EV vs Gas Savings in California (2026)
California electricity averages 24.5¢/kWh and gas runs $4.35/gallon. Driving an EV 12,000 miles costs $840/year in fuel. A 30 MPG gas car costs $1740/year.
Annual savings
$900
per year
5-year savings
$4,500
fuel only
EV fuel/yr
$840
24.5¢/kWh
Gas fuel/yr
$1,740
$4.35/gal
California beats the national average
The national average EV fuel savings is $728/year. California comes in $172/year higher.
California EV vs gas: the full cost breakdown
| EV | Gas car | |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel rate | 24.5¢/kWh | $4.35/gal |
| Efficiency | 3.5 mi/kWh | 30 MPG |
| Annual fuel cost (12,000 mi) | $840 | $1,740 |
| 5-year fuel cost | $4,200 | $8,700 |
| EV fuel savings | $900/yr · $4,500 over 5 years | |
12,000 mi/yr · 3.5 mi/kWh EV · 30 MPG gas car · 2026 EIA and GasBuddy data · home charging only
Electricity: 24.5¢/kWh
8.4¢ above the national average of 16.1¢/kWh. At this rate, charging a 75 kWh battery pack from empty costs $18.38.
Source: EIA 2026 residential rates
Gas: $4.35/gallon
$1.15 above the national average of $3.2/gal. Filling a 15-gallon tank costs $65.25 in California.
Source: GasBuddy 2026 state averages
More EV data for California