EV vs petrol running costs in United States

Same annual mileage — what it actually costs per 100 km and per year

EV · per 100 km

$5.23

Tesla Model Y (RWD) · 16.0 kWh/100 km

Petrol · per 100 km

$10.30

9 L/100 km · $4.33/gal

Annual energy difference

$1100.78

less than petrol · 13,499 mi/yr

EV total$1136.02

Petrol total$2236.81

EV to compare

Annual mileage13,499 mi

1,50025,000

Petrol consumption9 L/100 km

416

Priced at the local Regular 87 pump price of $4.33/gal. Typical family cars run 6–9 L/100 km (26–39 MPG); SUVs 8–12 L/100 km.

Home electricity rate$0.18/kWh

$0.07$0.45

EIA average residential retail rate ~$0.18/kWh (2026); ranges from ~$0.11 in parts of the Northwest to $0.30+ in Hawaii/New England.

Share of mileage on public fast chargers30%

All homeAll public

Public fast-charge rate$/kWh

Annual cost breakdown

Item	EV	Petrol
Energy cost	$936.02	$2236.81
Road charges	$200.00	—
Total	$1136.02	$2236.81
Per mi	$0.052	$0.103
Annual consumption	3467 kWh	517 gal

Sources (checked October 2026)

· Regular 87: $4.33/gal — EIA weekly retail regular gasoline, national average $4.33/gal for the week of 12 Oct 2026 (52-week range $2.78–$4.50; CA ~$6.26, NC ~$3.75)
· Residential electricity: EIA average residential retail rate ~$0.18/kWh (2026); ranges from ~$0.11 in parts of the Northwest to $0.30+ in Hawaii/New England.
· Road charges: The US has no federal per-km road charge. Roughly half the states add an EV registration surcharge — typically $100–$300/yr — to replace fuel-tax revenue; $200/yr is used as the planning average. Petrol cars pay that fuel tax at the pump instead.
· Vehicle consumption: Tesla Model Y (RWD) — 15 kWh/100 km (WLTP class, blended)

Why does an EV usually cost less to run?

An electric motor converts 85–95% of its energy into motion; a petrol engine manages 20–35% and wastes the rest as heat. Over 100 km the EV pulls far less energy off the grid than the petrol contains in its tank.

Home charging is where the saving lives: overnight rates are often a third to a half of public DC rates. Cutting your public-charging share from 100% to 30% typically removes a third or more from the annual bill.

Road funding differs and is worth knowing: New Zealand EVs pay road user charges per kilometre (currently $76 per 1,000 km for a light EV) while petrol cars pay fuel excise inside the pump price. Australia charges EVs no extra road fee as at 2026.

EV vs petrol questions

Is it cheaper to run an EV than a petrol car in United States?

On energy alone, yes. A petrol car at 9 L/100 km and $4.33/gal costs about $10.30 per 100 km. An EV at 16.0 kWh/100 km charged at $0.18/kWh at home costs about $5.23 per 100 km.

Do EVs pay road user charges in United States?

The US has no federal per-km road charge. Roughly half the states add an EV registration surcharge — typically $100–$300/yr — to replace fuel-tax revenue; $200/yr is used as the planning average. Petrol cars pay that fuel tax at the pump instead.

How much of my charging should I count at public rates?

Most owners do 70–90% of their charging at home and use public fast chargers for long trips. The slider below lets you set that split — it is the single biggest lever on your annual bill, because public DC rates are two to three times home rates.

What does this comparison leave out?

Insurance, depreciation, tyres and servicing. Servicing generally favours the EV (no oil, no exhaust, much longer brake life) but insurance and depreciation are model-specific and change with the used market, so they are deliberately excluded here.

This comparison covers energy and road charges only — not insurance, depreciation, tyres or servicing (servicing usually favours the EV, but insurance and depreciation are model-specific). Prices move with the market; confirm the live price in each operator’s app.