EV Trip Cost Calculator
Work out the fuel cost of any specific trip in an EV — and how much you save versus a gas car.
What a trip actually costs
For a specific drive — a weekend road trip, a holiday visit, an upcoming commute — this gives you the charging cost in an EV side-by-side with the equivalent gas-car fuel cost. Useful for talking yourself into (or out of) a long EV trip.
Worked example
A 500-mile road trip in a 3.5 mi/kWh EV at $0.15/kWh costs about $21. The same trip in a 28 MPG gas car at $3.50/gallon costs about $63 — an EV saving of $42 for one trip.
For a more realistic number
- Highway speeds cut efficiency. Above 65 mph, EV mi/kWh drops noticeably. For a long highway-only trip, knock 15–25% off your EV efficiency.
- Mixed home + public charging. If part of the trip charges at public DC fast (~$0.45/kWh), blend the rates. 80% home + 20% public gives an effective ~$0.21/kWh.
- Cold weather. Winter can cut EV efficiency 25–40%. Compensate by dropping your mi/kWh.
Want a longer trip planned with actual charging stops and times? Try the Road Trip Charging Stops Calculator alongside this one.
Frequently asked
How accurate is the estimate for a real trip?
Within 10–20% for typical mixed driving. Real costs depend on temperature, speed, terrain and load. For a steady highway trip, knock 15–20% off your EV efficiency to get a tighter estimate.
What if I have to DC fast charge during the trip?
Blend the rates. If 80% of energy comes from home ($0.15/kWh) and 20% from DC fast ($0.45/kWh), the effective rate is about $0.21/kWh. Use that in the calculator. Or use the DC Fast Charging Session Cost calculator for individual session pricing.
Does highway driving make EV trip cost higher?
Yes — highway efficiency at 70+ mph is 15–25% lower than EPA-rated, so cost per mile rises proportionally. The Highway Speed Range Impact calculator quantifies the efficiency hit at any speed.
How does the EV cost compare to a gas car for the same trip?
Typically about a third. A 500-mile EV trip at $0.15/kWh costs around $21; the same trip in a 28 MPG car at $3.50/gal costs about $63. Cold weather and highway speeds shrink the EV advantage somewhat but rarely eliminate it.
Does the calculator factor in cold weather?
Not automatically — adjust your EV efficiency downward to reflect it. A 3.5 mi/kWh EV becomes 2.5–3 in deep winter, so use that lower number to get a winter-realistic trip cost.