EV vs Gas Savings Calculator - Fuel Cost Compare

Why Driving In California Costs More For Gas Than Texas

A driver in Los Angeles California drives 12000 miles per year. Gas car gets 28 MPG, gas price 5.10 per gallon. Gas gallons equals 12000 divided by 28 equals 428.57 gallons. Gas cost equals 428.57 times 5.10 equals 2185.71 per year. Same driver in EV using 32 kWh per 100 miles, electric rate 0.32 per kWh, charging efficiency 90 percent. EV energy battery equals 12000 times 32 divided by 100 equals 3840 kWh. Wall energy equals 3840 divided by 0.90 equals 4266.67 kWh. EV cost equals 4266.67 times 0.32 equals 1365.33 per year. Savings equals 2185.71 minus 1365.33 equals 820.38 per year fuel only. Per mile gas equals 0.1822, EV equals 0.1138, difference 0.0684 per mile.

Same miles in Austin Texas. Gas price 3.10, electric rate 0.14. Gas cost equals 428.57 times 3.10 equals 1328.57. EV cost equals 4266.67 times 0.14 equals 597.33. Savings equals 731.24 per year. Even with cheaper gas, cheaper electric rate in Texas keeps EV savings similar. If gas drops to 2.80 in Texas, gas cost 1200.00, savings 602.67. If gas rises to 5.50 in California, gas cost 2357.14, savings 991.81.

Florida example in Tampa. Annual miles 15000, MPG 24, gas price 3.60, EV 34 kWh per 100 miles for SUV, rate 0.16, efficiency 90 percent. Gas gallons 15000 divided by 24 equals 625 gallons, gas cost 2250. EV battery kWh 15000 times 34 divided by 100 equals 5100 kWh, wall 5666.67 kWh, EV cost 906.67. Savings 1343.33 per year. Five year savings 6716.65 fuel only. If public fast charging half the time at 0.45 rate, blended rate about 0.305, EV cost 1728.67, savings 521.33, much lower.

New York example. Annual 10000 miles, MPG 30, gas 3.90, EV 30 kWh per 100, rate 0.28, efficiency 90. Gas gallons 333.33, gas cost 1300. EV battery 3000 kWh, wall 3333.33, EV cost 933.33, savings 366.67. Lower annual miles reduces absolute savings even with high gas price.

Why this matters for budget planning. Fuel is only one part of ownership. Insurance, loan interest, resale, and maintenance change total cost. Use this fuel tool first, then add other costs for full picture.

What Changes Your EV vs Gas Fuel Savings

Annual miles sets total fuel use. More miles means more dollars at stake. Twelve thousand miles at 28 MPG uses 428 gallons, fifteen thousand uses 535 gallons.

Gas MPG sets gallons needed. Lower MPG uses more gallons, higher gas cost, higher EV savings potential. Twenty MPG vs thirty MPG changes gas cost by fifty percent for same miles.

Gas price per gallon directly multiplies gas cost. Price 3.10 vs 5.10 changes gas cost from 1328 to 2185 for same gallons. State taxes and season cause swing.

EV efficiency kWh per 100 miles sets battery energy needed. Thirty two kWh per 100 miles for sedan, thirty eight for SUV. Higher kWh means more wall energy and higher EV cost.

Electric rate per kWh sets EV cost. Home rate 0.14 to 0.32 across USA. Public fast charging 0.35 to 0.55 raises effective rate and lowers savings.

Charging efficiency percent adjusts wall energy vs battery energy. Ninety percent means ten percent loss as heat. Lower efficiency means more wall kWh for same battery kWh.

How To Use This Calculator Step By Step

First, enter annual miles. How many miles you drive per year. Example 12000. Use odometer or average daily times 365.

Second, enter gas MPG. Real world MPG for your gas car or target gas car. Example 28. Use combined EPA estimate.

Third, enter gas price per gallon. Local regular price. Example 3.60. Use your ZIP average, not national average if you want local accuracy.

Fourth, enter EV kWh per 100 miles. From window sticker. Example 32. Lower number means more efficient EV.

Fifth, enter electric rate per kWh. Home rate including delivery. Example 0.18. If half public charging at 0.45, blended rate higher.

Sixth, enter charging efficiency percent. Typically 85 to 95 for Level 2 home. Enter 90 for typical. Lower if garage hot or cable long.

