The EV-vs-gas debate usually runs on vibes. It’s actually a three-variable math problem: your local electricity price, your local gas price, and each car’s efficiency. Here’s the framework with recent typical values.
The baseline math (2024–2025 typical prices)
| Powertrain | Typical efficiency | Energy cost per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| Gas car (30 MPG, $3.20/gal) | ~11¢/mile | ~$10.70 |
| EV home charging ($0.16/kWh, 3 mi/kWh) | ~5.3¢/mile | ~$5.35 |
| EV DC fast charging ($0.45/kWh) | ~15¢/mile | ~$15.00 — more than gas |
The finding that changes minds: charging access decides everything. Home-charging EVs run roughly half the per-mile energy cost of gas; road-trip-heavy drivers reliant on DC fast chargers can pay as much per mile as a decent gas car. The "EVs are always cheaper to fuel" claim is only true for the home-charging majority.
The other lines in the ledger
- Maintenance: no oil changes and regenerative braking reduce routine costs; industry estimates commonly land at $0.03–0.06/mile saved versus gas — real, and smaller than the fuel saving.
- Tires: EVs are heavy and torquey — tire wear runs faster, offsetting some savings.
- Depreciation: historically the EV weak spot, stabilizing as the used market matures — model-specific, not a category constant.
Primary sources: the Department of Energy’s eGallon tool (state-by-state EV-vs-gas cost, updated regularly), EIA price series, and Consumer Reports ownership-cost studies. Run your own numbers with the three-variable formula — at your prices, not national averages.