Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator

Gas vs Electric Savings is evaluated from Annual Miles Driven, Gas Car MPG and Gas Price. The calculation reports Annual Gas Cost, Annual EV Electricity Cost and Annual Fuel Savings.

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About the Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator

### Why Use the Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator Calculator?
The Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator is a valuable tool for anyone considering the purchase of a new vehicle, particularly those weighing the pros and cons of gas-powered versus electric vehicles. With the rising cost of fuel and increasing concern about the environmental impact of traditional gas-powered cars, many consumers are looking for a way to compare the costs and benefits of these two options. This calculator provides a straightforward and easy-to-use method for estimating the annual fuel savings of an electric vehicle compared to a gas-powered car, as well as the break-even point if the electric vehicle is more expensive. By using this calculator, users can make informed decisions about their vehicle purchases and potentially save money on fuel costs over time.

### History of the Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator
The concept of comparing the costs of gas-powered and electric vehicles has been around for decades, but the development of online calculators to facilitate this comparison is a more recent phenomenon. As the technology behind electric vehicles has improved and the number of models available has increased, so too has the demand for tools to help consumers evaluate the costs and benefits of these vehicles. The Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator is based on simple mathematical formulas that take into account the user's annual mileage, the fuel efficiency of their current vehicle, the cost of gas, and the efficiency and cost of electricity in their area. These formulas have been developed and refined over time through the work of researchers, engineers, and economists who have studied the costs and benefits of different types of vehicles.

### The Science Behind the Calculations
The calculations used in the Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator are based on a few key variables: annual miles driven, gas car MPG, gas price, EV efficiency, and electricity rate. The annual gas cost is calculated by dividing the annual miles driven by the gas car MPG, then multiplying the result by the gas price. The annual EV electricity cost is calculated by dividing the annual miles driven by the EV efficiency, then multiplying the result by the electricity rate. The annual fuel savings is then calculated by subtracting the annual EV electricity cost from the annual gas cost. The break-even point, if the EV is more expensive, is calculated by dividing the price difference by the annual fuel savings. The formulas used are:
- Annual Gas Cost = (Annual Miles / Gas Car MPG) * Gas Price
- Annual EV Electricity Cost = (Annual Miles / EV Efficiency) * Electricity Rate
- Annual Fuel Savings = Annual Gas Cost - Annual EV Electricity Cost
- Break-Even (if EV costs more) = (EV Price Premium / Annual Fuel Savings)

### Real-Life Application and Examples
Let's consider a real-world scenario where someone uses this calculator. Suppose John is considering purchasing a new car and is deciding between a gas-powered sedan and an electric vehicle. John drives 12,000 miles per year and his current gas-powered car gets 32 miles per gallon. The price of gas in his area is $3.50 per gallon. The electric vehicle he is considering has an efficiency of 4 miles per kilowatt-hour, and the electricity rate in his area is $0.13 per kilowatt-hour. John can use the Gas vs Electric Savings Calculator to estimate his annual fuel savings if he switches to the electric vehicle. By plugging in the numbers, John can see that his annual gas cost would be $1,312.50, while his annual EV electricity cost would be $390.00. This means his annual fuel savings would be $922.50. If the electric vehicle is $10,000 more expensive than the gas-powered car, John can also use the calculator to determine the break-even point, which in this case would be approximately 10.9 years. This information can help John make a more informed decision about which type of vehicle to purchase, based on his own financial situation and priorities.

Formula & How It Works

The calculation applies the following relations exactly as recorded in the metadata:

Gas cost = (miles/MPG) x gas price. EV cost = (miles/efficiency) x electricity rate. Annual savings = gas cost - EV cost. Break-even = price premium / annual savings.

Each output field is produced by substituting the supplied inputs into the relevant relation and then applying the declared rounding or text format.

Worked Examples

Example 1: Average American driver: 32 MPG gas vs 4 mi/kWh EV

Inputs

annual_miles: 14263 gas_mpg: 32 gas_price: 3.5 ev_efficiency: 4 electricity_rate: 0.13 ev_premium: 10000
Annual Gas Cost: $1,560.02/yr. Annual EV Electricity Cost: $463.55/yr. Annual Fuel Savings: $1,096.47/yr. 5-Year Fuel Savings: $5,482.34. Break-Even: 9.1 years. Annual CO₂ Savings: 5,456 lbs

With Annual Miles Driven = 14,263, Gas Car MPG = 32, Gas Price = 3.5 and EV Efficiency = 4 as the stated inputs, the result is Annual Gas Cost = $1,560.02/yr, Annual EV Electricity Cost = $463.55/yr and Annual Fuel Savings = $1,096.47/yr. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 2: High mileage driver: 20,000 miles/year

Inputs

annual_miles: 20000 gas_mpg: 28 gas_price: 3.75 ev_efficiency: 3.8 electricity_rate: 0.12 ev_premium: 8000
Annual Gas Cost: $2,678.57/yr. Annual EV Electricity Cost: $631.58/yr. Annual Fuel Savings: $2,046.99/yr. 5-Year Fuel Savings: $10,234.96. Break-Even: 3.9 years. Annual CO₂ Savings: 9,158 lbs

With Annual Miles Driven = 20,000, Gas Car MPG = 28, Gas Price = 3.75 and EV Efficiency = 3.8 as the stated inputs, the result is Annual Gas Cost = $2,678.57/yr, Annual EV Electricity Cost = $631.58/yr and Annual Fuel Savings = $2,046.99/yr. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 3: Low electricity rate (solar home): $0.05/kWh

Inputs

annual_miles: 12000 gas_mpg: 35 gas_price: 3.5 ev_efficiency: 4 electricity_rate: 0.05 ev_premium: 5000
Annual Gas Cost: $1,200/yr. Annual EV Electricity Cost: $150/yr. Annual Fuel Savings: $1,050/yr. 5-Year Fuel Savings: $5,250. Break-Even: 4.8 years. Annual CO₂ Savings: 3,960 lbs

With Annual Miles Driven = 12,000, Gas Car MPG = 35, Gas Price = 3.5 and EV Efficiency = 4 as the stated inputs, the result is Annual Gas Cost = $1,200/yr, Annual EV Electricity Cost = $150/yr and Annual Fuel Savings = $1,050/yr. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Example 4: Truck comparison: gas pickup vs electric pickup

Inputs

annual_miles: 15000 gas_mpg: 18 gas_price: 3.6 ev_efficiency: 2.5 electricity_rate: 0.14 ev_premium: 15000
Annual Gas Cost: $3,000/yr. Annual EV Electricity Cost: $840/yr. Annual Fuel Savings: $2,160/yr. 5-Year Fuel Savings: $10,800. Break-Even: 6.9 years. Annual CO₂ Savings: 10,813 lbs

With Annual Miles Driven = 15,000, Gas Car MPG = 18, Gas Price = 3.6 and EV Efficiency = 2.5 as the stated inputs, the result is Annual Gas Cost = $3,000/yr, Annual EV Electricity Cost = $840/yr and Annual Fuel Savings = $2,160/yr. Each value corresponds to the declared output fields.

Common Use Cases

  • Compare lifetime cost of gas vs electric car
  • Calculate EV break-even point vs gas car
  • Estimate annual fuel savings from switching to electric