How we calculate this

Gas cost: (Miles driven / MPG) × Price per gallon.

EV cost: (Miles driven / Miles per kWh) × Electricity rate.

Savings: Gas cost − EV cost. Negative means the EV costs more to fuel (rare, but possible with very cheap gas or expensive electricity).

Break-even: Rough estimate of years to recover a typical $5,000 EV price premium through fuel savings alone. Maintenance savings (EVs are cheaper) would make this faster.

Tip
The average US driver saves $800–$1,200 per year on fuel alone. Add lower maintenance (no oil changes, fewer brake jobs) and the total ownership cost gap grows significantly over 5 years.