Gas vs Electric · Real running cost
Nissan Leaf: charging cost vs gas
We've set the Nissan Leaf as your EV below. Pick the gas car you'd compare against, set your prices and miles, and see the real cost difference — and the break-even.
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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The Leaf is an affordable, efficient (~3.5 mi/kWh) commuter with one of the lowest sticker prices in the EV market — so it pairs cheap running costs with a small premium to recover. For a home-charging commuter, the break-even is among the quickest.
Its shorter range and older fast-charging standard matter mostly on road trips; for daily driving on home charging, it's very cheap to run.
What to keep in mind
- Low price + ~3.5 mi/kWh = fast payback for commuters.
- Best suited to home charging and shorter daily distances.
- Road-trip charging is its weak point, not daily cost.
Nissan Leaf: common questions
How much does it cost to charge a Nissan Leaf?
At the U.S. average home electricity price of about 17¢/kWh and roughly 3.5 mi/kWh, a Nissan Leaf costs about 5¢ per mile to charge at home — around $583 a year at 12,000 miles. Public DC fast-charging costs more, so set your home/public mix in the calculator.
Is a Nissan Leaf cheaper to run than a gas car?
Charging at home, usually yes. Against a typical 32-mpg gas sedan, the Nissan Leaf's per-mile fuel cost is much lower — the calculator shows your annual fuel saving and how long the price difference takes to pay back.