Cost Per Mile EV vs Gas Calculator

Compare EV and gas costs together easily. Add purchase, resale, charging, fuel, and upkeep inputs. Make smarter car decisions today with better cost insight.

Calculator

Ownership Inputs

EV Inputs

Gas Vehicle Inputs

Example Data Table

Item Example EV Example Gas
Annual miles 12,000 12,000
Years owned 5 5
Purchase price $45,000.00 $32,000.00
Rebate or tax credit $7,500.00 $0.00
Resale value $20,000.00 $12,000.00
Efficiency 29 kWh per 100 miles 32 MPG
Energy or fuel price $0.16 per kWh $3.80 per gallon
Annual maintenance $450.00 $850.00
Annual insurance $1,400.00 $1,350.00
Annual registration and fees $250.00 $180.00
Estimated total cost $35,361.31 $43,344.14
Estimated cost per mile $0.59 $0.72

Formula Used

Total miles = Annual miles × Years owned

EV effective kWh per 100 miles = EV kWh per 100 miles × (1 + Charging loss percent ÷ 100)

EV energy cost = (Total miles ÷ 100) × Effective EV kWh per 100 miles × Electricity price

Gas fuel cost = (Total miles ÷ Gas MPG) × Gas price per gallon

Depreciation cost = Net purchase price − Resale value

Finance interest = Loan interest paid during the ownership period only

Total ownership cost = Depreciation + Energy or fuel + Maintenance + Insurance + Registration + Finance interest

Cost per mile = Total ownership cost ÷ Total miles

How to Use This Calculator

  1. Enter your expected annual miles and years owned.
  2. Fill in the EV purchase price, incentive, resale value, efficiency, electricity rate, and charging loss.
  3. Add EV annual maintenance, insurance, registration, down payment, APR, and loan years.
  4. Fill in the gas vehicle purchase price, resale value, MPG, and fuel price.
  5. Add gas maintenance, insurance, registration, down payment, APR, and loan years.
  6. Click Calculate Comparison to view the result above the form.
  7. Use Download CSV for spreadsheet analysis.
  8. Use Download PDF to open a print view that can be saved as a PDF.

Why This EV vs Gas Cost Per Mile Calculator Matters

Buying a vehicle is only the first expense. Daily driving costs shape the real budget. This calculator helps compare EV cost per mile and gas car cost per mile using practical ownership data. It includes depreciation, energy or fuel spending, insurance, registration, maintenance, and finance interest. That gives a fuller picture than fuel alone. Many drivers only compare pump prices and electric rates. That approach misses major long term costs. A clear side by side comparison helps you estimate which vehicle fits your mileage, local utility rates, and ownership plan.

Key Inputs That Change Your Driving Cost

Annual miles matter a lot. High mileage usually improves EV value because electricity often costs less per mile. Efficiency also matters. For EVs, the calculator uses kilowatt hours per hundred miles and charging loss. For gas vehicles, it uses miles per gallon and fuel price. Purchase price and resale value drive depreciation. Insurance, registration, and maintenance can shift results too. Incentives reduce the EV net purchase cost. Loan settings add interest without double counting the vehicle price. These details help create a more accurate ownership cost per mile estimate.

How to Read the Comparison Results

The result section shows total ownership cost, annual cost, monthly cost, and cost per mile for each vehicle. It also shows the savings difference. If the EV cost per mile is lower, the electric option may reduce long term operating expense. If the gas vehicle wins, your current fuel price, purchase price, or mileage pattern may favor gasoline. Review the fuel and energy line items first. Then review depreciation. Those two categories often explain most of the gap. Use the example table as a guide before entering your own numbers.

Use This Tool for Better Car Budget Planning

This page works well for personal budgeting, dealership comparisons, company fleet planning, and transportation cost reviews. Try different gas prices, utility rates, and resale values to test best and worst case scenarios. Small input changes can move the result fast. That makes sensitivity testing useful. When you compare several ownership periods, you can see when an EV starts saving more. Use the CSV export for records. Use the PDF option when sharing estimates with family, clients, or team members. Local insurance and registration fees also deserve close attention during every comparison.

FAQs

1. What does cost per mile mean?

Cost per mile shows how much each driven mile costs after combining depreciation, energy or fuel, maintenance, insurance, registration, and finance interest.

2. Why is depreciation included?

Depreciation is often one of the biggest ownership costs. Excluding it can make a vehicle look cheaper than it really is over time.

3. Why does charging loss matter for EVs?

Charging loss reflects electricity lost during charging. The battery receives less power than the wall supplies, so true EV energy cost is slightly higher.

4. Should I include tax credits as rebates?

Yes. Add eligible incentives or tax credits to reduce the EV net purchase price. That lowers depreciation and can improve the EV cost per mile result.

5. Can this compare used vehicles too?

Yes. Enter the actual used purchase price, expected resale value, and your local energy or fuel costs. The formulas work for new and used vehicles.

6. Does financing change the comparison much?

It can. Higher APR or a smaller down payment increases interest paid during the ownership period. That can noticeably change total cost per mile.

7. What if I drive very few miles yearly?

Low mileage usually reduces fuel savings from an EV. In that case, depreciation and fixed annual costs may matter more than energy savings.

8. Which inputs affect the result most?

Annual miles, purchase price, resale value, gas price, electricity price, and efficiency usually have the strongest impact. Test several scenarios for better planning.

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Important Note: All the Calculators listed in this site are for educational purpose only and we do not guarentee the accuracy of results. Please do consult with other sources as well.