Tesla Model 3: charging cost vs gas
We've set the Tesla Model 3 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.
Efficiency 4 mi/kWh
EPA range 350 mi
From ~$40,000
Typical gas rival 32 mpg
The Model 3 is about as cheap to run as a new car gets. At roughly 4 miles per kWh it's one of the most efficient EVs on sale, so each mile costs a fraction of what a 30-mpg gas sedan burns — and the gap only widens as gas prices climb.
Charged at home overnight, the Model 3 routinely costs the equivalent of paying well under a dollar a gallon. The catch is the sticker price: the savings are real, but how fast they pay back the EV premium depends on how many miles you drive and what you'd have paid for gas.
What to keep in mind
- Top-tier efficiency (~4 mi/kWh) makes it one of the cheapest EVs to run.
- Biggest savings if you drive a lot and charge at home on a normal rate.
- Public fast-charging on road trips costs much more than home charging — factor your mix.
What will the Tesla Model 3 add to your electric bill? Plugload prices home EV charging alongside every other appliance.
Check on Plugload →