EV vs Gas CalculatorElectric vs Gas Car Cost Comparison & Break-Even
An EV is cheaper to run, but it pays off only when the yearly savings cover its higher price.
Compare an electric car with a gas car on what matters: purchase price, charging versus fuel, and maintenance. See the yearly savings, total cost over the years you’ll own it and when the EV pays back its higher price — using your own mileage and prices.
Compare the two cars
⚡ Electric car
⛽ Gas car
🛣️ Your driving
The EV’s $7,000 higher price is paid back by $876 a year in lower running costs.
Pays back within 8 yearsCumulative cost of ownership (purchase + running)
Yearly running cost breakdown
| Cost per year | Electric | Gas | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy / fuel | $884 | $1,280 | $396 |
| Maintenance | $720 | $1,200 | $480 |
| Running total | $1,604 | $2,480 | $876 |
| Total over 8 yrs (incl. price) | $54,832 | $54,840 | $8 |
Is an EV cheaper than a gas car?
An EV is cheaper to run, but it pays off only when the yearly savings cover its higher price. Break-even years = (EV price − gas car price) ÷ (gas running cost − EV running cost). At 12,000 miles a year, 80% home charging and $3.20 gas, a $42,000 EV saves about $876 a year over a $35,000, 30 MPG gas car and breaks even in about 8.0 years.
Part of our Electric Vehicle calculators — for the core estimate, start with the EV Charging Cost Calculator.
How to compare an EV with a gas car
Enter both prices
Use the real out-the-door price for each, after any rebates or dealer discounts.
Add energy costs
Your home electricity rate, a public fast-charging rate and how much you’ll charge at home.
Add fuel and maintenance
MPG and gas price for the gas car, and a per-mile maintenance estimate for each.
Set your driving
Miles per year and how long you plan to keep the car.
EV vs gas cost formula
Gas fuel cost per year = miles ÷ MPG × gas price
Running cost = energy or fuel + maintenance
Yearly savings = gas running cost − EV running cost
Break-even years = (EV price − gas price) ÷ yearly savings
Blended electricity cost for the default example: 80% × $0.18 ÷ 0.90 + 20% × $0.45 ÷ 0.92 = about $0.258 per kWh stored in the battery.
For a precise charging figure, run the EV Charging Cost Calculator first and use its cost per mile here.
Example: $42,000 EV vs $35,000 gas car
| Per year (12,000 miles) | Electric | Gas | EV saves |
|---|---|---|---|
| Energy / fuel | $884 | $1,280 | $396 |
| Maintenance ($0.06 vs $0.10/mi) | $720 | $1,200 | $480 |
| Total running cost | $1,604 | $2,480 | $876 |
| Price difference | $7,000 | ||
| Break-even | $7,000 ÷ $876 ≈ 8.0 years |
These match the calculator’s defaults. Drive more miles, pay more for gas or charge more at home, and the EV pays back sooner.
What this comparison doesn’t include
- Resale value: depreciation differs by brand and model; see our Car Depreciation Calculator.
- Insurance: EVs can cost more to insure in some cases; compare real quotes.
- Home charger installation: a Level 2 install can add a one-time cost.
- Incentives: the federal clean vehicle tax credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, but some states and utilities still offer rebates — enter the EV price after any you qualify for.
- Battery replacement: most automakers warrant EV batteries for around 8 years or 100,000 miles; check the terms for the model you’re considering.
Resale value and insurance can swing the result — estimate them with the Car Depreciation Calculator and the Cost of Car Ownership Calculator.
When an EV saves the most money
- You drive a lot of miles each year.
- You can charge at home, especially on an off-peak rate.
- Gas prices in your area are high.
- The EV’s price is close to the comparable gas model.
- You keep cars for many years.
Related calculators
EV vs Gas Calculator FAQs
EVs usually cost less to fuel and maintain, but often cost more to buy. Whether the EV is cheaper overall depends on the price gap, your mileage, electricity and gas prices, and how long you keep the car.
Divide the price difference by the yearly running-cost savings. With a $7,000 gap and $876 a year in savings, it takes about 8 years.
It depends on mileage and prices. At 12,000 miles a year with mostly home charging, savings of several hundred to over a thousand dollars a year on fuel and maintenance are common.
With home charging at typical U.S. rates, yes — often around half the cost per mile of a 30 MPG gas car. Heavy reliance on DC fast charging narrows the gap.
Generally, yes. They skip oil changes and many engine and exhaust parts, and regenerative braking reduces brake wear. Tires can wear faster because EVs are heavy.
The federal clean vehicle credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. Some states and utilities still offer incentives.
No. It compares purchase price and running costs. Use the Car Depreciation Calculator to estimate resale values separately.
It depends on your mileage, electricity and gas prices, and the price gap between the EV and a comparable gas car. If you drive a lot and can charge at home, an EV often pays back its higher price within the years most people keep a car.
About the developer
Manzoor Ahmad
Web Designer & Calculator Developer · 13+ years of web development and SEO experienceI’m a professional pharmacist turned tech geek, and I designed and coded this EV vs gas calculator myself. It doesn’t assume an answer: every price, rate and maintenance figure is editable, and the break-even math is shown in the worked example.
Found a number that looks wrong, or want a feature added? Tell me through my author page — corrections are fixed and re-dated.
Sources
- U.S. DOE & EPA — FuelEconomy.gov: electric vehicles
- U.S. DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center — Charging electric vehicles at home
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Short-Term Energy Outlook: electricity
- Internal Revenue Service — Clean vehicle tax credits
Disclaimer: Estimates are for comparison and depend on your inputs. Electricity and fuel prices, incentives, insurance, maintenance and resale values vary. This is not financial advice.
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