{
    "name": "EV vs Petrol Running Cost Calculator",
    "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/ev-vs-petrol-running-cost-calculator",
    "markdown": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/ev-vs-petrol-running-cost-calculator.md",
    "category": "Energy & environment",
    "description": "Compare a year’s energy and maintenance cost of an electric car and a petrol car from your mileage, consumption and local electricity and fuel prices.",
    "summary": "Running cost per year is the distance driven times the energy used per kilometre times its price, plus maintenance. Enter both cars’ figures and your local prices to compare.",
    "also_called": [
        "EV vs gas cost calculator",
        "Electric vs petrol car calculator",
        "EV savings calculator"
    ],
    "applies_to": "Worldwide",
    "last_updated": "2026-10-29",
    "computation": "Results are computed in the visitor’s browser on the HTML page. This API describes the calculator; it does not compute results.",
    "inputs": [
        {
            "name": "annual_km",
            "label": "Distance driven per year",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "15000",
            "unit": "km"
        },
        {
            "name": "ev_kwh100",
            "label": "EV energy use",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "17",
            "unit": "kWh/100 km"
        },
        {
            "name": "charge_eff",
            "label": "Charging efficiency",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "90",
            "unit": "%"
        },
        {
            "name": "elec_price",
            "label": "Electricity price per kWh",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0.25"
        },
        {
            "name": "petrol_l100",
            "label": "Petrol car fuel use",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "7",
            "unit": "L/100 km"
        },
        {
            "name": "petrol_price",
            "label": "Petrol price per litre",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "1.80"
        },
        {
            "name": "ev_maint",
            "label": "EV maintenance per year",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "petrol_maint",
            "label": "Petrol car maintenance per year",
            "type": "number",
            "default": "0",
            "optional": true
        },
        {
            "name": "currency",
            "label": "Currency",
            "type": "currency",
            "default": "USD"
        }
    ],
    "outputs": [
        {
            "key": "savings",
            "label": "EV saving per year",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "ev_cost",
            "label": "EV running cost per year",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "petrol_cost",
            "label": "Petrol car running cost per year",
            "format": "currency"
        },
        {
            "key": "ev_per_km",
            "label": "EV cost per km",
            "format": "decimal4"
        },
        {
            "key": "petrol_per_km",
            "label": "Petrol cost per km",
            "format": "decimal4"
        },
        {
            "key": "ev_kwh",
            "label": "Electricity bought per year",
            "format": "number"
        },
        {
            "key": "petrol_litres",
            "label": "Petrol bought per year",
            "format": "number"
        }
    ],
    "formula": {
        "text": "EV kWh = km × kWh/100 km ÷ 100 ÷ Charging efficiency;  EV cost = EV kWh × Price + Maintenance;  Petrol cost = km × L/100 km ÷ 100 × Price + Maintenance;  Saving = Petrol cost − EV cost",
        "variables": {
            "km": "distance per year",
            "Charging efficiency": "share of purchased electricity stored in the battery"
        }
    },
    "worked_example": {
        "inputs": {
            "annual_km": "15000",
            "ev_kwh100": "17",
            "charge_eff": "90",
            "elec_price": "0.25",
            "petrol_l100": "7",
            "petrol_price": "1.80",
            "ev_maint": "0",
            "petrol_maint": "0",
            "currency": "USD"
        },
        "steps": [
            "EV: 15,000 × 17 ÷ 100 = 2,550 kWh ÷ 0.90 = 2,833.33 kWh × 0.25 = 708.33.",
            "Petrol: 15,000 × 7 ÷ 100 = 1,050 L × 1.80 = 1,890.",
            "Saving = 1,890 − 708.33 = 1,181.67 a year."
        ],
        "result": "Over 15,000 km a year the EV costs 708.33 in electricity against 1,890 in petrol, saving 1,181.67."
    },
    "interpretation": "The gap depends mostly on the electricity price you pay; public rapid charging can cost several times more than off-peak home charging. Use the yearly saving with the price difference between the cars to estimate a payback period.",
    "assumptions": [
        "Distances in kilometres and fuel use in L/100 km.",
        "Prices stay constant for the year."
    ],
    "limitations": [
        "Purchase price, depreciation, insurance, road tax and financing are not included."
    ],
    "rules": null,
    "faqs": [
        {
            "question": "My petrol car is rated in MPG. How do I convert?",
            "answer": "L/100 km = 282.481 ÷ UK MPG, or 235.215 ÷ US MPG."
        },
        {
            "question": "Are EV maintenance costs really lower?",
            "answer": "EVs have no oil changes and less brake wear, but tyres may wear faster. Enter quotes or your own records rather than assuming a figure."
        }
    ],
    "sources": [],
    "related": [
        {
            "name": "EV Charging Cost Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/ev-charging-cost-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Fuel Cost Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/fuel-cost-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Gas Mileage Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/gas-mileage-calculator"
        },
        {
            "name": "Carbon Emissions Calculator",
            "url": "https://calculators.geekmidst.com/calculators/carbon-emissions-estimate-calculator"
        }
    ],
    "disclaimer": null,
    "publisher": "GM¹X CalcVerse"
}