Free EV vs Petrol Cost Calculator 2026

Yes, in almost all regions, charging an EV is significantly cheaper than buying petrol or diesel. While the upfront cost of an EV may be higher, the cost per mile/km is usually 50-70% lower depending on your local electricity rates and if you charge at home.

US EV drivers typically save $1,000–$2,500 per year. With $0.15/kWh electricity and $3.50/gallon gas, driving 40 miles/day saves ~$1,400/year.

European savings depend on your country. In Germany (€0.40/kWh electricity, €1.93/L petrol), drivers save around €1,200–€2,000/year. In France, with lower electricity rates (~€0.25/kWh), savings are even greater. UK drivers on EV tariffs can save £1,500+ annually.

Australian EV drivers pay around $0.30/kWh to charge, versus $1.90/L for petrol. Driving 40 km/day, you can save roughly $1,200–$1,800 per year. Select the 🇦🇺 Australia preset in our calculator for an accurate estimate.

Home charging is usually the cheapest option, often costing $0.10-$0.30 per kWh depending on your utility. Public fast chargers are more expensive, typically costing $0.40-$0.80 per kWh. Using our calculator, you can adjust the electricity rate to see the difference.

If you have a home solar panel system, charging your EV during sunny hours can reduce your charging costs to nearly zero. This accelerates your EV payback period significantly. You can toggle the 'Solar Charging' feature in our calculator to estimate these exact savings.

Yes. Electric vehicles have fewer moving parts than internal combustion engine cars. There are no oil changes, spark plugs, or exhaust systems to replace, and regenerative braking significantly extends the life of brake pads. On average, EV maintenance costs are about half that of a gas car.

In metric countries, EV efficiency is measured in kilometres per kilowatt-hour (km/kWh). A typical EV gets 5–7 km/kWh. For example, the Tesla Model 3 averages ~6.8 km/kWh, the VW ID.4 ~5.5 km/kWh, and the BYD Han ~6.2 km/kWh.

The payback period = extra purchase cost of EV ÷ monthly fuel savings. For example, if an EV costs £5,000 more than a gas car and you save £200/month on fuel, it pays back in 25 months (~2.1 years).

Petrol combustion emits ~2.31 kg CO₂ per litre. Your EV's grid emissions depend on your region (France ~56 gCO₂/kWh, UK ~225, Germany ~350, China ~560). We subtract EV emissions from gas emissions to give you net CO₂ savings.

Many utility companies offer off-peak tariffs (like Octopus Energy in the UK) where electricity is much cheaper overnight. By scheduling your EV to charge during these hours, you can increase your savings by up to 70% compared to standard flat rates.

The model picker shows models relevant to your selected region: Tesla Model 3, Chevrolet Bolt (USA), VW ID.4, Peugeot e-208 (Europe), BYD Han, BYD Atto 3, NIO ET5 (China), and Hyundai IONIQ 6 (global). Clicking a model auto-fills its real-world efficiency.