Seventh, press calculate. You will see yearly fuel savings, gas cost per year, EV cost per year, cost per mile for each, gallons used, kWh used, five year savings, breakdown and summary.

How EV vs Gas Savings Is Calculated - Formula And Sources

Source: EPA fuel economy guide, EPA MPGe to kWh per 100 miles conversion, Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center, Energy Information Administration gas and electric rate data.

FORMULA
Gas Gallons Per Year equals Annual Miles divided by Gas MPG
Gas Cost Per Year equals Gas Gallons Per Year times Gas Price Per Gallon
EV Battery kWh Per Year equals Annual Miles times EV kWh Per 100 Miles divided by 100
EV Wall kWh Per Year equals EV Battery kWh Per Year divided by Charging Efficiency Percent times 100
EV Cost Per Year equals EV Wall kWh Per Year times Electric Rate Per kWh
Yearly Fuel Savings equals Gas Cost Per Year minus EV Cost Per Year
Gas Cost Per Mile equals Gas Price Per Gallon divided by Gas MPG
EV Cost Per Mile equals EV Cost Per Year divided by Annual Miles
Five Year Savings equals Yearly Savings times 5

• Example Los Angeles California 12000 miles 28 MPG 5.10 gas 32 kWh per 100 miles 0.32 electric 90 percent efficiency: gallons 428.57 gas cost 2185.71 battery 3840 wall 4266.67 EV cost 1365.33 savings 820.38 per year per mile gas 0.1821 EV 0.1138
• Example Austin Texas 12000 miles 28 MPG 3.10 gas 32 kWh per 100 miles 0.14 electric 90 percent: gallons 428.57 gas cost 1328.57 battery 3840 wall 4266.67 EV cost 597.33 savings 731.24 per year
• Example Tampa Florida 15000 miles 24 MPG 3.60 gas 34 kWh per 100 miles 0.16 electric 90 percent: gallons 625 gas cost 2250 battery 5100 wall 5666.67 EV cost 906.67 savings 1343.33 per year five year 6716.65
• Example New York 10000 miles 30 MPG 3.90 gas 30 kWh per 100 miles 0.28 electric 90 percent: gallons 333.33 gas cost 1300 battery 3000 wall 3333.33 EV cost 933.33 savings 366.67 per year
• Example High gas price 12000 miles 28 MPG 5.50 gas 32 kWh 0.18 electric 90 percent: gas cost 2357.14 EV cost 768.00 savings 1589.14 per year

Guards: Miles 0 to 100k, MPG 5 to 80, gas price 1 to 10, kWh per 100 15 to 60, electric rate 0.05 to 1, efficiency 70 to 100 percent, gallons and kWh cap at 1M, non finite set to 0, rounding 2 decimals for money, per mile 4 decimals, savings may be negative if EV cost higher, show negative as extra cost.

What Each Result Means For Fuel Budget

Yearly Fuel Savings: Difference between gas cost and EV cost per year fuel only. Example 820.38 for Los Angeles case 12000 miles 28 MPG 5.10 gas vs 32 kWh 0.32 electric. Positive means EV fuel cheaper, negative means gas fuel cheaper for those inputs.

Gas Cost Per Year: Total gas dollars per year. Example 2185.71 for Los Angeles 428.57 gallons at 5.10. Use for budget.

EV Cost Per Year: Total electric dollars from wall energy per year. Example 1365.33 for Los Angeles 4266.67 wall kWh at 0.32 rate.

Gas Cost Per Mile: Fuel cost per mile for gas. Example 0.1821 for Los Angeles gas case. Gas price divided by MPG.

EV Cost Per Mile: Fuel cost per mile for EV. Example 0.1138 for Los Angeles EV case. EV cost per year divided by annual miles.

Worked Scenarios With USA Drivers

Los Angeles California high gas high electric: Miles 12000 MPG 28 gas 5.10 kWh per 100 32 rate 0.32 efficiency 90 gallons 428.57 gas cost 2185.71 battery 3840 wall 4266.67 EV cost 1365.33 savings 820.38 per year per mile gas 0.1821 EV 0.1138 five year 4101.90

Austin Texas low gas low electric: Miles 12000 MPG 28 gas 3.10 kWh per 100 32 rate 0.14 efficiency 90 gallons 428.57 gas cost 1328.57 battery 3840 wall 4266.67 EV cost 597.33 savings 731.24 per year five year 3656.20

