EV planning

EV Savings Calculator

Compare EV electricity cost with fuel cost for the same annual distance using your own energy, fuel and price assumptions.

Compare EV and fuel costs

Quick Driving Scenarios:

How does an EV savings calculator work?

The calculator compares the electricity purchased for EV charging with the fuel required by a combustion vehicle over the same distance. Charging efficiency is applied to battery energy before the electricity price is used.

EV versus fuel cost

Enter battery-side EV consumption, fuel economy and your own prices. Unit conversions are normalized internally so km, miles, liters, gallons, L/100 km, km/L and US mpg describe the same physical comparison rather than changing its meaning.

EV vs Gas annual fuel cost savings comparison

Estimated annual fuel savings comparing an average gasoline vehicle (28 mpg @ $3.50/gal) with an electric vehicle (3.5 mi/kWh @ $0.16/kWh and 90% charging efficiency):

Annual fuel cost comparison: 28 MPG Gas Car vs 3.5 mi/kWh Electric Vehicle
Annual Driving Distance	Gasoline Car Cost (@ $3.50/gal)	EV Electricity Cost (@ $0.16/kWh)	Net Annual Fuel Savings
8,000 miles/yr (~13,000 km)	$1,000 / yr	~$406 / yr	+$594 / yr
12,000 miles/yr (~19,000 km)	$1,500 / yr	~$610 / yr	+$890 / yr
15,000 miles/yr (~24,000 km)	$1,875 / yr	~$762 / yr	+$1,113 / yr
20,000 miles/yr (~32,000 km)	$2,500 / yr	~$1,016 / yr	+$1,484 / yr

Maintenance comparison

Energy and fuel operating savings are always shown. If you enter both annual EV and combustion-vehicle maintenance costs, the calculator also shows a maintenance-adjusted comparison. It never invents maintenance estimates.

EV savings example

At 15,000 km/year, 18 kWh/100 km, 90% charging efficiency and 0.20 per kWh, the EV uses about 3,000 kWh from the grid and costs 600 per year. A vehicle using 7 L/100 km at 1.50 per liter uses 1,050 liters and costs 1,575, producing 975 in operating savings before maintenance.

EV vs Gas Operating Cost & Savings Formulas

Calculates the annual fuel-to-electricity financial differential between driving an electric vehicle versus an internal combustion engine vehicle over the exact same annual mileage.

Formula

EV_Annual_Cost = (Annual_Distance / mi_per_kWh / Efficiency) × Rate_Per_kWh  |  Gas_Annual_Cost = (Annual_Distance / MPG) × Fuel_Price

Variable Definitions

Annual_DistanceAnnual Travel Distance(mi/yr or km/yr): Total miles or kilometers driven per year.
mi_per_kWhEV Energy Efficiency(mi/kWh): Average real-world electricity economy (or kWh/100 km).
EfficiencyCharging Loss Factor(fraction): Grid-to-battery charging efficiency (typically 88%–92%).
MPGGas Car Fuel Economy(MPG): Miles per gallon (or L/100 km) for the comparable combustion vehicle.
Fuel_PriceGasoline / Diesel Price(currency/gal): Price per gallon or liter ($/gal, €/L, £/L).

Engineering Notes & Standards

Annual Fuel Savings = Gas_Annual_Cost - EV_Annual_Cost.
Total Annual Savings = Annual Fuel Savings + (Gas Maintenance - EV Maintenance).

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much money do you actually save driving an electric car compared to gas?

For an average driver traveling 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year, switching from a 28 MPG gas car ($3.50/gal) to a 3.5 mi/kWh EV charged at residential rates ($0.16/kWh) saves approximately $900 to $1,200 annually in fuel/electricity operating costs.

Is home EV charging always cheaper than buying gasoline?

Yes, in virtually all residential utility markets. Home electricity at standard residential rates ($0.12–$0.22/kWh) provides the equivalent of paying roughly $1.00 to $1.80 per gallon of gasoline.

How do EV maintenance and repair costs compare to gas cars?

Electric vehicles have significantly fewer moving parts (no engine oil changes, spark plugs, timing belts, exhaust systems, or catalytic converters), resulting in estimated 30% to 50% lower lifetime routine scheduled maintenance costs.

How does public DC fast charging affect EV fuel savings?

Public commercial DC fast charging networks often charge $0.35 to $0.50+ per kWh. While road-trip fast charging is more expensive than home charging, regular overnight home charging maintains maximum total fuel savings.

Related EV calculators

Use the EV Range Calculator for planned driving range or the EV Charging Cost Calculator for a charging session or driving-cost estimate.