Loading the page...
Preparing tools and content for you. This usually takes a second.
Preparing tools and content for you. This usually takes a second.
Fetching calculator categories and tools for this section.
Free gas vs electric car total cost calculator. Compare estimated total cost of ownership using purchase prices, combined MPG and EV kWh/100 mi, fuel and electricity rates, maintenance, insurance, and one-time EV incentives. Explore more in our energy and sustainability calculator category.
Last updated: April 18, 2026
Need a white-label TCO calculator for your automotive or fleet site? Get a Quote
Outcome
Lower estimated TCO: Electric
Difference (EV − gas): -$6,210 — negative favors electric.
Gas total
$48,500
Electric total
$42,290
Gas fuel / yr
$1,500
EV electricity / yr
$558
Gas fuel (period)
$7,500
EV energy (period)
$2,790
Planning note
Sensitivity
Fuel & kWh
Increase annual miles to see when electricity savings offset a higher EV sticker price.
One-time
Purchase incentives
Run scenarios with and without incentives to bracket realistic out-of-pocket TCO.
Labels
EPA-style numbers
Use combined ratings for mixed driving comparisons between trims.
Annual lines
$/year
Quote both vehicles separately and enter realistic annual premiums.
Typical test
5–10 years
Compare multiple ownership periods to see how TCO changes when you keep the vehicle longer.
Effective rate
$/kWh
Increase $/kWh if you expect heavy fast-charging use versus overnight home charging.
For the default scenario (5 years, 12k mi/yr, example prices and a $7,500 EV incentive):
Gas TCO
$48,500
Electric TCO
$42,290
Estimated difference (EV − gas): -$6,210. Electric shows lower total cost under these assumptions.
This calculator builds a simplified total cost of ownership by adding purchase price, recurring operating costs over the ownership period, and subtracting one-time EV incentives from the electric vehicle side. Gasoline fuel cost is annual miles divided by MPG, multiplied by gas price per gallon, then multiplied by years. Electric energy cost is annual miles times kWh per mile (from kWh/100 mi ÷ 100), multiplied by electricity price per kWh, then multiplied by years. Maintenance and insurance are annual amounts scaled by the years you enter.
Gas TCO = gas price + gas fuel + gas maintenance + gas insuranceEV TCO = EV price − incentives + EV energy + EV maintenance + EV insuranceEV kWh per mile = (kWh / 100 mi) ÷ 100Difference is reported as EV TCO minus gas TCO. A negative value means the electric scenario is cheaper under the assumptions you entered.
Refine charging economics with our EV charging cost calculator and vehicle emissions cost calculator.
Get a custom calculator for your platformResult depends entirely on your local gas and electricity prices, insurance quotes, and incentives. Replace defaults with your own numbers before making purchase decisions.
Share it with anyone comparing gasoline and electric vehicle costs
Suggested hashtags: #ElectricVehicle #TCO #GasVsElectric #Cars #Calculator