EV vs Gas Cost per Mile Calculator
Settle the "charging costs as much as gas" argument with your own numbers. Enter how far you drive, what your gas car gets, and what your electric car uses. The defaults are the latest US average prices from the EIA (gas, October 2026; home electricity, August 2026), with EPA ratings for the 2025 Chevrolet Equinox (gas) and Equinox EV.
Method: gas cost per mile = gas price / mpg. EV cost per mile = (kWh per 100 miles / 100) x electricity price; 1 mile per kWh equals 100 kWh per 100 miles. This counts energy only, not maintenance, insurance or purchase price. Your real use changes with speed, weather and load.
Joke: "Charging an EV costs as much as gas"
The EIA reports that regular gasoline averaged $4.269 per gallon in the US in the week of October 26, 2026. Its latest residential electricity price is 18.16 cents per kWh (August 2026). Put those prices against EPA ratings for two pairs of 2025 models from fueleconomy.gov, at 15,000 miles a year, the same distance the EPA label uses for its annual fuel cost:
| Vehicle (2025, EPA combined) | Rating | Cost per mile | 15,000 miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford F-150 4WD, 3.5 L turbo | 19 mpg | 22.5 cents | $3,370 |
| Ford F-150 Lightning 4WD Extended Range | 48 kWh/100 mi | 8.7 cents | $1,308 |
| Chevrolet Equinox FWD, 1.5 L turbo | 27 mpg | 15.8 cents | $2,372 |
| Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD | 31 kWh/100 mi | 5.6 cents | $844 |
The joke has a grain of truth only at the fast charger. Public DC fast charging is often priced well above the home rate. Enter 0.45 in the calculator as an example price, and the Equinox EV costs about 14 cents per mile, close to the gas Equinox. Charge at home most of the time and the gap is large.
More Car Jokes, Checked
"EVs can't make it to the next town"
EPA range ratings on fueleconomy.gov for 2025 models: Tesla Model 3 Long Range RWD 363 miles, F-150 Lightning Extended Range 320 miles, Chevrolet Equinox EV FWD 319 miles. The Standard Range Lightning is rated at 240 miles.
Mostly false"Premium gas makes my car faster"
The DOE and EPA octane page on fueleconomy.gov says that in a car built for regular, under normal driving "you may get little to no benefit," and the extra cost is typically higher than any fuel savings. Use the grade in your owner's manual.
False for most cars"Idling is free, it's just sitting there"
Per fueleconomy.gov, idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner use. At $4.27 a gallon, that is roughly $1.07 to $2.13 for each hour of idling.
False"Lead foot? Costs nothing"
Fueleconomy.gov says aggressive driving (speeding, rapid acceleration and braking) can lower gas mileage by roughly 15% to 30% at highway speeds and 10% to 40% in stop-and-go traffic.
False"The junk in my trunk is free storage"
An extra 100 pounds in the vehicle could reduce MPG by about 1%, according to fueleconomy.gov. A large rooftop cargo box costs more: around 2% to 8% in city driving and 6% to 17% on the highway.
Small but real"Tire pressure is for nerds"
Fueleconomy.gov says under-inflated tires can lower gas mileage by about 0.2% for every 1 psi drop in the average pressure of all tires. Using the recommended grade of motor oil can improve mileage by 1% to 2%.
The nerds winJoke: "Every new car is a gas guzzler"
The EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report (published February 2026) puts the average real-world fuel economy of model year 2024 new vehicles at a record 27.2 mpg. Without battery electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles, the average was 25.6 mpg. The same report says every vehicle type except pickups has more than doubled its 1975 fuel economy, which is why the truck jokes keep working.
Sources and Method
Gasoline: US Energy Information Administration (EIA), weekly US regular retail gasoline price, week of October 26, 2026 ($4.269 per gallon). Electricity: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A, US residential average for August 2026 (18.16 cents per kWh). Vehicle ratings and ranges: US Department of Energy and EPA, fueleconomy.gov, 2025 model year. Fleet average: EPA 2025 Automotive Trends Report (EPA-420-R-26-001), February 2026. Driving habit and maintenance figures: fueleconomy.gov. Costs on this page use 15,000 miles a year and are rounded to the nearest dollar or tenth of a cent. Prices change every week, so enter your local prices in the calculator.