EV Cost Per Mile Calculator
Compare what each mile actually costs in an EV versus a gas car, at your local rates.
The simplest fuel comparison
What does each mile actually cost you? For an EV: the price of electricity divided by how many miles you get per kilowatt-hour. For a gas car: the price of gas divided by your miles per gallon. Same question, two answers.
Worked example
At $0.15 / kWh in a 3.5 mi/kWh EV: $0.15 ÷ 3.5 = $0.043 per mile — about $4.30 per 100 miles. The same trip in a 28 MPG gas car at $3.50 / gallon costs $0.125 per mile — about $12.50 per 100 miles. Roughly three times as much.
When the gap shrinks (or flips)
- Public DC fast charging at $0.45 / kWh pushes EV cost to about $0.13 / mile — on par with a gas car.
- Off-peak home rates as low as $0.08 / kWh cut EV cost in half again — under $0.025 / mile.
- Highway speeds & cold weather drop EV efficiency to 2.5–3.0 mi/kWh, raising the per-mile cost.
This is fuel only — it ignores insurance, maintenance and the price difference of the cars themselves. EVs typically beat gas cars on maintenance too (no oil changes, less brake wear), which compounds the savings.
Frequently asked
How does EV cost per mile compare to gas?
Usually about a third. A typical 3.5 mi/kWh EV at $0.15/kWh costs $0.043/mile. A 28 MPG car at $3.50/gallon costs $0.125/mile. The exact ratio depends on your electricity and gas prices.
What EV efficiency should I use?
3.5 mi/kWh is a solid mid-size average. Compact EVs achieve 4+ mi/kWh, SUVs 3–3.4, trucks 2–2.8. Use the MPGe Efficiency Converter if you only know the EPA MPGe figure for your car.
Does the calculator include maintenance savings?
No — only the per-mile fuel cost. EVs typically save an additional $400–800 per year on maintenance because they need no oil changes and the brakes last much longer thanks to regen. See the EV Annual Maintenance Cost calculator.
What about DC fast charging?
At $0.45/kWh the per-mile cost climbs to about $0.13 — on par with a 28 MPG gas car at $3.50/gallon. The cost advantage of an EV largely disappears if you DC fast charge most of the time, which is why home charging matters so much to the economics.
Does cold weather change my cost per mile?
Yes — cold cuts efficiency 20–40%, raising the per-mile cost in proportion. A 3.5 mi/kWh EV becomes roughly 2.5 mi/kWh in deep winter, so the per-mile cost rises about 40%. The Range Calculator includes a conditions selector.