EV DeskChinese EVs, batteries, prices

EV vs gas: cost to run and own

Fuel, electricity and maintenance per year, then how long it takes an EV's price premium to pay back. Gas and electricity prefilled from the US government averages; change them to yours. Use the currency and units switches for liters, kilometers and your own money: the whole calculator converts.

Driving

Gas car

Electric car

Result

โ€”
$0gas per year
$0electricity per year
$0EV saves per year (fuel + maintenance)
โ€”break-even
$0gas car, total over the period
$0EV, total over the period

Prefilled: gas $4.284/gal (EIA weekly average via FRED, 2026-10-19); electricity 19.6ยข/kWh (BLS U.S. city average, 2026-09). Not included: insurance, registration, resale value, the Chinese-EV price points that are not available in the US. For the same comparison on a Chinese EV sold in Canada or Europe, enter that market's prices.