{
  "slug": "ev-vs-gas-total-cost",
  "title": "EV vs Gas Total Cost of Ownership Calculator",
  "heading": "EV vs Gas Car Total Cost Comparison",
  "category": "financial",
  "url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ev-vs-gas-total-cost",
  "summary": "Fuel, maintenance, and price difference over years of ownership.",
  "description": "Compares total cost of ownership between an EV and a comparable gas vehicle over your ownership period, combining the purchase price gap, fuel/electricity cost difference, and maintenance savings (EVs have no oil changes, fewer moving parts, and regenerative braking that extends brake life 2-3x). It nets out any point-of-sale or tax-credit incentive on the EV price. This is the calculation that matters more than sticker price alone — many EVs cost more upfront but cross over to cheaper total ownership within 3-5 years purely on fuel and maintenance savings, especially for high-mileage drivers.",
  "formula": "Net price diff = (EV price − incentive) − gas price; annual savings = fuel savings + maintenance savings; breakeven = net price diff ÷ annual savings.",
  "dateModified": "2026-09-30",
  "run_url": "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/api/public/calc?tool=ev-vs-gas-total-cost",
  "inputs": [
    {
      "id": "evPrice",
      "label": "EV purchase price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 42000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 5000,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "gasPrice",
      "label": "Comparable gas car price",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 34000,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 5000,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "incentive",
      "label": "EV tax credit/incentive",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 7500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "annualMiles",
      "label": "Annual miles driven",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 12000,
      "unit": null,
      "min": 1000,
      "max": null
    },
    {
      "id": "evCostMile",
      "label": "EV cost per mile (fuel)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.045,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": 0.3
    },
    {
      "id": "gasCostMile",
      "label": "Gas cost per mile (fuel)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 0.12,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0.01,
      "max": 0.5
    },
    {
      "id": "maintDiff",
      "label": "Annual maintenance savings (EV vs gas)",
      "kind": "number",
      "hint": null,
      "default": 500,
      "unit": "$",
      "min": 0,
      "max": null
    }
  ],
  "outputs": [
    {
      "id": "breakevenYears",
      "label": "Years to break even",
      "format": "decimal",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": true
    },
    {
      "id": "netPriceDiff",
      "label": "Net upfront price difference",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "annualSavings",
      "label": "Annual running-cost savings",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings5yr",
      "label": "Net savings after 5 years",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    },
    {
      "id": "savings10yr",
      "label": "Net savings after 10 years",
      "format": "currency",
      "hint": null,
      "primary": false
    }
  ],
  "worked_example": {
    "inputs": [
      "EV purchase price: 42000 $",
      "Comparable gas car price: 34000 $",
      "EV tax credit/incentive: 7500 $",
      "Annual miles driven: 12000",
      "EV cost per mile (fuel): 0.045 $",
      "Gas cost per mile (fuel): 0.12 $",
      "Annual maintenance savings (EV vs gas): 500 $"
    ],
    "outputs": [
      "Years to break even: 0.4",
      "Net upfront price difference: $500",
      "Annual running-cost savings: $1,400",
      "Net savings after 5 years: $6,500",
      "Net savings after 10 years: $13,500"
    ]
  },
  "how_to": {
    "title": "How to use this",
    "steps": [
      "Enter ev purchase price ($).",
      "Enter comparable gas car price ($).",
      "Enter ev tax credit/incentive ($).",
      "Enter annual miles driven.",
      "Enter ev cost per mile (fuel) ($).",
      "Enter gas cost per mile (fuel) ($).",
      "Enter annual maintenance savings (ev vs gas) ($).",
      "Read your years to break even 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": 20500,
        "incentive": 4500,
        "annualMiles": 7000,
        "evCostMile": 0.027,
        "gasCostMile": 0.072,
        "maintDiff": 300
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Typical",
      "description": "Defaults — the most common real-world setup.",
      "values": {
        "evPrice": 42000,
        "gasPrice": 34000,
        "incentive": 7500,
        "annualMiles": 12000,
        "evCostMile": 0.045,
        "gasCostMile": 0.12,
        "maintDiff": 500
      }
    },
    {
      "name": "Ambitious",
      "description": "Higher-end numbers — what if things really pop?",
      "values": {
        "evPrice": 67000,
        "gasPrice": 54500,
        "incentive": 12000,
        "annualMiles": 19000,
        "evCostMile": 0.072,
        "gasCostMile": 0.192,
        "maintDiff": 800
      }
    }
  ],
  "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": "Is the federal EV tax credit still available?",
      "a": "Eligibility depends on income limits, vehicle price caps, and battery-sourcing requirements that have changed several times since 2023 — check current IRS and fueleconomy.gov listings for your specific model before assuming the full $7,500 applies. Point-of-sale credits at dealerships apply the discount immediately rather than at tax time."
    },
    {
      "q": "How much do EVs really save on maintenance?",
      "a": "No oil changes, no transmission fluid, no spark plugs, and regenerative braking that can triple brake pad life adds up to real savings — Consumer Reports and AAA studies put EV maintenance at roughly 30-50% lower than comparable gas vehicles over 5 years, though tire wear can be slightly higher due to instant torque and battery weight."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does depreciation matter for this comparison?",
      "a": "It can be significant and isn't included here. Some EV models have depreciated faster than gas equivalents due to fast-improving battery tech and price cuts on new models; others (especially popular used EVs with strong range) hold value well. Check specific model resale data separately if you plan to sell before the loan is paid off."
    },
    {
      "q": "What if I drive fewer than 8,000 miles a year?",
      "a": "Low annual mileage shrinks the fuel-savings advantage substantially since that's the main lever favoring EVs — at very low mileage, the upfront price gap may never fully close within a typical ownership period, making the decision more about preference than pure economics."
    }
  ],
  "related": [
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ev-charging-cost-per-mile",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/home-charger-payback",
    "https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/solar-payback-itc"
  ],
  "license": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "citation": "RevenueLab — EV vs Gas Total Cost of Ownership Calculator (https://www.revenuelab.fyi/toolbox/ev-vs-gas-total-cost)"
}