EV Cost per Mile Calculator
The running cost of an electric vehicle comes down to two numbers: how far it travels per kilowatt-hour, and what you pay per kilowatt-hour. This calculator turns those into a clear cost per mile, and compares it side by side with a gasoline vehicle so you can see the difference per mile and over a year of driving. All prices are editable inputs, so plug in your own electricity rate and fuel price for a result that reflects your situation, not a national average.
EV cost per mile formula
EV cost per mile = electricity price per kWh / efficiency (miles per kWh)
Gas cost per mile = gasoline price per gallon / fuel economy (MPG)
Saving per mile = gas cost per mile - EV cost per mile
Annual saving = saving per mile * annual miles
All energy and fuel prices are editable. Use your utility bill rate and local pump price for the most accurate comparison.
Worked example
An EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh at $0.16 per kWh costs 0.16 / 3.5 = $0.05 per mile. A 30 MPG gas car at $3.50 per gallon costs 3.50 / 30 = $0.12 per mile. The saving is about $0.07 per mile, or roughly $851.43 per year over 12,000 miles.
EV cost per mile: frequently asked questions
How is EV cost per mile calculated?
Cost per mile is your electricity price (dollars per kilowatt-hour) divided by the vehicle's efficiency (miles per kilowatt-hour). Equivalently, multiply your price per kWh by the energy used per mile. A car that travels 3.5 miles per kWh on electricity costing $0.16 per kWh costs about $0.046 per mile to drive.
Where do I find my electricity price?
Your price per kilowatt-hour appears on your utility bill, and average residential prices are published by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Because rates vary by state, time of day, and plan, this calculator takes your price as an editable input so you can use your real number rather than a national average.
Does this include charging losses?
If you enter efficiency measured at the wall (miles per kWh drawn from the outlet), the result already includes charging losses. If you enter efficiency measured at the battery, real costs will be a few percent higher because some energy is lost as heat during charging. Using your actual metered home energy use gives the most accurate figure.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electricity, for average residential electricity prices.
- U.S. Department of Energy: fueleconomy.gov, for vehicle efficiency ratings.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 19 June 2026. See our methodology.