- Electric vehicles cost 39% to 61% less per mile to fuel than equivalent gasoline vehicles, depending on vehicle class.
- The largest savings come from SUVs and trucks: an electric pickup saves roughly $1,136 per year compared to a gasoline pickup at 12,000 miles.
- State electricity rates create a wide range: Washington state EV drivers save about $1,497 per year while Massachusetts drivers save about $390.
- At electricity rates above 25 cents per kWh and gas prices below $2.50 per gallon, EVs can actually cost more to fuel than gas cars.
01 Introduction
The question of whether electric vehicles or gasoline cars cost less to operate comes up constantly, and the answer depends entirely on where you live and what you drive. This article compares fuel cost only: the cost of electricity to charge an EV versus the cost of gasoline to fill a tank. It does not cover purchase price, battery replacement, insurance, or maintenance. For the full picture of what driving costs in America, see our overview.
Scope note: Energy cost comparison only, consistent with DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center methodology for fuel cost comparisonsAll vehicle efficiency data comes from the EPA, which tests every new vehicle sold in the United States and publishes city, highway, and combined ratings. Gasoline prices come from the EIA's weekly retail survey. Electricity rates come from the EIA's state-level residential price data.
EPA FuelEconomy.gov, vehicle dataset 1984 to 2026 (49,807 vehicles); EIA Petroleum & Other Liquids; EIA Electric Power MonthlyThe comparison uses real EPA vehicle class averages, not cherry-picked models. Each vehicle class includes dozens to hundreds of tested vehicles across multiple manufacturers, giving a fair picture of how EVs and gas cars compare within the same size category.
EPA vehicle dataset: 1,116 EVs and 2,230 regular gasoline vehicles in model years 2022 to 2026, covering 17 matched vehicle classes02 How EV Fuel Cost Works
Gasoline vehicles measure efficiency in miles per gallon (MPG). Electric vehicles use two metrics: kWh per 100 miles, which measures how many kilowatt-hours of electricity the vehicle consumes per 100 miles of driving, and MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent), which converts electrical energy to a gasoline equivalent using the EPA's standard of 33.7 kWh per gallon.
EPA and DOE, FuelEconomy.gov: "About MPGe" and "Electricity Basics for EVs"; 33.7 kWh/gallon conversion per EPATo calculate EV fuel cost per mile, multiply the vehicle's kWh per 100 miles by your electricity rate, then divide by 100. For a gasoline car, simply divide the price per gallon by the vehicle's MPG.
DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, eGallon methodologyThe national average residential electricity rate was 13.15 cents per kWh as of 2020 (the most recent year with full state-level data in EIA records). Current rates are somewhat higher. The national average regular gasoline price was $2.937 per gallon as of February 2026.
EIA, Average Retail Price of Electricity, Annual, by State, 2020; EIA, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, U.S. Regular All Formulations, February 23, 202603 Cost Per Mile: EV vs Gas by Vehicle Class
Using EPA class averages for model years 2022 through 2026, we can compare EV and gasoline fuel costs within six major vehicle categories. Each category contains both electric and gasoline vehicles tested by the EPA, weighted by the number of configurations in each class.
EPA FuelEconomy.gov vehicle dataset, model years 2022 to 2026; 1,116 EV configurations and 2,230 regular gasoline configurations across 17 EPA vehicle classes, consolidated into 6 categoriesEVs cost less per mile in every single vehicle class. The savings range from $0.032 per mile for compact cars (where gas cars already get good mileage) to $0.095 per mile for pickup trucks (where gas vehicles are least efficient). The percentage savings is smallest for compact cars (39%) and largest for standard SUVs and trucks (60% to 61%).
Calculated from EPA class averages: EV kWh/100mi × $0.1315/kWh vs gasoline price/MPG. Compact: 38.7 kWh/100mi vs 35.5 MPG. Pickup: 47.4 kWh/100mi vs 18.7 MPG| Vehicle Class | EV (kWh/100mi) | Gas (MPG) | EV $/mile | Gas $/mile | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Car | 38.7 | 35.5 | $0.051 | $0.083 | 39% |
| Midsize Sedan | 34.3 | 35.2 | $0.045 | $0.083 | 46% |
| Large Sedan | 34.0 | 33.0 | $0.045 | $0.089 | 50% |
| Small SUV | 33.6 | 26.5 | $0.044 | $0.111 | 60% |
| Standard SUV | 41.3 | 21.1 | $0.054 | $0.139 | 61% |
| Pickup Truck | 47.4 | 18.7 | $0.062 | $0.157 | 60% |
The reason EVs save more in larger vehicle classes is straightforward: electric motors maintain relatively consistent efficiency across vehicle sizes, while gasoline engines lose significant efficiency as vehicles get heavier. Our fuel cost by vehicle type breakdown shows how dramatically gasoline efficiency drops for larger classes. A gasoline compact car gets 35.5 MPG, but a gasoline pickup manages only 18.7 MPG. The equivalent EVs use 38.7 and 47.4 kWh per 100 miles, respectively, a much smaller proportional increase.
EPA vehicle dataset class averages; physics of electric motor vs internal combustion engine efficiency scalingEstimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator04 Annual Fuel Savings
At 12,000 miles per year (close to the national average), the per-mile savings translate into significant annual dollar amounts. The savings are largest for vehicle types that Americans drive the most: SUVs and trucks.
FHWA Highway Statistics 2022, Table VM-1: average annual VMT per vehicle approximately 11,300 miles; 12,000 used as standard round number consistent with EPA calculationsA driver switching from a gasoline pickup truck to an electric pickup saves roughly $1,136 per year in fuel costs alone. Even compact car drivers, who benefit least from the switch, save about $382 per year. For the most popular vehicle category in America (SUVs), the savings fall between $800 and $1,019 per year.
