EV vs Gas Cost Per Mile Calculator
Compare the cost per mile of driving an electric vehicle versus a gasoline vehicle. Enter your local electricity and gas prices along with each vehicle's efficiency to see which is cheaper per mile.
Electric Car
Gas Car
This calculator compares the real driving cost of electric and gasoline cars. It shows how much you pay per mile depending on efficiency and energy prices.
Ways to Save
- Charge your EV at home overnight on off-peak electricity rates.
- Keep tires properly inflated to improve both EV and gas efficiency.
- Drive smoothly — hard acceleration burns extra fuel and battery.
- Use eco or regen modes when available to extend range.
- Compare local gas vs electricity prices before long trips.
Quick facts
Operating cost: where the gap really shows
Per-mile cost is the cleanest way to compare a Tesla Model 3 to a Toyota Camry. EVs convert about 85–90% of stored energy into motion. Gas cars convert closer to 25–30%, with the rest lost to heat. That efficiency gap is why EVs typically cost $0.03–$0.05 per mile while gas cars sit at $0.12–$0.18 per mile.
City vs highway: a reversed pattern
Gas cars are most efficient on the highway thanks to steady RPMs. EVs are the opposite — regenerative braking and low-speed efficiency make city driving cheaper per mile. A commuter doing stop-and-go traffic will see a much wider EV-vs-gas gap than a long-distance highway driver.
Maintenance is the silent winner
EVs skip oil changes, spark plugs, timing belts, transmissions, exhaust systems, and most brake wear (regen does the work). Independent studies from Consumer Reports and the US DOE put EV maintenance at roughly half the cost of a gas car over the vehicle's lifetime.
Hidden gas vehicle costs
Beyond the pump, gas cars carry costs people forget: emissions inspections, fluid flushes, exhaust repairs, and faster brake pad wear. Add $300–$700 a year for an average sedan once the warranty ends.
Yearly ownership example
A 15,000-mile-per-year driver in a $0.15/kWh region spends roughly $675 charging an efficient EV. The same miles in a 25 MPG gas car at $3.50/gallon cost about $2,100 — a $1,425 yearly difference, before maintenance.
Per-mile cost comparison
| Vehicle type | Energy use | Cost / mile |
|---|---|---|
| Efficient EV (Model 3) | 0.25 kWh/mi @ $0.15 | $0.038 |
| Average EV | 0.30 kWh/mi @ $0.15 | $0.045 |
| Hybrid (45 MPG) | $3.50/gal | $0.078 |
| Sedan (25 MPG) | $3.50/gal | $0.140 |
| SUV (18 MPG) | $3.50/gal | $0.194 |
Most gas car owners underestimate fuel costs by 20–30% because they only count fill-ups, not the slow drip of mid-month top-offs.
Stretch every dollar further
- Charge at home overnight when utilities offer off-peak rates as low as $0.08/kWh.
- Pre-condition your EV while plugged in — heating from the battery hurts winter range.
- Use one-pedal driving to maximize regenerative braking in city traffic.
- If you must use gas, keep tires at spec — under-inflation alone costs ~3% MPG.