Electric Vehicle vs. Gas Car Cost Comparison
This EV vs Gas calculator compares total cost of ownership (TCO) for one EV and one gas car over 1–10 years. Enter vehicles, mileage, local prices, and incentives. Outputs show upfront cost, annual and total costs, breakeven timing, and estimated CO₂.
Annual Breakdown
| Year | EV Fuel | EV Maint | EV Insurance | EV Deprec | Gas Fuel | Gas Maint | Gas Insurance | Gas Deprec | EV Year Cost | Gas Year Cost | Cumulative Savings |
|---|
Method & Formulas
- EV energy per year = (annual_miles × kWh_per_100mi / 100) ÷ charging_efficiency
- EV fuel cost = EV kWh × electricity_price
- Gas fuel cost = (annual_miles ÷ mpg) × gas_price
- Maintenance = miles × maintenance_cost_per_mile
- Insurance = fixed_per_year
- Depreciation (approx) = prior_value × (depr_rate)
- Resale at end = MSRP × (1 − depr_rate)^{years}
- TCO = upfront_after_incentives + finance_interest + Σ yearly_costs − resale_value
- Breakeven = first year where cumulative_savings ≥ 0
- CO₂ (Gas) = gallons × 8.887 kg; CO₂ (EV) = kWh × grid_kg_per_kWh
Electric Vehicle vs. Gas Car Cost Comparison Calculator Guide
Understand your ownership costs, spot breakeven timing, and translate results into a confident buying decision.
Introduction
The EV vs gas calculator helps you estimate the total cost of ownership for an electric vehicle and a comparable gasoline vehicle over a defined period. It brings together purchase price, incentives, charging or fueling costs, insurance, routine maintenance, depreciation, and expected resale value. The output shows annual totals, cumulative ownership costs, and an estimated breakeven point that reveals when an electric model may begin saving money compared to a gas model.
Because ownership decisions vary by driving habits and location, the tool lets you set annual mileage, charging method, energy prices, taxes and fees, and loan details. You’ll see a clear side-by-side comparison and charts that make it easy to understand where costs come from and what matters most for your decision.
How to Calculate Using the EV vs. Gas Car Cost Comparison Calculator
Follow this streamlined workflow to get reliable, decision-ready results. The interface groups inputs into vehicle details, driving habits, and local costs so you can work top-to-bottom without guesswork.
1) Enter vehicle information
- EV details: make/model, MSRP, efficiency in kWh per 100 miles, charging type (home Level 2 or public fast charging), applicable incentives or rebates, and optional home charger installation cost.
- Gas car details: make/model, MSRP, and combined fuel economy (mpg). Include taxes and fees for both vehicles.
- Financing (optional): down payment, APR, and term in months if you want an estimate of total interest paid during the loan.
2) Set driving habits
- Annual mileage: move the slider or type a number (typical U.S. average is about 12,000 miles per year).
- Ownership years: choose a horizon between one and ten years to match how long you expect to keep the vehicle.
- ZIP code (optional): enables smarter defaults for electricity and fuel prices and can help align incentives; no data is stored.
3) Adjust local costs and assumptions
- Electricity price: set cost per kWh for home charging or your expected blended cost if you rely on public charging.
- Gasoline price: set current or average price per gallon in your area.
- Insurance and maintenance: input annual insurance for each vehicle and per-mile maintenance assumptions.
- Depreciation: choose an annual percentage to approximate vehicle value loss.
4) Review outputs and charts
After each change, results update instantly. You’ll see upfront cost after incentives, total cost of ownership for each vehicle, total savings, and the estimated breakeven year. The bar chart breaks down annual categories (fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation), and the line chart shows cumulative savings over time.
5) Validate and export
- Check that all fields are positive numbers and ownership years are at least one.
- Use the CSV export to archive scenarios and the PNG download to capture charts for sharing.
- Reset to defaults at any time to start a new comparison.
How This Calculator Can Help You
The calculator turns complex inputs into a transparent, apples-to-apples comparison. It highlights influential cost drivers like electricity price, miles driven, and depreciation. If you drive more than average or have low residential rates, an electric choice may reach breakeven earlier. If you drive fewer miles or rely largely on public charging, results may shift.
Beyond spending comparisons, the tool supports household or fleet planning by providing a consistent framework for discussion. You can explore maintenance and insurance variations or test updated incentives anytime.
Deciding How Much Value You Gain by Choosing an EV or Gas Car
The calculator’s total cost of ownership summary helps you interpret the net financial impact. If total savings are positive, the electric option costs less overall. The breakeven point indicates when cumulative savings overcome higher upfront costs. Consider:
- Ownership horizon: Longer horizons give operating savings more time to outweigh price differences.
- Energy prices: Electricity vs. gasoline costs can tilt results.
- Mileage: Higher mileage magnifies differences.
- Charging mix: Home charging is cheaper than public fast charging.
- Resale value: Adjust depreciation to reflect your market.
How to Lower Costs / Improve Results
- Use accurate vehicle prices and local fuel/electricity rates.
- Explore EV-specific electricity plans to reduce charging costs.
- Charge mainly at home and schedule sessions off-peak.
- Track resale trends and adjust depreciation for realistic projections.
- Compare insurance quotes and verify maintenance expectations.
Next Steps
- Save and compare multiple scenarios.
- Revisit local incentives and manufacturer offers.
- Explore related calculators like charging cost or depreciation estimators.
For education only. Not financial advice.
