Cost per kWh vs. Cost per Gallon Calculator

Enter your electricity rate, EV efficiency, gas price, and MPG to compare cost per mile for electric vs gasoline vehicles and see your projected annual fuel savings.

Created by Luis GonzalezLast updated: May 9, 2026

How to Use This Calculator

1
Enter your Electricity Cost (per kWh)
Find your current electricity rate on your utility bill, typically in dollars per kilowatt-hour.
2
Input your EV Efficiency (mi/kWh)
Provide the miles your electric vehicle travels per kWh. This is usually listed on the vehicle's specifications, often between 2.5 and 4.5 mi/kWh.
3
Specify your Gas Price (per gallon)
Enter the current local price for a gallon of gasoline.
4
State your Gas Car Fuel Economy (MPG)
Input your gasoline vehicle's miles per gallon, found on its window sticker or online resources like fueleconomy.gov.
5
Provide your Annual Miles Driven
Estimate how many miles you drive each year. The US average is approximately 14,000 miles.
6
Review your results
The calculator will compare the costs, identify the cheaper option, and show your potential annual savings.

Example Calculation

A driver wants to compare the annual fuel costs for their current gasoline car versus a potential electric vehicle purchase.

Electricity Cost (per kWh) ($)

0.15

EV Efficiency (mi/kWh)

3.5

Gas Price (per gallon) ($)

3.50

Gas Car Fuel Economy (MPG)

Annual Miles Driven

12,000

Results

Electric

Tips

Consider Off-Peak Charging

Many utility providers offer lower electricity rates during off-peak hours (e.g., overnight). Charging your EV during these times can significantly reduce your effective cost per kWh, potentially saving you 20-50% on electricity bills.

Factor in EV Maintenance Savings

While this calculator focuses on fuel, remember that EVs typically have lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts. This can add another $500-$1,000 in annual savings compared to a gasoline car, further enhancing EV value.

Evaluate Public Charging Costs

If you rely heavily on public fast chargers, your effective cost per kWh might be higher than home charging, sometimes equivalent to or even exceeding gasoline costs. Factor these rates (often $0.30-$0.50/kWh) into your decision if home charging isn't primary.

The Cost per kWh vs. Cost per Gallon Calculator provides a direct comparison of the financial outlay for fueling an electric vehicle (EV) versus a traditional gasoline car. By inputting your local electricity rates, EV efficiency, gas prices, and gasoline car MPG, you can quickly determine which option is more economical for your annual driving habits. This tool is invaluable for anyone considering an EV purchase or evaluating their current transportation costs, especially with gasoline prices fluctuating around a national average of $3.50 per gallon and electricity at $0.17 per kWh in early 2025.

Fueling the Green Transition in 2025

Understanding the comparative costs of electricity and gasoline is paramount for consumers navigating the ongoing green transition in automotive technology. The push for EV adoption is supported by various government incentives, such as the federal tax credit of up to $7,500 for new electric vehicles in 2025, making the initial investment more palatable. However, the long-term economic benefit hinges on fuel costs. Home charging typically leverages lower residential electricity rates, often around the national average of $0.17/kWh, offering significant savings over gasoline. In contrast, public fast-charging networks can sometimes be more expensive, blurring the cost advantage. This calculator helps individuals assess their unique situation, from local utility rates to personal driving mileage, to determine the true financial impact of choosing electric over gasoline.

The Math Behind Fuel Cost Comparisons

This calculator translates the disparate units of electricity (kWh) and gasoline (gallons) into a common metric: cost per mile. This allows for a direct, equitable comparison of fuel efficiency and expense regardless of the power source.

The core logic involves two main calculations:

EV cost per mile = electricity cost (per kWh) / EV efficiency (mi/kWh)
Gas cost per mile = gas price (per gallon) / gas car fuel economy (MPG)

By comparing these two per-mile costs, the calculator determines the cheaper option and quantifies the potential annual savings for a given mileage.

💡 To get a full picture of your household energy consumption, including how EV charging impacts it, check out our Annual Energy Bill Calculator.

Comparing EV vs. Gas Costs: A Realistic Scenario

Consider a driver in 2025 evaluating their options with the following inputs:

Electricity Cost (per kWh): $0.15
EV Efficiency (mi/kWh): 3.5 mi/kWh
Gas Price (per gallon): $3.50
Gas Car Fuel Economy (MPG): 28 MPG
Annual Miles Driven: 12,000 miles

First, calculate the EV's cost per mile: EV Cost per Mile = $0.15 / 3.5 mi/kWh = $0.0428 per mile

Next, calculate the gasoline car's cost per mile: Gas Cost per Mile = $3.50 / 28 MPG = $0.1250 per mile

Comparing these, the EV is significantly cheaper per mile. Then, the annual costs are computed: Annual EV Fuel Cost = $0.0428 × 12,000 miles = $513.60 Annual Gas Fuel Cost = $0.1250 × 12,000 miles = $1,500.00

The result clearly shows Electric as the cheaper option, with annual savings of approximately $986.40.

💡 For broader energy comparisons, our Wind vs Solar Output Comparison Calculator helps understand different renewable energy sources.

Typical EV Efficiency and Fuel Costs

In 2025, typical ranges for EV efficiency are generally between 3 and 4 mi/kWh, though some highly efficient models can exceed 4.5 mi/kWh, while larger SUVs might be closer to 2.5 mi/kWh. For gasoline vehicles, a common sedan achieves 25-35 MPG, with compact cars sometimes reaching 40 MPG and larger trucks averaging 15-20 MPG. Average electricity rates across the US hover around $0.17/kWh, but can vary from as low as $0.10/kWh in states with abundant hydroelectric power to over $0.30/kWh in regions with high demand and limited generation. Gasoline prices, while volatile, typically range from $3.00 to $4.50 per gallon nationally. These benchmarks are crucial, as a higher EV efficiency or lower electricity rate can dramatically shift the cost advantage towards electric vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does the Cost per kWh vs. Cost per Gallon Calculator work?

This calculator compares the fuel efficiency and cost of electric vehicles (EVs) versus gasoline cars by converting both into a 'cost per mile' metric. It takes your electricity rate and EV efficiency to find the EV's cost per mile, and your gas price and car's MPG to find the gasoline car's cost per mile. This allows for a direct, apples-to-apples comparison of which fuel option is cheaper for your specific driving habits.

What is an 'eGallon equivalent'?

An 'eGallon equivalent' is a metric used to compare the cost of driving an electric vehicle to the cost of driving a gasoline vehicle over the same distance, expressed in terms of gallons. It represents how much it would cost to drive an EV the same distance a gasoline car could travel on one gallon of fuel. This provides a familiar benchmark for drivers to gauge EV fuel costs against traditional gasoline prices, offering a clear comparative value.

Are electric vehicles always cheaper to fuel than gasoline cars?

Electric vehicles are generally cheaper to fuel than gasoline cars, especially with home charging at typical residential electricity rates. However, this isn't always true. High electricity rates (e.g., in some states or when relying solely on public fast charging) or unusually low gasoline prices can sometimes make gasoline the cheaper option. Factors like EV efficiency and the specific gasoline car's MPG also play a significant role in the comparison.