What Is the EV Cost Per Mile Calculator?
This tool estimates how much electricity costs to drive an electric vehicle (EV) one mile. It combines your local electricity price (in dollars per kilowatt-hour) with your car's energy consumption rating (in kWh per 100 miles) to give a clear, comparable running cost. It works with any currency you treat the price as — the result is simply in that same unit per mile.
How to Use It
Enter your electricity price per kWh — check your utility bill, often between $0.10 and $0.30. Then enter your EV's consumption in kWh per 100 miles. Many EVs use roughly 25–35 kWh per 100 miles; you can find this from the trip computer or the EPA efficiency rating. The calculator returns the cost per mile plus handy totals for 100 and 1,000 miles.
The Formula Explained
The math is straightforward: cost per mile = (price per kWh × kWh per 100 miles) ÷ 100. Multiplying price by consumption gives the cost to travel 100 miles, and dividing by 100 scales it down to a single mile.
$$\text{Cost Per Mile} = \frac{\text{Price (\$/kWh)} \times \text{Consumption (kWh/100mi)}}{100}$$
Worked Example
Suppose electricity costs $0.15/kWh and your EV uses 30 kWh per 100 miles. Cost per 100 miles = \(0.15 \times 30 = \$4.50\). Cost per mile = \(4.50 \div 100 = \$0.045\). Over 1,000 miles you would spend about $45 in electricity — often far less than the equivalent gasoline.
FAQ
Does this include charging losses? No. Home charging loses roughly 10–15% as heat. To account for it, increase the consumption figure by that percentage.
How do I find kWh per 100 miles? Many EV displays show efficiency in miles/kWh — divide 100 by that value to convert. For example, \(3.3 \text{ mi/kWh} \approx 30 \text{ kWh/100mi}\).
Can I compare to a gas car? Yes — compute the gas car's cost per mile (fuel price ÷ MPG) and compare directly.
