Free Interactive Tool
Gas Savings Calculator
What would an electric car actually save you at the pump? Drag the sliders to your own numbers and watch the math happen. No signup, no email, just the answer.
Your estimate
The fuel bill, side by side
Your savings, year by year
How this is calculated
The math is simple on purpose. Your annual miles divided by your MPG gives gallons burned, times your gas price. The same miles divided by the EV's efficiency gives kWh used, priced at a blend of your home rate and public fast-charging rate based on the share you set. The difference is your fuel savings. Prices are held flat across the multi-year figures rather than guessing at future gas or electricity prices, and the tool deliberately leaves out purchase price, insurance, and maintenance so one number stays honest. Defaults are US averages as of mid-2026 from the sources below, and every one of them can be overridden with the sliders.
Data sources
- AAA national and state gas price averages
- EIA Electric Power Monthly (residential electricity rates)
- EPA Automotive Trends Report (real-world fuel economy)
- FHWA / AFDC annual vehicle miles traveled
FAQ
How much does the average driver save on gas with an EV?
With mid-2026 US average prices, a 12,000-mile-a-year driver in a 27 MPG car spends about $1,700 a year on gas. The same miles in a typical EV charged mostly at home cost around $650 to $850 in electricity, so savings in the $850 to $1,050 range are a reasonable expectation. Your own miles, local prices, and charging mix move that number a lot, which is what the sliders are for.
Does public fast charging kill the savings?
It can. Public DC fast charging typically runs $0.36 to $0.56 per kWh, which is two to three times the average home rate. A driver who fast-charges everything can end up near cost parity with an efficient gas car. The savings story is really a home charging story, which is why the home share slider changes the result so dramatically.
What about maintenance savings?
They are real but kept out of this calculator so the fuel number stays clean. EVs skip oil changes, spark plugs, and most brake wear thanks to regenerative braking. Typical estimates put the difference at another $100 to $300 a year in an EV's favor. Consider whatever this tool shows you a floor, not a ceiling.
Does winter change the math?
Cold weather reduces EV efficiency, commonly by 15 to 30 percent on the coldest days, because battery chemistry slows and cabin heating draws power. Gas cars also lose some winter efficiency, but less. If you live somewhere with hard winters, set the efficiency slider toward the low end of your car's rating for a conservative annual picture.
What is a time-of-use rate and should I care?
Many utilities offer time-of-use plans that make overnight electricity much cheaper, sometimes under $0.10 per kWh. Since most home charging happens overnight anyway, EV owners are the ideal customers for these plans. If your utility offers one, set the home electricity slider to the overnight rate and the savings grow accordingly.
What does mi/kWh mean and how do I find my EV's number?
Miles per kilowatt-hour is the EV equivalent of MPG: how far the car travels on one kWh of electricity. You can compute it from the EPA label by dividing range by usable battery size, or read it off the car's own trip screens. Around 4.0 is excellent, 3.0 to 3.5 is typical for crossovers, and big trucks land near 2.0.
Keep going
- Which EV is right for you? Take the 10-question matchmaker
- Buying used? Check the battery with the degradation calculator
- The 2026 lease crash: how to buy a $50k EV for under $21k
- Charging habits that keep your battery healthy
Estimates only. Defaults are US averages as of mid-2026 and every input can be adjusted. Fuel costs only: purchase price, insurance, maintenance, and incentives are out of scope. Not affiliated with any automaker or charging network.