Cost
EV vs Gas Savings Calculator: Run the Real Numbers
Quick Answer
Unlike gas, EV fuel cost depends on where you charge. Home charging ($0.09–$0.16/kWh) saves $1,000–$1,200/year at average mileage. Public Level 2 ($0.15–$0.25/kWh) still saves money but less. DC fast charging ($0.30–$0.60/kWh) can approach or exceed gas costs entirely.
Most people guess at EV fuel savings. But the math is straightforward — and the numbers are bigger than you think. Here's the calculator behind every honest EV vs. gas comparison.
The Core Formula
Every savings calculation comes down to two numbers: cost per mile in a gas car, and cost per mile in an EV. Once you have both, everything else is multiplication.
Gas car cost per mile: Gas price ÷ MPG. At $3.50/gallon and 27 MPG, that’s $0.13 per mile.
EV cost per mile (home charging): $0.09–$0.16/kWh ÷ 3.5 miles/kWh = $0.026–$0.046/mile
EV cost per mile (public Level 2): $0.15–$0.25/kWh ÷ 3.5 miles/kWh = $0.043–$0.071/mile
EV cost per mile (DC fast charging): $0.30–$0.60/kWh ÷ 3.5 miles/kWh = $0.086–$0.171/mile
Annual savings: (Gas cost/mile − EV cost/mile) × annual miles driven.
That’s the entire calculator. Gas has one input. EVs have three — and the charging type you rely on daily makes the difference between saving $1,200/year and spending more than gas. If you’re not yet sure what your charging setup would look like, the EV Readiness Check helps you figure that out first.
The Numbers, by Charging Type
Here’s what 12,000 miles/year actually costs across all three charging scenarios. Gas baseline: 27 MPG at $3.50/gallon = $1,556/year. EV efficiency: 3.5 miles/kWh.
| Charging type | Rate | Cost / mile | Annual fuel (12K mi) | vs. gas ($1,556/yr) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home charging | $0.09–$0.16/kWh | $0.026–$0.046 | $309–$549 | $1,007–$1,247 saved |
| Public Level 2 | $0.15–$0.25/kWh | $0.043–$0.071 | $514–$857 | $699–$1,042 saved |
| DC fast charging | $0.30–$0.60/kWh | $0.086–$0.171 | $1,029–$2,057 | $527 saved → $501 more |
| Gas (27 MPG) | $3.50/gal | $0.130 | $1,556 | baseline |
Most EV owners have a mix. Someone who charges at home 80% of the time and uses fast charging on occasional road trips ends up with a blended rate close to home charging. The ratio is what matters — not any single tier in isolation.
Adjusting for Your Reality
The numbers above use 12,000 miles/year against a 27 MPG car. Two more variables shift the outcome significantly.
Your gas car’s actual MPG
Replacing a Prius (50 MPG) saves less than replacing a pickup (18 MPG). For a 12,000-mile driver swapping an 18-MPG truck for an EV on home charging: gas was $2,333/year, EV is $309–$549/year — $1,784–$2,024/year saved on fuel alone.
How much you drive
High-mileage drivers see the biggest absolute savings. At 20,000 miles/year on home charging, annual fuel savings reach $1,678–$2,078 — over $8,000 across five years. The formula scales linearly: more miles, more savings at every charging tier.
If you’re not sure what your charging mix will look like, run the EV Readiness Check — it estimates your home-vs-public ratio based on where you park.
Don’t Forget Maintenance
Fuel is the big number, but maintenance compounds. EV maintenance runs roughly one-third the cost of a gas car — no oil changes, no spark plugs, no transmission fluid, no timing belts, and regenerative braking dramatically reduces brake wear.
A typical gas car runs $1,200/year in maintenance over a 10-year ownership window. An EV runs closer to $400. That’s another $800/year on top of fuel savings.
5-year total cost — fuel + maintenance (excludes purchase price, 12K mi/yr)
| Scenario | Fuel / yr | Maint. / yr | Annual total | 5-yr total | 5-yr savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home charging | $309–$549 | $400 | $709–$949 | $3,545–$4,745 | $9,035–$10,235 |
| Public Level 2 | $514–$857 | $400 | $914–$1,257 | $4,570–$6,285 | $7,495–$9,210 |
| DC fast charging | $1,029–$2,057 | $400 | $1,429–$2,457 | $7,145–$12,285 | $1,495–$6,635 |
| Gas car | $1,556 | $1,200 | $2,756 | $13,780 | — |
Note: even DCFC-only drivers still come out ahead over 5 years — the maintenance savings offset part of the higher fuel cost. But the gap is narrow, and a bad DCFC rate kills it fast.
For deeper cost analysis, see how much you’ll actually save on fuel vs gas and the honest math on whether an EV is worth it.
When the Savings Don’t Materialize
Be honest with yourself. The calculator gives smaller numbers — or no savings — in three situations:
You drive very little. Under 6,000 miles/year, even home-charging fuel savings might be $500/year or less. Still real money, but not the headline number.
You rely entirely on DC fast charging. At $0.30–$0.60/kWh, you’re paying $0.086–$0.171/mile. The low end still beats gas. The high end costs more. DCFC makes sense for road trips — not as your daily charging strategy.
Your only public L2 access is at premium rates. At $0.25/kWh you’re still saving about $700/year at 12,000 miles — but that’s well under half the savings of cheap home charging. Worth knowing before you assume the bigger number.
The point of the calculator isn’t to confirm EVs always win. It’s to tell you the truth about your specific situation.
The Quick Cheat Sheet
12,000 miles/year, 27 MPG gas car, $3.50/gallon. Annual fuel savings by charging type:
Home charging — TOU overnight ($0.09/kWh): ~$1,247/year saved
Home charging — standard rate ($0.16/kWh): ~$1,007/year saved
Public Level 2 ($0.15–$0.25/kWh): ~$699–$1,042/year saved
DC fast charging — low end ($0.30/kWh): ~$527/year saved
DC fast charging — high end ($0.60/kWh): ~$501/year more than gas
Add ~$800/year in maintenance savings to any fuel number above. The formula doesn’t change — only the inputs do.
Ready to find out if you’re EV ready?
Answer 5 quick questions about your charging access, daily mileage, and home setup. You’ll get a clear answer based on your actual situation — not assumptions.
Take the EV Readiness Quiz →