EV vs Gas Savings Calculator

Electric cars usually cost far less to fuel than gas cars, but the size of the gap depends on how much you drive, local gas and electricity prices, and each vehicle efficiency. This EV vs gas savings calculator compares the two on annual fuel cost and shows what you save per year and across five years. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is saved.

How the EV vs gas savings calculator works

The EV vs gas savings calculator works out each vehicle annual fuel bill and subtracts one from the other. For the gas car it divides your yearly miles by miles per gallon and multiplies by the price of gas. For the electric car it divides yearly miles by efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour and multiplies by your electricity rate. The difference is your annual saving, which it then projects across five years.

With the default numbers – 12,000 miles a year, a 28 mpg gas car at 3.50 a gallon, and an EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh at 16 cents – the gas car costs about 1,500 dollars a year to fuel while the EV costs about 549. That is roughly 951 dollars saved each year, or about 4,757 over five years, before you even count lower maintenance.

What changes the savings

High mileage widens the gap, because the per-mile advantage of electricity compounds over more miles. Expensive gas and cheap electricity favor the EV, while a very efficient hybrid and pricey public charging narrow the difference. The single biggest variable for most people is whether they charge at home or rely on public fast chargers.

These figures cover fuel only. Electric cars also tend to need less routine maintenance, though insurance can run higher. To compare full running costs, the Department of Energy provides a vehicle cost calculator, and you can look up official efficiency ratings for any model on fueleconomy.gov.

Reading the five-year number

The five-year projection assumes your driving and prices hold steady, which rarely happens exactly, but it puts the yearly saving into a scale that matters when you are comparing car prices. A saving of several thousand dollars in fuel can offset a higher purchase price on an electric model.

If you want a longer view, multiply the annual saving by however many years you plan to keep the car. Pair the result with the purchase-price difference and any incentives to judge whether going electric pays off for your situation.

Frequently asked questions

How much can I save switching from gas to electric?

Many drivers save several hundred to over a thousand dollars a year on fuel alone, depending on mileage and local prices. Enter your own numbers above to see a personalized annual and five-year estimate.

Does this include maintenance savings?

No, the calculator compares fuel cost only. Electric cars often have lower routine maintenance, so real total savings can be higher, though insurance may cost more.

What if I use public fast charging?

Public DC fast charging costs more than home charging, which reduces the savings. Raise the electricity rate to reflect public pricing, or blend home and public rates if you use both.

Do gas prices change the result a lot?

Yes. Because the gas car cost scales directly with the price per gallon, higher gas prices increase your savings from driving electric, while lower prices shrink them.

Is an EV always cheaper to fuel?

Almost always for home charging, but not guaranteed. A very efficient hybrid combined with cheap gas and expensive public charging can close the gap, which is why entering your real numbers matters.

These figures are estimates for general information only. Explore more automotive calculators, or price a single charge with the EV charging cost calculator.