Calculated from EPA class averages at 12,000 mi/yr, $2.937/gal gasoline, $0.1315/kWh electricityThese savings assume home charging at residential electricity rates. Public fast charging typically costs 2 to 3 times more per kWh than home charging, which would reduce the savings. Drivers who charge exclusively at public stations may see their advantage cut in half or more.
DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: public DC fast charging rates typically $0.30 to $0.60/kWh vs residential rates of $0.10 to $0.25/kWh05 Where EVs Save the Most (and Least)
EV fuel savings depend on two state-level variables: the local electricity rate and the local gasoline price. States with cheap electricity and expensive gasoline deliver the largest EV advantage. States with expensive electricity and cheap gasoline deliver the smallest.
EIA, Average Retail Price of Electricity by State, 2020; EIA, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices by State, February 2026Using the nine states tracked weekly by the EIA (plus the national average), we calculated the annual fuel cost for both an average EV (35 kWh per 100 miles) and an average gasoline car (26 MPG) at 12,000 miles per year, using each state's actual electricity rate and gasoline price.
EV benchmark: 35 kWh/100mi (approximate fleet average from EPA data). Gas benchmark: 26 MPG (EPA fleet average, consistent with FHWA and EPA Automotive Trends). 12,000 mi/yr standard assumptionWashington state is the best state in the country for EV fuel savings: $1,497 per year. This is because Washington has both extremely cheap electricity (9.87 cents per kWh, mostly hydroelectric) and expensive gasoline ($4.14 per gallon, driven by high state taxes and West Coast supply constraints).
EIA, Average Retail Price of Electricity, Washington, 2020: 9.87¢/kWh; EIA, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, Washington, February 2026: $4.143/galMassachusetts has the smallest savings among these states: $390 per year. Massachusetts has some of the most expensive electricity in the country (21.97 cents per kWh) combined with moderate gasoline prices ($2.845 per gallon). The expensive electricity erodes most of the EV advantage.
EIA, Average Retail Price of Electricity, Massachusetts, 2020: 21.97¢/kWh; EIA, Weekly Retail Gasoline Prices, Massachusetts, February 2026: $2.845/gal| State | Electricity (¢/kWh) | Gas ($/gal) | EV Annual | Gas Annual | Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Washington | 9.87 | $4.143 | $415 | $1,912 | $1,497 |
| California | 20.45 | $4.441 | $859 | $2,050 | $1,191 |
| Florida | 11.27 | $2.819 | $473 | $1,301 | $828 |
| Ohio | 12.29 | $2.887 | $516 | $1,333 | $817 |
| U.S. Average | 13.15 | $2.937 | $552 | $1,355 | $803 |
| Texas | 11.71 | $2.534 | $492 | $1,169 | $677 |
| Minnesota | 13.17 | $2.661 | $553 | $1,228 | $675 |
| Colorado | 12.36 | $2.578 | $519 | $1,190 | $671 |
| New York | 18.36 | $2.889 | $771 | $1,333 | $562 |
| Massachusetts | 21.97 | $2.845 | $923 | $1,313 | $390 |
Estimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator06 When Gas Cars Cost Less to Fuel
EVs do not always win on fuel cost. The break-even point depends on the ratio between electricity and gasoline prices. Using the fleet average efficiency benchmarks (35 kWh per 100 miles for EVs, 26 MPG for gas), the break-even formula simplifies to: gas price must exceed roughly 9.1 times the electricity rate (in dollars per kWh) for EVs to win.
Break-even derivation: 12,000/26 × gas = 12,000 × 0.35 × elec; gas = 9.1 × elec. At 10¢/kWh, break-even gas = $0.91. At 30¢/kWh, break-even gas = $2.73In practical terms: at 10 cents per kWh electricity, EVs win unless gas drops below $0.91 per gallon (essentially always). At 20 cents per kWh, EVs win unless gas drops below $1.82 (still almost always). But at 30 cents per kWh (Hawaii), EVs only win if gas is above $2.73 per gallon, a condition that is not guaranteed.
Calculated from break-even formula. Hawaii electricity: 30.28¢/kWh (EIA, 2020). U.S. gas price range 2000 to 2025: $1.35 to $3.95 (EIA annual averages)The heatmap reveals that at current U.S. average rates (13 cents electricity, $2.94 gas), EVs save about $800 per year. But a driver in a state with 25 cent electricity and $2.00 gas would actually pay $127 more per year to fuel an EV. These negative-savings scenarios are uncommon today but not impossible, particularly in Hawaii, Alaska, and parts of New England if gasoline prices drop.
Calculated from the electricity rate × gas price matrix using standard fuel cost formulas and fleet average vehicle efficienciesAmong 2026 model year EVs, the most efficient midsize EV sedans and compact EV crossovers achieve fuel costs as low as $0.033 per mile, less than half the cost of even the most efficient gasoline compact car. Larger electric trucks and SUVs cost $0.055 to $0.057 per mile, which is still cheaper than the average gasoline small SUV at $0.111 per mile.
DOE/EPA MY 2026 Fuel Economy Guide, EV sheet: most efficient midsize EV sedans rated 25 kWh/100mi; electric pickup trucks rated 42–43 kWh/100mi07 Data Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: FuelEconomy.gov Vehicle Dataset, model years 1984 to 2026 (49,807 vehicles). fueleconomy.gov
- U.S. Department of Energy / EPA: Model Year 2026 Fuel Economy Guide for DOE, January 2026. fueleconomy.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Weekly Retail Gasoline and On-Highway Diesel Prices, Selected States. eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Average Retail Price of Electricity, Annual, by State. eia.gov
- U.S. Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels Data Center, eGallon Methodology. afdc.energy.gov