{
  "slug": "ev-vs-gas-ownership-cost",
  "title": "EV vs Gas Car Total Ownership Cost Calculator",
  "heading": "EV vs Gas Car Total Cost Calculator",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ev-vs-gas-ownership-cost",
  "summary": "Compare purchase price, fuel/charging cost, and maintenance between an EV and a gas car.",
  "description": "EVs typically cost more upfront (before incentives) but cost far less per mile to fuel and require less routine maintenance since there's no oil, transmission, or exhaust system to service. This calculator totals purchase price minus incentives, energy or fuel cost over your annual mileage, and maintenance across your ownership period to show which vehicle actually costs less.",
  "formula": "Total Cost = Price − Incentives + (Annual Miles / Efficiency) × Fuel/Energy Price × Years + Annual Maintenance × Years.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-06",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=ev-vs-gas-ownership-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "evPrice",
      "label": "EV price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 42000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gasPrice",
      "label": "Gas car price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 32000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "evIncentive",
      "label": "EV tax credit/incentive",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "annualMiles",
      "label": "Miles driven per year",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 12000,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "elecPricePerKwh",
      "label": "Electricity price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.15,
      "unit": "$/kWh",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gasPricePerGallon",
      "label": "Gas price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.5,
      "unit": "$/gal",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "evMpge",
      "label": "EV efficiency",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 3.3,
      "unit": "mi/kWh",
      "min": 0.5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gasMpg",
      "label": "Gas car MPG",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 30,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 5,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "evMaintAnnual",
      "label": "EV annual maintenance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 200,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gasMaintAnnual",
      "label": "Gas car annual maintenance",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 700,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "years",
      "label": "Years of ownership",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 8,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1,
      "max": 15
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "winner",
      "label": "Lower total cost option",
      "format": "raw",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "evTotal",
      "label": "EV total ownership cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "gasTotal",
      "label": "Gas car total ownership cost",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "diff",
      "label": "Total cost difference",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "breakevenYears",
      "label": "Breakeven point",
      "format": "duration",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "EV price: 42000 $",
      "Gas car price: 32000 $",
      "EV tax credit/incentive: 7500 $",
      "Miles driven per year: 12000",
      "Electricity price: 0.15 $/kWh",
      "Gas price: 3.5 $/gal",
      "EV efficiency: 3.3 mi/kWh",
      "Gas car MPG: 30",
      "EV annual maintenance: 200 $",
      "Gas car annual maintenance: 700 $",
      "Years of ownership: 8"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Lower total cost option: EV",
      "EV total ownership cost: $40,464",
      "Gas car total ownership cost: $48,800",
      "Total cost difference: $8,336",
      "Breakeven point: 1.8"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter ev price ($).",
      "Enter gas car price ($).",
      "Enter ev tax credit/incentive ($).",
      "Enter miles driven per year.",
      "Enter electricity price ($/kWh).",
      "Enter gas price ($/gal).",
      "Enter ev efficiency (mi/kWh).",
      "Enter gas car mpg.",
      "Enter ev annual maintenance ($).",
      "Enter gas car annual maintenance ($).",
      "Enter years of ownership.",
      "Read your lower total cost option on the right — it updates as you type.",
      "Hit Share to keep the scenario or send it to someone."
    ]
  },
  "scenarios": [
    {
      "name": "Conservative",
      "description": "Lower-end numbers — what if things land soft?",
      "values": {
        "evPrice": 25000,
        "gasPrice": 19000,
        "evIncentive": 4500,
        "annualMiles": 7000,
        "elecPricePerKwh": 0.09,
        "gasPricePerGallon": 2.1,
        "evMpge": 1.9799999999999998,
        "gasMpg": 18,
        "evMaintAnnual": 125,
        "gasMaintAnnual": 425,
        "years": 5
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "evPrice": 42000,
        "gasPrice": 32000,
        "evIncentive": 7500,
        "annualMiles": 12000,
        "elecPricePerKwh": 0.15,
        "gasPricePerGallon": 3.5,
        "evMpge": 3.3,
        "gasMpg": 30,
        "evMaintAnnual": 200,
        "gasMaintAnnual": 700,
        "years": 8
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "evPrice": 67000,
        "gasPrice": 51000,
        "evIncentive": 12000,
        "annualMiles": 19000,
        "elecPricePerKwh": 0.24,
        "gasPricePerGallon": 5.6000000000000005,
        "evMpge": 5.28,
        "gasMpg": 48,
        "evMaintAnnual": 325,
        "gasMaintAnnual": 1125,
        "years": 13
      }
    }
  ],
  "limitations": [
    "Results are estimates before tax, fees, and inflation unless an input explicitly covers them.",
    "Rates are treated as fixed for the whole period — variable-rate products will drift from this projection.",
    "This is educational maths, not financial advice. Check anything contractual with the lender or your accountant."
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "Does this include battery replacement risk?",
      "a": "No — most EV batteries are warrantied 8-10 years and rarely need full replacement within that window, but budget extra caution if you plan to keep the car well past the warranty."
    },
    {
      "q": "What about home charger installation cost?",
      "a": "Add $500-$2,000 for a Level 2 home charger installation to the EV side if you don't already have one; it's excluded here since many buyers already have compatible wiring."
    },
    {
      "q": "Do incentives really apply to every EV?",
      "a": "No — federal and state incentives depend on income, vehicle price caps, and battery sourcing rules, so confirm eligibility for your specific model before counting on the full credit."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/car-lease-vs-buy-cost",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/new-vs-used-car-cost"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — EV vs Gas Car Total Ownership Cost Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ev-vs-gas-ownership-cost)"
}