DecodedCarsFuel cost calculator
Gas vs hybrid vs electric: what will each car really cost you to fuel? Pick two cars and enter your own driving.
Default prices are the U.S. averages used by fueleconomy.gov (EPA/DOE). Efficiency is the EPA combined rating of each model's most efficient latest-year version; plug-in hybrids are counted on gasoline only. Home charging only — public fast charging usually costs more.
How to read the result
The yearly cost multiplies your miles by the car's EPA fuel use and the price you entered. "Per mile" is the fairest way to compare cars of different sizes: a hybrid sedan often costs under 10 cents a mile in gas, while a full-size pickup can go past 20.
Is a hybrid or EV worth paying more for?
Enter how much more the efficient version costs under "Price difference". The calculator divides it by the yearly saving to show how many years it takes to pay back. If you drive few miles, the saving is small and the payback slow; if you drive a lot, or fuel is expensive where you live, the efficient car pays for itself sooner.
What it leaves out
The default prices are national averages; prices vary a lot between states and from week to week, so it's worth entering your local ones.
Tip: set the years to how long you plan to keep the car. The longer you keep it, the more a frugal powertrain is worth — and the more a premium-fuel requirement costs you.
It doesn't include maintenance, insurance, depreciation or tax incentives, and it assumes you charge at home. Public fast charging often costs two to three times more per kWh, so if you rely on it, raise the electricity price to see the effect.