Calculate your potential annual savings by switching to an electric vehicle.
Your estimated annual savings will appear here.
Understanding Your Electric Vehicle Savings
Switching to an Electric Vehicle (EV) can lead to significant cost savings over the lifespan of the vehicle. This calculator helps you estimate your annual savings based on your driving habits and local energy costs. The primary areas where savings are realized are fuel (electricity vs. gasoline) and maintenance.
How the Calculator Works
The calculator uses the following logic:
Annual Fuel Cost for Gasoline Vehicle: This is calculated by determining the number of gallons of gasoline needed per year and multiplying it by the price per gallon.
Gallons per year = Annual Mileage / Gasoline Vehicle MPG Annual Gasoline Cost = Gallons per year * Gasoline Price per Gallon
Annual Fuel Cost for Electric Vehicle: This involves converting the EV's efficiency (MPGe) to an equivalent kWh consumption and then calculating the cost based on the local electricity price. We also account for charging losses, which reduce the effective efficiency of the energy drawn from the grid.
kWh per year (effective usage) = (Annual Mileage / EV MPGe) * 3.341 (kWh per gallon equivalent) * (1 + Charging Loss Percentage / 100) Note: 3.341 kWh is the energy equivalent of one gallon of gasoline. Annual Electricity Cost = kWh per year * Electricity Price per kWh
Annual Savings: The difference between the annual gasoline cost and the annual electricity cost.
Annual Savings = Annual Gasoline Cost - Annual Electricity Cost
Key Factors Influencing Savings:
Annual Mileage: The more you drive, the greater the potential savings as the cost difference per mile adds up.
Fuel Prices: Fluctuations in gasoline prices directly impact the savings potential. Higher gasoline prices generally mean higher savings with an EV.
Vehicle Efficiency: Both the MPG of a gasoline car and the MPGe of an EV play a crucial role. A more efficient gasoline car or a more efficient EV will alter the savings calculation.
Electricity Rates: The cost of electricity in your area is a major determinant of EV running costs.
Charging Losses: Not all the electricity drawn from the charger makes it into the battery. Some energy is lost as heat during the charging process.
Beyond Fuel: Other EV Advantages
While this calculator focuses on fuel savings, EVs also typically offer lower maintenance costs due to fewer moving parts (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements due to regenerative braking). Some regions also offer government incentives or tax credits for purchasing EVs, which can further reduce the overall cost of ownership.
This calculator provides an estimate. Actual savings may vary based on specific driving conditions, vehicle models, charging habits, electricity rate plans, and maintenance costs.
function calculateSavings() {
var annualMileage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("annualMileage").value);
var fuelPricePerGallon = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fuelPricePerGallon").value);
var gasolineMPG = parseFloat(document.getElementById("gasolineMPG").value);
var electricityPricePerKWh = parseFloat(document.getElementById("electricityPricePerKWh").value);
var evMPGe = parseFloat(document.getElementById("evMPGe").value);
var evChargingLossPercentage = parseFloat(document.getElementById("evChargingLossPercentage").value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById("result");
// Input validation
if (isNaN(annualMileage) || annualMileage < 0 ||
isNaN(fuelPricePerGallon) || fuelPricePerGallon < 0 ||
isNaN(gasolineMPG) || gasolineMPG <= 0 ||
isNaN(electricityPricePerKWh) || electricityPricePerKWh < 0 ||
isNaN(evMPGe) || evMPGe <= 0 ||
isNaN(evChargingLossPercentage) || evChargingLossPercentage 100) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. MPG and MPGe must be greater than zero.";
return;
}
// Calculations
var gallonsPerYear = annualMileage / gasolineMPG;
var annualGasolineCost = gallonsPerYear * fuelPricePerGallon;
// Energy content of a gallon of gasoline in kWh
var kwhPerGallonEquivalent = 3.341;
var effectiveEvMPGe = evMPGe / (1 + evChargingLossPercentage / 100); // Adjust MPGe for charging losses
// Calculate kWh consumed per year considering efficiency and losses
var kwhPerYear = (annualMileage / evMPGe) * kwhPerGallonEquivalent;
// Account for charging losses by increasing the total kWh needed from the grid
var kwhConsumedFromGrid = kwhPerYear * (1 + evChargingLossPercentage / 100);
var annualElectricityCost = kwhConsumedFromGrid * electricityPricePerKWh;
var annualSavings = annualGasolineCost – annualElectricityCost;
// Display result
if (annualSavings >= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Annual Savings: $" + annualSavings.toFixed(2) + "";
} else {
resultDiv.innerHTML = "Estimated Annual Difference: You could spend $" + Math.abs(annualSavings).toFixed(2) + " more on electricity annually. (This scenario is less common but possible with very high electricity rates or extremely inefficient EVs)";
}
}