Tampa Florida SUV 15000 miles: Miles 15000 MPG 24 gas 3.60 kWh per 100 34 rate 0.16 efficiency 90 gallons 625 gas cost 2250 battery 5100 wall 5666.67 EV cost 906.67 savings 1343.33 per year five year 6716.65

New York low miles high electric: Miles 10000 MPG 30 gas 3.90 kWh per 100 30 rate 0.28 efficiency 90 gallons 333.33 gas cost 1300 battery 3000 wall 3333.33 EV cost 933.33 savings 366.67 per year five year 1833.35

High gas price sensitivity: Miles 12000 MPG 28 gas 5.50 kWh per 100 32 rate 0.18 efficiency 90 gallons 428.57 gas cost 2357.14 battery 3840 wall 4266.67 EV cost 768.00 savings 1589.14 per year five year 7945.70

Mistakes That Give Wrong Fuel Comparison

1. Using MPGe instead of kWh per 100 miles: MPGe is miles per gallon equivalent, not kWh per 100. Convert correctly. One gallon equivalent is 33.7 kWh. Mixing units gives wrong EV energy.
2. Forgetting charging efficiency loss: Wall energy is higher than battery energy. Using battery kWh times rate understates EV cost by 10 percent. Include 85 to 95 percent efficiency.
3. Using only public fast charging rate: If you mostly charge at home at 0.18 but use 0.50 fast charge rate for all math, EV cost overstated and savings understated. Use blended rate based on mix.
4. Ignoring gas price variation: Gas price varies by state, season, and grade. Using national average 3.60 for California 5.10 understates gas cost and understates EV savings. Use local ZIP price.
5. Counting total ownership as fuel only: Fuel savings alone does not decide EV vs gas total ownership. Add insurance, loan, tax, maintenance, and resale difference for full picture.

Tips For Accurate Fuel Comparison

Check window sticker for kWh per 100 miles or MPGe. Convert MPGe to kWh per 100 as 3370 divided by MPGe. Example 100 MPGe equals 33.7 kWh per 100 miles.

Use home electric bill for all in rate including delivery and fees. If time of use plan, use average rate for your charging hours, night rate lower than day rate.

Log real MPG for your gas car for a month, not EPA only. City driving lowers MPG, highway raises. Real MPG may be lower than sticker in winter.

Estimate public charging share. If 80 percent home at 0.18 and 20 percent fast at 0.45, blended rate equals 0.80 times 0.18 plus 0.20 times 0.45 equals 0.234. Use blended rate in calculator for accurate EV cost.

Important Limits To Keep In Mind

This tool provides estimate only. Not financial, tax, or automotive advice. Actual MPG and kWh per 100 miles vary with speed, weather, heater and AC use, tire pressure, payload, and terrain. Gas price and electric rate change over time and by location. Charging efficiency varies by charger, temperature, and battery state. Battery degradation, insurance, maintenance, financing, incentives, and resale affect total ownership and are not included in fuel only math. Verify with EPA guide and local utility tariff.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is EV vs gas savings calculated

Gas cost is annual miles divided by MPG times gas price per gallon. EV cost is annual miles times kWh per 100 miles divided by 100 times electric rate divided by charging efficiency. Savings is gas cost minus EV cost.

What kWh per 100 miles should I use

Most EVs use 28 to 36 kWh per 100 miles. Efficient sedans use 26 to 30, larger SUVs use 34 to 42. Check window sticker MPGe and convert. Your actual use varies with speed, weather and heater use.

Does charging efficiency affect cost

Yes. Level 2 home charging loses about 8 to 15 percent as heat. If you put 10 kWh from wall, battery may get 8.8 kWh. This calculator adjusts with efficiency percent so EV cost reflects wall energy.

Is maintenance included in savings

Base math here is fuel only. EV typically has lower routine maintenance because no oil changes and less brake wear. Add maintenance difference separately if you want total ownership comparison.

Why does gas price change payback

Higher gas price increases gas cost and increases EV savings. Lower gas price reduces savings. Electric rate does opposite. Same miles can show 800 savings at 3 per gallon and 1800 at 5 per gallon.

What about public fast charging

Public fast charging costs more per kWh than home rate, often 0.35 to 0.55. If you fast charge often, effective electric rate is higher and savings lower. Use blended rate for mix of home and public.

Do I need to include insurance difference

Insurance can differ between EV and gas models. This tool focuses on fuel cost only. For total cost, add insurance, tax, registration and resale difference separately.