EV vs gas — 5-year cost calculator
Compare the real total cost of owning an EV vs a comparable gas car over 5 years. Includes EV surcharges (in your state), electricity vs fuel, maintenance, and tax credits.
How the comparison works
An EV almost always costs more upfront and less to operate. The 5-year crossover depends on six variables this calculator captures: purchase price gap, miles driven, your local electricity rate vs gas price, your state's EV surcharge, available tax credits, and reduced maintenance.
The Department of Energy's AFDC vehicle cost calculator uses the same model — we just make the inputs friendlier and include the registration surcharge which they ignore.
Five-year fuel cost — the biggest swing variable
At 12,000 miles/year, a 30 MPG gas car burns 400 gallons. At $3.50/gal, that's $1,400/year, or $7,000 over 5 years. The same miles in a 3.5 mi/kWh EV at $0.16/kWh costs $549/year, or $2,743 over 5 years. The fuel savings alone is ~$4,250 over 5 years — but that's heavily dependent on where you live (Hawaii electricity is $0.40+/kWh; Washington is $0.10).
EV registration surcharges eat 20-30% of fuel savings
42 states + DC now charge EVs an extra registration fee, partially offsetting the lost gas tax revenue. The range is $36 (DC) to $290 (New Jersey). At $200/year × 5 years, that's $1,000 — significant against $4,250 in fuel savings. Check our EV surcharge tracker for your exact rate, or our EV fees by state article for context.
Tax credits — but they're conditional
The federal Clean Vehicle Credit (up to $7,500) requires the vehicle meet North American assembly, battery sourcing, and income caps. Many popular EVs partially qualify or don't qualify at all. State credits stack on top (Colorado $5,000, NJ $4,000, etc.) but most are also income-capped. Check the IRS qualified vehicle list before assuming the full $7,500 applies.
Maintenance — a real but smaller win
EVs skip oil changes, transmission fluid, spark plugs, timing belts, and exhaust work. The cost difference is real but modest: ~$300-$600/year, not $2,000. Brake pads last roughly 2× longer thanks to regenerative braking; tires wear ~20% faster due to the torque and weight. AAA's 2023 EV ownership study pegs the net maintenance saving at $330/year — we default to $400 as a slight bump for newer-model reliability.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EV cheaper than gas long-term?
It depends on six variables: purchase price gap, miles driven, electricity vs gas price in your area, your state's EV surcharge, available tax credits, and maintenance. For most drivers in low-electricity states (WA, OR, ID, TN) the EV wins by year 3. In high-electricity states (HI, CA, MA, CT) it can take 5+ years or never.
How much do you save on fuel with an EV?
At 12,000 miles/year, a 30 MPG gas car at $3.50/gal costs $1,400/year in fuel. The same miles in a 3.5 mi/kWh EV at $0.16/kWh costs $549/year. That's $851/year savings or $4,255 over 5 years — significant but not transformative.
Do EV tax credits really apply?
The federal Clean Vehicle Credit up to $7,500 requires the vehicle meet North American assembly, battery sourcing, and income caps. Many popular EVs partially qualify or don't qualify at all. State credits stack (CO $5,000, NJ $4,000, etc.) but most are income-capped. Verify on the IRS qualified vehicle list before assuming.
What are EV maintenance savings vs gas?
EVs skip oil changes, transmission fluid, spark plugs, timing belts, exhaust work. AAA's 2023 study pegs net maintenance saving at $330/year. Brake pads last 2× longer (regenerative braking); tires wear ~20% faster (torque + weight). Net win but smaller than fuel savings.
Why does my state charge an extra EV fee?
42 states + DC now charge EVs an annual surcharge ($36-$290) to recover lost gas tax revenue. Roads are funded by gas taxes; EVs don't buy gas. New Jersey charges the highest ($290); DC the lowest ($36). The surcharge eats 15-25% of your fuel savings — see our EV surcharge tracker.