ev-vs-gas-cost-calculator

How to use the EV vs. Combustion Operating Costs Calculator

This calculator helps you realistically compare the running costs of an electric car with an internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicle – without sales hype. First, enter your annual mileage, as this is the biggest factor: the more kilometers you drive, the greater the impact of energy or fuel costs.

For the electric car, the calculator uses your consumption in kWh/100 km and a mixed electricity price. Why mixed? Because charging at home is usually cheaper than charging on the road. You can set the home charging share and enter prices for both "Home" and "Public." This gives you a result that is closer to reality than a single average value.

Then come the "hidden" costs: maintenance & wear, insurance, and vehicle tax. For combustion vehicles, you can also enter oil/fluids/misc. There is an optional "Other Costs" field if you want to include parking, tolls, or seasonal extras.

The most important professional lever is depreciation. Many comparisons seem unfair because only electricity vs. fuel is considered. In Pro Mode, you enter the purchase price, residual value percentage, and duration of use. The calculator distributes the depreciation as an annual amount. This allows for a much better comparison of "Total Cost of Ownership." You can leave Pro Mode deactivated or set individual fields to 0.

In the results, you will see $/Year and $/km for both drives, a clear breakdown, and a visual bar comparison. Additionally, the calculator computes a break-even estimate: if the EV is cheaper per year in your configuration, it shows roughly how many years it takes to "repay" a potential higher purchase price. This is not a guarantee, but a helpful decision anchor.

Note: Results are based on model calculations. Regional tariffs, driving profile, tires, charging losses, electricity rates, subsidies, tax rules, and workshop prices may vary. Use this calculator as a decision aid, not as tax or legal advice.

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