric vehicles often carry a slight upfront sticker premium, EV drivers save an average of $1,200 to $2,000 per year on fuel and maintenance because electric motors contain roughly 20 moving parts compared to over 2,000 in an internal combustion engine.
EV vs Gas Fuel & Maintenance Formula
Annual Gas Cost = (Miles / MPG) ร Gas Price + Maint; Annual EV Cost = ((Miles / 100) ร kWh/100mi) ร Blended $/kWh + Maint; 5-Year Savings = 5 ร (Gas Total โ EV Total)- Annual Mileage: Total distance driven per year (US average ~13,500 miles/year).
- Gas Parameters: Vehicle miles per gallon (MPG) and current local gas price per gallon.
- Electric Parameters: EV consumption in kWh per 100 miles (typically 25-35 kWh/100mi) and home electric rate ($/kWh).
- Charging Mix: Percentage split between low-cost residential home charging and public DC Fast Supercharging.
- Maintenance Differential: Lower routine maintenance for EVs (no oil changes, spark plugs, or exhaust systems).
Step-by-Step Worked Example
Calculation Steps:
- 5-Year Gas Fuel = (67,500 miles / 28 MPG) ร $3.50 = $8,437.50
- 5-Year Gas Maintenance = $900 ร 5 = $4,500.00 (Gas Total = $12,937.50)
- Blended EV Power Rate = (0.85 ร $0.16) + (0.15 ร $0.42) = $0.199 / kWh
- 5-Year EV Electricity = (67,500 / 100) ร 30 kWh ร $0.199 = $4,029.75
- 5-Year EV Maintenance = $400 ร 5 = $2,000.00 (EV Total = $6,029.75)
- Total 5-Year Net Savings with EV = $12,937.50 โ $6,029.75 = $6,907.75 (53.4% Saved)
How to Use This Calculator
- 1Enter your expected annual driving mileage (US average is ~13,500 miles).
- 2Input local gasoline price per gallon in your active currency and gas vehicle MPG.
- 3Enter your residential home electricity rate per kWh and electric car consumption.
- 4Adjust the public fast-charging percentage slider (15% is standard for road trips).
- 5Inspect the 5-year side-by-side cost per mile and net financial advantage.
Assumptions & Limitations
- Assumes gasoline prices and electric utility rates remain relatively stable over the chosen timeframe.
- Calculates tailpipe emissions assuming 19.6 lbs CO2 per gallon of gasoline burned.
- Does not include vehicle depreciation or battery replacement within the standard 8-year manufacturer warranty.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cheaper is it to charge an EV compared to buying gas?
On average in the United States, charging an electric car at home costs the equivalent of roughly $1.10 to $1.30 per gallon of gasoline, offering over 60% savings on pure fuel costs.
Why do electric vehicles have lower maintenance costs?
Electric powertrains have roughly 20 moving parts compared to over 2,000 in an internal combustion engine. EVs do not require engine oil, transmission fluid, spark plugs, timing belts, catalytic converters, or frequent brake pad replacements (due to regenerative braking).
Does public fast charging negate EV fuel savings?
Public DC Fast Chargers (like Tesla Superchargers) cost roughly 2.5x to 3x more than home electricity ($0.35-$0.48/kWh). However, because most EV owners charge at home 80% to 90% of the time, overall annual savings remain very high.
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