EV Charging Cost vs Gasoline Calculator

Comparing an EV to a gasoline car by fuel cost is straightforward arithmetic, but two details decide the answer and both are usually left out: how much of your charging happens at home versus on public fast chargers, and what your home rate actually is at the hours you charge.

Public DC fast charging often costs three to four times a home rate. A driver who charges mostly at home and one who relies on public chargers are running very different vehicles economically.

The share that matters most

Move the home-charging slider and watch the answer. For most drivers the economics of an EV are made or broken by whether they can charge where they sleep. Apartment dwellers without assigned parking are paying public rates for most of their miles, and the saving shrinks accordingly.

Time-of-use rates

If your utility offers an EV or time-of-use plan, the overnight rate is often far below the flat rate — sometimes half. That is usually the single largest lever available, and it costs nothing but a plan change and a scheduled charge start time.

Winter

Consumption rises in cold weather, sometimes 30% or more, because cabin heat comes from the same battery. Run the numbers again at a higher kWh/100mi figure to see the winter picture.