- A BEV (battery electric vehicle) costs roughly $0.04-$0.05 per mile to fuel, while a PHEV in blended mode costs $0.05-$0.08 per mile.
- PHEVs offer 20-50 miles of electric range before switching to gasoline; BEVs provide 200-350+ miles of all-electric range.
- For drivers with short commutes (<30 miles round trip) and home charging, a PHEV can approach BEV-level fuel costs since most daily driving stays within electric range.
- For drivers without home charging access, a PHEV's gasoline fallback can be more practical than relying on public charging networks for a BEV.
01 PHEV vs BEV: The Basics
A plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) combines a battery and electric motor with a traditional gasoline engine. It can drive a limited distance on electricity alone (typically 20-50 miles), then switches to gasoline. A battery electric vehicle (BEV) runs entirely on electricity, with no gasoline engine or fuel tank.
DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: "Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles" and "All-Electric Vehicles" definitions and technology descriptionsThe EPA rates both types using MPGe (miles per gallon equivalent), which converts electricity consumption to a gasoline-equivalent measure for comparison. One gallon of gasoline contains 33.7 kWh of energy, so an EV rated at 100 MPGe uses 33.7 kWh to travel 100 miles (or 3.0 mi/kWh).
EPA/DOE: "MPGe represents the number of miles a vehicle can travel using a quantity of fuel with the same energy content as a gallon of gasoline (33.7 kWh)"The key distinction for fuel cost is simple: BEVs use only electricity, which typically costs $0.04-$0.05 per mile at home charging rates. PHEVs use a mix of electricity and gasoline, with the overall cost depending on how much driving stays within the electric range.
EPA Fuel Economy Guide, MY 2024: BEV and PHEV efficiency ratings; EIA average residential electricity rate 16.6 cents/kWh02 Fuel Cost per Mile Comparison
The table below compares fuel costs for representative PHEV and BEV models by vehicle class. PHEV costs are shown in two modes: electric-only (when driving within battery range) and blended (EPA's combined rating that accounts for both electric and gasoline driving in typical use).
EPA FuelEconomy.gov, MY 2024: individual model ratings. Costs calculated using EIA national average residential electricity (16.6¢/kWh) and gasoline ($3.00/gal)| Vehicle Type | EPA Efficiency | Electric Cost/Mi | Blended Cost/Mi |
|---|---|---|---|
| BEV Compact hatchback | 3.5 mi/kWh | $0.047 | $0.047 |
| BEV Midsize sedan | 3.8 mi/kWh | $0.044 | $0.044 |
| BEV Compact SUV | 3.3 mi/kWh | $0.050 | $0.050 |
| BEV Full-size pickup | 2.4 mi/kWh | $0.069 | $0.069 |
| PHEVs below | |||
| PHEV Compact hatchback | 3.7 mi/kWh | 52 MPG | $0.045 | $0.051 |
| PHEV Compact SUV | 3.1 mi/kWh | 35 MPG | $0.054 | $0.070 |
| PHEV Midsize SUV | 2.9 mi/kWh | 38 MPG | $0.057 | $0.068 |
| PHEV Luxury SUV | 2.5 mi/kWh | 24 MPG | $0.066 | $0.098 |
In electric-only mode, PHEVs approach BEV cost levels. But the blended cost, which reflects typical driving that includes gasoline use beyond the electric range, pushes PHEV costs 30-50% higher than comparable BEVs. The gap is largest for luxury PHEVs with short electric ranges and thirsty engines.
EPA Fuel Economy Guide: utility factor methodology weights electric and gasoline driving based on typical driving patterns03 EPA Efficiency Ratings by Class
The EPA publishes MPGe ratings that allow direct comparison across all electrified powertrains. Higher MPGe means lower energy cost per mile. The table below shows representative EPA combined MPGe ratings for BEVs and PHEVs by vehicle class.
EPA FuelEconomy.gov: MY 2024 combined MPGe ratings for BEV and PHEV models| Vehicle Class | BEV MPGe Range | PHEV MPGe (Elec.) | PHEV MPG (Gas) | Electric Range |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Compact Car | 100-140 | 105-130 | 48-54 | 25-44 mi |
| Midsize Sedan | 110-140 | 90-110 | 30-42 | 28-53 mi |
| Small SUV | 95-125 | 85-105 | 33-40 | 26-42 mi |
| Midsize SUV | 80-110 | 60-90 | 23-33 | 20-40 mi |
| Full-Size Truck | 60-80 | N/A | N/A | N/A |
BEVs consistently achieve higher MPGe ratings because they convert electrical energy to motion far more efficiently than any combustion process. Even the least efficient BEV (a large truck at ~60 MPGe) outperforms the most efficient PHEV in gasoline mode.
DOE EERE: electric drivetrains convert 85-90% of energy to wheel power vs. 12-30% for internal combustion engines04 When a PHEV Makes More Sense
Despite the BEV's clear fuel cost advantage on a per-mile basis, there are practical scenarios where a PHEV may be the smarter choice. The decision depends on driving patterns, charging access, and trip requirements.
DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center: "Plug-In Hybrid Electric Vehicles" buyer considerations- No home charging access: Apartment dwellers or those without a garage may find it difficult to charge a BEV daily. A PHEV can run on gasoline when charging is not available, while still using public chargers opportunistically.
- Frequent long-distance trips: Drivers who regularly take trips exceeding 250-300 miles benefit from a PHEV's ability to refuel in minutes at gas stations rather than waiting 20-45 minutes at DC fast chargers.
- Short daily commute with occasional long trips: A PHEV with 30-40 miles of electric range can cover a typical 25-mile round-trip commute entirely on electricity, then switch to gasoline for weekend road trips.
- Rural areas with limited charging infrastructure: The DOE's AFDC station locator shows that rural areas still have significantly fewer public chargers per capita than urban areas.
05 Total Annual Energy Cost Scenarios
The table below models annual energy cost for three driving profiles across a BEV and PHEV of similar size (midsize SUV class). All scenarios assume home charging at the national average residential rate of 16.6 cents/kWh and gasoline at $3.00/gallon.
Calculated using EPA efficiency ratings, EIA national average electricity and gasoline prices| Scenario | BEV SUV (3.3 mi/kWh) | PHEV SUV (2.9 mi/kWh | 38 MPG) | Gas SUV (27 MPG) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Short commuter (8,000 mi/yr) | $402 | $458 | $889 |
| Average driver (12,000 mi/yr) | $604 | $816 | $1,333 |
| High mileage (18,000 mi/yr) | $905 | $1,336 | $2,000 |
| Long commuter, no home charge (12,000 mi/yr, public DCFC) | $1,636 | $947 | $1,333 |
The key takeaway: for the average driver with home charging, a BEV saves $200-$430 per year over a PHEV and $730-$1,100 per year over a gasoline SUV. But a PHEV without home charging actually costs less than a BEV relying on public DC fast charging, because the PHEV's gasoline at $3.00/gallon is cheaper than $0.45/kWh public electricity for the non-electric portion of driving.
Calculated from table above. Relative savings depend on electricity rate, gasoline price, and proportion of electric vs. gasoline driving.Estimate your vehicle's driving cost using official EPA fuel economy data.
Use the Calculator06 Data Sources
- U.S. Environmental Protection Agency: Fuel Economy Guide, Model Year 2024. BEV and PHEV efficiency ratings (kWh/100mi, MPGe, MPG). fueleconomy.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A: residential electricity prices. eia.gov
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update. eia.gov
- U.S. Department of Energy: Alternative Fuels Data Center, EV charging and PHEV/BEV technology guides. afdc.energy.gov