Gas vs Electric · Real running cost
Gas or electric — what would you really save?
Pick your current car and an EV you're eyeing. We fill in the typical numbers and your state's prices, then show the real cost of each — per mile, per year, and how long an EV takes to pay back its higher sticker.
When you come out ahead
Showing cumulative fuel savings. Add the two cars' prices in the controls to plot your exact break-even point.
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Popular comparisons
EV savings by state
Gas and electricity prices vary a lot by state — and that changes how much an EV saves you. See yours:
How this works
The running-cost comparison is just two sums. Your gas car costs (miles ÷ MPG) × price per gallon a year. An EV costs (miles ÷ miles-per-kWh) × price per kWh. The hard part is knowing your EV's efficiency and your local prices — so Dump the Pump fills in typical figures for dozens of popular EVs and your state's average gas and electricity prices. Change anything to match your exact situation.
Two things most calculators skip and we don't: where you charge (home charging is cheap, public fast-charging isn't — the slider blends them) and the break-even on the EV's higher price. Add the two cars' sticker prices and any tax credit, and you'll see how many years of fuel savings it takes to come out ahead. Everything runs on your device; nothing you enter is sent anywhere.
Common questions
How much does it really save to go electric?
For a typical driver charging at home, an EV cuts the per-mile fuel cost by roughly half to three-quarters versus a gas car — often $800–$1,500 a year. But it depends on your miles, prices and the cars, which is exactly what this tool works out for your case.
Is charging an EV actually cheaper than gas?
At home, almost always — electricity per mile is much cheaper than gasoline. Public DC fast charging is far pricier and can approach the per-mile cost of gas, so the home-vs-public slider matters. Set it to how you'd really charge.
What's a good electricity rate to use?
Use the price per kWh from your electric bill. We pre-fill your state's average, but your real rate (especially a cheaper overnight EV rate) gives the most accurate answer.
Does this include the EV's higher purchase price?
Only if you want it to. The main result compares fuel cost. Click "add the cars' prices" to enter both stickers and any tax credit, and we'll show the break-even — how long the fuel savings take to repay the price difference.