EV vs Gas Savings Calculator
Switching to an electric vehicle is often pitched as a way to save money at the pump, and this EV vs gas savings calculator shows exactly how much you would save in running energy costs over a year. It compares two vehicles on the same number of annual miles: a gasoline car defined by its miles-per-gallon rating and the local gas price, and an electric car defined by its efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour and the electricity rate you pay. The tool works out the gallons and kilowatt-hours each car needs, converts both to dollars, and reports the annual cost of each plus the difference between them. That difference is your fuel saving from driving electric. The comparison covers energy only, not the higher purchase price, incentives, maintenance or depreciation, so treat it as one piece of a wider buying decision rather than the whole story. Because efficiency, gas prices and electricity tariffs vary so much by model, region and charging habits, every input is left fully editable instead of fixed. All figures are computed deterministically from the formulas shown below, with a worked example that reconciles exactly to the calculator defaults so each step is easy to check.
Annual saving is the gap in energy cost: savings = gas cost - EV cost. Driving 12,000 miles a year, a 25 mpg car at $3.50 costs $1,680.00 while a 3 mi/kWh EV at $0.15 costs $600.00, a saving of $1,080.00.
EV vs gas savings formula
Gas cost = (Miles / mpg) x Gas price
EV cost = (Miles / mi-per-kWh) x kWh price
Annual saving = Gas cost - EV cost
Miles = annual mileage driven
Prices in dollars per gallon and per kWh
Each vehicle's energy use is converted to a dollar cost on the same mileage, then the electric cost is subtracted from the gasoline cost to give the yearly saving.
Worked example
You drive 12,000 miles a year. The gas car returns 25 mpg with gas at 3.50, and the EV does 3 miles per kWh with electricity at 0.15.
- Gas gallons = 12,000 / 25 = 480; cost = 480 x 3.50 = 1,680.00
- EV kilowatt-hours = 12,000 / 3 = 4,000; cost = 4,000 x 0.15 = 600.00
- Annual saving = 1,680.00 - 600.00 = 1,080.00
The EV saves about 1,080.00 a year in energy costs. These are the calculator's default inputs, so the result above matches the widget exactly.
EV vs gas savings calculator: frequently asked questions
How does this EV vs gas comparison work?
It calculates the annual energy cost of each vehicle and subtracts one from the other. For the gas car, annual miles divided by miles per gallon gives gallons, multiplied by the gas price. For the EV, annual miles divided by efficiency in miles per kilowatt-hour gives kilowatt-hours, multiplied by the electricity price. The difference is your yearly fuel saving from driving electric.
Does this include the higher purchase price of an EV?
No. This tool compares only the running energy cost, fuel versus electricity, which is where EVs usually save money. Electric vehicles often cost more to buy, and that gap can offset some of the energy savings, so a full comparison should also weigh purchase price, incentives, maintenance and depreciation. Use the annual saving here as one input into that bigger decision.
What efficiency figures should I use?
A typical gas car returns somewhere around 25 mpg combined, while many EVs travel about 3 to 4 miles per kilowatt-hour. Real figures vary widely by model, climate and driving style, and electricity rates differ by region and time of day. Because of that, every input here is editable so you can plug in numbers that match your own vehicles and tariffs.
Is home charging cheaper than public charging?
Usually, yes. Home electricity rates are often well below the per-kilowatt-hour cost at public fast chargers, so where and when you charge has a big effect on EV running costs. To compare honestly, enter the electricity price you actually pay most of the time. If you rely on public charging, use that higher rate instead.
What is the EV vs gas savings formula?
Gas cost equals miles divided by mpg, times gas price. EV cost equals miles divided by miles per kWh, times electricity price. Savings equals gas cost minus EV cost. With 12,000 miles, 25 mpg at 3.50, and 3 mi/kWh at 0.15, gas costs 1,680.00 and the EV costs 600.00, a saving of 1,080.00 a year.
Official sources
- Transportation and energy use guidance: US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). As at 25 June 2026.
Reviewed by the CalculatorHub team, edited by James Graham, 25 June 2026. See our methodology. This is general information, not financial, tax, legal or investment advice.