EV vs gas calculator
Put your EV next to the gas car you'd otherwise buy. See the cost per mile, what you save each year, and how long it takes to earn back a higher sticker price.
Defaults: EIA U.S. residential electricity 18.3¢/kWh (July 2026); EIA U.S. regular gasoline $4.48 (week of 09/21/26). Upkeep figures are yours to set; we don't assume them. Insurance, depreciation and financing are not included.
How the comparison works
Fuel cost per mile is the fairest single comparison. For gas it is price per gallon ÷ MPG. For an EV it is EPA kWh per 100 miles ÷ 100 × your price per kWh, blended between home and public charging by the share you set. At $4.48 a gallon, a 30 mpg car costs 14.9¢ a mile; a Tesla Model Y charged at the average home rate costs about 5.5¢.
The “gas price where they tie” tells you how cheap gasoline would have to get before the EV stops saving on fuel. The MPGe calculator converts between MPGe, kWh/100 mi and miles per kWh if you're reading a window sticker. The federal purchase credit is gone for cars bought after September 30, 2025; see EV tax credits in 2026.
Questions drivers ask
Is an EV cheaper to fuel than a gas car?
Usually, especially if you charge at home. At the U.S. average home price and gas price used as defaults here, a typical EV costs well under half as much per mile as a 30 mpg car. Relying mostly on DC fast charging can erase much of the gap.
How do I compare MPG and kWh per 100 miles?
Convert both to cost per mile: gas price ÷ MPG, and kWh/100 mi × electricity price ÷ 100. The MPGe calculator does the unit conversions (EPA uses 33.7 kWh as the energy in one gallon of gasoline).
Is there still a federal tax credit to lower the purchase price?
Not for new or used EVs acquired after September 30, 2025, according to the IRS. See our EV tax credit page for what is still available.
What about maintenance?
EVs have no oil changes, spark plugs or exhaust, and regenerative braking reduces brake wear. Tyres can wear faster because EVs are heavy. This calculator lets you enter a yearly maintenance figure for each car rather than assuming one.