Is an EV cheaper than a gas car to own?

For most drivers, yes — once you get past the purchase price. EVs cost more upfront (typically $5,000–$15,000 more than a comparable gas car) but save $1,200–$2,200/year through lower fuel and maintenance costs. At 12,000 miles/year with national average energy prices, most EVs break even in 5–7 years and save $3,000–$8,000 over 10 years.

How much does an EV save on gas per year?

At 12,000 miles/year with a 28 MPG gas car: roughly $900–$1,200/year in fuel savings charging at home. The exact number depends on your local gas price and electricity rate. California drivers (gas $4.85/gal, electricity 30.6 cents/kWh) save about $900/year. Washington state drivers (gas $4.05/gal, electricity 10.2 cents/kWh) save about $1,470/year. Use the calculator for your exact numbers.

How many miles do you need to drive to make an EV worth it?

Higher mileage means faster payback. At 8,000 miles/year, an EV with a $10,000 price premium takes about 8–10 years to break even. At 15,000 miles/year, the same car breaks even in 4–5 years. Drivers who put 20,000+ miles/year on their car almost always come out ahead with an EV — the fuel savings alone are $2,000+/year.

Does electricity cost matter a lot for EV savings?

Yes, significantly. Hawaii has the highest electricity rates at 44.3 cents/kWh — charging there costs nearly 3x what it costs in Idaho (10.8 cents/kWh). A driver in Hawaii using public charging at 44 cents/kWh might actually spend more on fuel than a gas car owner. Home charging rates matter most — always compare your utility bill rate, not public charging prices.

What is the CO2 saving of driving an EV?

The average gas car emits about 4.6 metric tons of CO2 per year at 12,000 miles. The average EV using the US grid emits about 1.5 metric tons per year at the same mileage — a 67% reduction. In states with clean grids (Washington, Oregon, California), the EV carbon advantage is even larger. In coal-heavy states, the advantage is smaller but EVs still come out ahead.

EV vs Gas Cost Calculator

Your current car's numbers go in. You get back: annual fuel savings, 5-year total savings, break-even year, and CO2 impact. Results update as you type. See also: payback period calculator and total cost of ownership tool.

Your Driving Situation

Your Current Car's MPG

Sedans: 28–35. SUVs: 22–30. Trucks: 16–24. Hybrids: 45–55.

Annual Miles Driven

US average: 12,000 mi/yr. Commuters often hit 15,000–20,000.

Gas Price ($/gallon)

National avg ~$3.30. CA: $4.85. TX: $2.88. Check GasBuddy.

Home Electricity (¢/kWh)

US avg: 16¢. WA: 10¢. CA: 31¢. HI: 44¢. Check your electric bill.

EV Model (efficiency)

Higher = cheaper to charge. Affects annual charging cost directly.

EV Price Premium ($)

EV price minus comparable gas car. Bolt vs compact: ~$0. Model 3 vs Accord: ~$9K.

Enter your numbers above

Results calculate automatically

Annual Fuel Savings

—

gas cost minus EV cost

Annual Total Savings

—

fuel + maintenance

Break-Even Year

—

premium paid off

CO₂ Saved/Year

—

metric tons

Monthly Cost Comparison

Fuel — gas car (monthly) —

Charging — EV (monthly) —

Maintenance — gas car (monthly) $100/mo

Maintenance — EV (monthly) $46/mo

Monthly running savings (EV vs gas) —

10-Year Cumulative Savings

Rows turn green when cumulative savings exceed your price premium — that's your break-even year.

Year	Annual Savings	Cumulative Saved	Net vs Gas

Environmental Impact

—

metric tons CO₂ saved per year

—

metric tons CO₂ over 10 years

—

trees planted equivalent/year

CO₂ estimates use EPA emissions factors: gas car ~404g CO₂/mile, average US grid EV ~126g CO₂/mile (EPA GREET model 2024). Grid mix varies by state — coal-heavy states have higher EV emissions, clean-grid states lower.

Numbers Used

Gas maintenance: $1,200/yr (oil, filters, brakes, trans service)

EV maintenance: $550/yr (tires, brakes, cabin filter)

EV efficiency: — mi/kWh

Gas: —/gal | Electricity: —¢/kWh

Your MPG: — | Annual miles: —

Price premium to recover: —

How This Calculator Works

Two cost streams change when you switch from gas to EV: fuel and maintenance. Everything else (insurance, financing, depreciation) depends heavily on your specific situation and isn't included here.

Fuel savings: (miles ÷ MPG × gas price) minus (miles ÷ EV_efficiency × electricity cost). The gap is usually $700–$1,500/year depending on your local energy prices.

Maintenance savings: Gas cars average $1,200/year; EVs average $550/year. That $650/year difference is real and consistent — no oil changes, fewer brake jobs due to regenerative braking, no transmission service.

Best case for EV

Washington state: 10¢/kWh + $4.05 gas = $1,470/year fuel savings alone. Commuters at 20K+ miles/yr break even in 3–4 years.

Typical case

National averages (16¢/kWh, $3.30 gas, 12K miles, 28 MPG): $900 fuel savings + $650 maintenance = $1,550/year. $8K premium pays off in 5.2 years.

Worst case for EV

Hawaii: 44¢/kWh electricity. Home EV charging costs nearly as much as gas. Fuel savings drop to ~$200/year. High-premium EVs won't break even.

Common Questions

Does the price premium matter more than fuel savings?

Yes, for the break-even math. A $15K premium with $1,500/year in savings takes 10 years to recover. A $5K premium with the same savings takes 3.3 years. The Chevy Bolt at $26,500 has essentially zero premium vs a comparable compact — it's EV math on easy mode.

What about charging at public stations, not home?

Public charging kills the economics. DC fast charging averages $0.35–$0.50/kWh — 2–3x home rates. If you're charging primarily at public stations, the fuel savings shrink dramatically or disappear. This calculator assumes home charging as the primary method.

Should I factor in state incentives?

The federal EV tax credit ended in September 2025. If you qualify for a state incentive, reduce your "price premium" input by that amount. Colorado's $5K state credit cuts a $10K premium to $5K and roughly halves your break-even time. See the 2026 state incentives guide.

What's not included in this calculation?

Insurance (EVs typically run $200–$400 more per year). Depreciation (EVs depreciate faster currently). Home charger installation ($500–$1,500 one-time cost). Financing cost difference. These factors can shift the answer meaningfully — use the total cost of ownership calculator for the full picture.

Related Calculators

EV Payback Period Calculator

Enter specific EV + gas car prices. Get exact payback year with year-by-year chart.

Total Cost of Ownership: EV vs Gas

5- and 10-year full cost including insurance and depreciation estimates.

EV Charging Costs by State

Home, DC fast, and network rates. Find your state's exact numbers.

EV Savings Calculator

State-by-state fuel savings breakdown with 5-year projection.

State EV Incentives 2026

Federal credit ended. 20+ states still offer rebates — find yours.

Cost Per Mile: EV vs Gas

EV: 3–8¢/mile. Gas: 9–17¢/mile. All 50 states compared.

Data: EIA State-Level Residential Electricity Prices, EPA Fuel Economy Ratings Database, DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credit Schedules

Last updated: January 2025

How we calculate this · Tax credit eligibility varies by income and vehicle. Verify with your tax professional before purchase.