EV vs gas break-even calculator
See how long an electric car takes to pay off versus a gas car. The calculator works out each car's annual fuel/energy cost, the yearly saving, and the break-even point: price difference ÷ annual fuel saving. Pick (or type) an EV and a gas car, set your mileage and prices, and you'll get the payback in years and miles. It compares price and fuel only — no incentives, maintenance or resale — so it's a clear, conservative baseline.
Source: EIA US regular gasoline price (national average). Data as of June 2026.
How break-even works
First compute each car's annual fuel/energy cost. The EV usually costs less per year. The
break-even time is how long that yearly saving takes to recover the EV's higher up-front
price: years = (EV price − gas price) ÷ annual fuel saving. If the EV is cheaper to buy
and run, it wins immediately. Subtract any EV tax credit from the EV price for a faster payback.
See the methodology.
Frequently asked questions
When does an EV pay off versus a gas car?
An EV pays off once its cheaper running cost has covered any higher purchase price. Break-even years = price difference ÷ annual fuel savings. If an EV costs $6,000 more but saves $1,200 a year in fuel, it breaks even in about 5 years; after that it's cheaper overall (ignoring incentives, resale and battery factors).
How is the annual fuel saving calculated?
Gas annual cost = (miles ÷ MPG) × $/gal. EV annual cost = (miles ÷ 100) × kWh/100mi × $/kWh. The saving is the difference. More miles and a bigger gas/electric price gap shorten the payback.
Does this include tax credits and incentives?
No — to keep it transparent, the calculator compares purchase price and fuel only. If you qualify for an EV tax credit or rebate, subtract it from the EV's price to get a faster break-even. It also ignores maintenance differences (usually in the EV's favour) and resale value.
Are EVs always cheaper to run than gas cars?
Almost always on energy cost per mile, because electricity is cheaper per mile than gasoline. The exceptions are heavy reliance on expensive public fast-charging or very cheap local gas. Home charging usually makes EVs clearly cheaper to fuel.
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Last updated: 2026-06-20