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Charging Costs vs Fuel Costs Explained
Charging costs vs fuel costs in the US—how to compare electricity vs gas per mile and what to budget for EV vs gas.
AutoPremo Team
January 31, 2026
2 min read
Charging costs vs fuel costs in the U.S.—how much you pay per mile for electricity vs gas—depend on local rates, efficiency, and how you charge. Here's how to compare and what to budget.
TL;DR Charging cost = miles × kWh/mile × $/kWh (electricity rate). Fuel cost = miles ÷ MPG × $/gallon. Compare using your local electricity and gas prices and your driving. Use autopremo.com gas vs electric calculator to see charging vs fuel costs.Charging Costs (EV)
- Home charging — electricity rate × kWh used. Typical EV: 3–4 miles per kWh; at $0.12/kWh, ~$0.03–$0.04/mile. Use autopremo.com gas vs electric with your rate.
- Public fast charging — often 2–3x home rates; can be $0.30–$0.45/kWh or more. If you rely on public charging, cost per mile can approach or exceed gas. Factor your charging mix into total cost.
- Efficiency — miles per kWh varies by EV and conditions; cold weather and highway speed can reduce efficiency and increase cost per mile.
Fuel Costs (Gas)
- Fuel cost = miles ÷ MPG × $/gallon. At 30 MPG and $3.50/gal, ~$0.12/mile. At 25 MPG, ~$0.14/mile. Use autopremo.com total cost of ownership to plug in your MPG and local gas price.
How to Compare
Use autopremo.com gas vs electric calculator—plug in your miles, electricity rate, gas price, EV efficiency (miles/kWh), and gas MPG. You'll see charging cost vs fuel cost per year and over 5 years. That tells you whether an EV saves on "fuel" for your situation.
Compare charging vs fuel at autopremo.com.Bottom Line
Charging costs vs fuel costs depend on local rates, efficiency, and how you charge. Use autopremo.com gas vs electric calculator to compare so you know what to budget for EV vs gas.