Evaluate purchase price, electricity vs gas fuel expenses, and routine maintenance differentials to determine when an electric vehicle breaks even against a gas alternative.
Key Model Assumptions & Benchmark Data
- Internal Revenue Service (IRS) (Reviewed 2026-09-22):Sections 25E and 30D are unavailable for vehicles acquired after 2025-09-30. The 2026 comparison includes $0 in federal vehicle credits.
- Argonne National Laboratory & AAA (Reviewed 2026-09-22):Illustrative annual maintenance assumptions: EV $400 and gasoline vehicle $900. Efficiency defaults are 3.5 miles/kWh and 28 MPG.
Interactive Model & Inputs
Adjust variables below to instantly compute real-time projections and amortization.
Calculation Results & Payback Projections
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO): Electric vs. Gas Vehicles
This comparison uses the purchase prices, annual miles, and energy prices you enter, plus the displayed default assumptions of 3.5 miles per kWh, 28 miles per gallon, and annual maintenance of $400 for an EV and $900 for a gasoline vehicle. It does not model depreciation, financing, insurance, or resale value.
For vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, the federal new and previously-owned clean vehicle credits under Sections 30D and 25E are unavailable. The 2026 defaults include no federal vehicle credit; enter purchase prices before state or local incentives.
Actual energy and maintenance costs vary by vehicle, driving conditions, local utility tariffs, and fuel prices. Change the fuel prices and annual mileage to compare your own scenario.
Lifetime Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Equation
TCO = Purchase Price + (Annual Energy Cost + Annual Maintenance) × Ownership YearsThis simplified comparison excludes federal credits, depreciation, financing, insurance, and resale value. Annual energy cost uses the entered electricity or gasoline price and the visible efficiency assumption.
Cost Factors in the Comparison
Purchase Prices Before Incentives
Compare vehicle purchase prices directly; no federal clean vehicle tax credit is included in the 2026 model.
Maintenance Assumptions
The displayed model uses $400/year for EV maintenance and $900/year for gasoline vehicle maintenance; actual costs vary by vehicle and use.
Energy Cost Depends on Your Inputs
The comparison uses your electricity rate, gasoline price, and annual mileage together with the displayed efficiency assumptions.
60% Lifetime Carbon Reduction
Lifecycle emissions (including battery production) are over 60% lower than gas vehicles on standard regional grids.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will an electric vehicle cost less over the ownership period?
The result depends on the entered purchase prices, energy rates, annual mileage, and ownership period. This simplified model reports those inputs with the stated efficiency and maintenance assumptions; it does not model financing, depreciation, insurance, or resale value.
Are federal clean vehicle credits available for vehicles acquired in 2026?
No. IRS guidance says the Sections 25E and 30D credits are unavailable for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025. This 2026 comparison includes no federal vehicle credit. Check current state, local, or utility programs separately.
Which maintenance costs does this comparison assume?
The model uses $400 per year for an EV and $900 per year for a gasoline vehicle. These are planning assumptions, not a service quote or a guarantee of future expenses.
How do lifecycle carbon emissions compare between EVs and gas cars?
Over an entire vehicle lifecycle (including battery manufacturing), an EV produces 50% to 70% fewer lifetime greenhouse gas emissions than a comparable gas vehicle, even when charged on a mixed fossil-fuel electric grid.
Authoritative Benchmark Sources & Active Incentives
IRS FS-2025-05: Sections 25E and 30D clean vehicle credit acquisition cutoff (Internal Revenue Service (IRS))
Sections 25E and 30D are unavailable for vehicles acquired after 2025-09-30. The 2026 comparison includes $0 in federal vehicle credits.
Argonne AFLEET maintenance and efficiency assumptions (Argonne National Laboratory & AAA)
Illustrative annual maintenance assumptions: EV $400 and gasoline vehicle $900. Efficiency defaults are 3.5 miles/kWh and 28 MPG.
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