EV vs Gas vs Hybrid Cost Calculator
Compare fuel, electricity, purchase price, annual costs, and break-even savings in seconds. Use your own numbers to see which vehicle type makes the most financial sense for your driving.
Your cost comparison
| Metric | Gas | Hybrid | Electric |
|---|
Estimates assume unchanged prices, efficiency, and annual distance. Financing, resale value, depreciation, opportunity cost, battery replacement, and public-charging session fees are excluded. Other ownership costs count only when entered above.
How this EV vs gas calculator works
Annual gas or hybrid fuel cost equals distance multiplied by fuel consumption and fuel price. In metric units, consumption is divided by 100. In U.S. units, distance is divided by miles per gallon.
Annual EV energy cost equals distance divided by 100, multiplied by kWh consumption, the extra-use multiplier, and the weighted electricity rate. The weighted rate combines home and public charging based on your home charging share.
The total comparison adds purchase price, EV charger setup, and included annual costs over your selected ownership period. Break-even compares extra upfront cost against annual running-cost savings.
When an EV can cost less than gas
An electric vehicle is more likely to save money when you drive more kilometres or miles, charge mostly at home, pay a low electricity rate, and avoid a large purchase price premium. A gas or hybrid vehicle can still be cheaper when the EV costs much more upfront, public charging is expensive, or annual driving distance is low.
Questions worth asking before you switch
Is an electric car always cheaper than gas?
No. The result depends on purchase price, fuel price, electricity rate, efficiency, charging habits, annual distance, and ownership period. Lower energy cost does not always mean lower total ownership cost.
Is a hybrid cheaper than a gas car?
A hybrid can be cheaper when the fuel savings are large enough to offset any higher purchase price. The calculator compares both the annual fuel savings and the total ownership cost over your selected period.
Does this calculator include plug-in hybrids?
No. This version compares gas cars, conventional hybrids, and fully electric vehicles. Plug-in hybrids require separate electric-distance and fuel-distance assumptions.
Where should I find vehicle consumption numbers?
Use a combined rating from an official source or your own measured consumption. Match the units carefully and check whether EV electricity use includes charging losses. U.S. MPG uses U.S. gallons, not Imperial gallons.
Are my entries saved or uploaded?
This calculator processes inputs in your browser and does not save them between visits or send them to a server. Downloading a CSV creates a file on your device. Other features on this website may have their own privacy practices.
Check your inputs against official sources
- U.S. Department of Energy: compare vehicle efficiency
- Natural Resources Canada: fuel consumption ratings
Use your utility bill and charging provider's current tariff for electricity prices. No vehicle data, tax incentives, or live energy prices are automatically supplied.