EV Cost Per Mile Calculator
Reviewed by Edward, publisher and site editor ·
Calculate the electricity cost of driving an electric car one mile after factoring in charging losses. The calculator accepts consumption in either kWh per 100 miles or miles per kWh, an electricity price and a charging efficiency, then returns cost per mile, monthly cost and annual cost.
Cost per mile is the standard running-cost metric for drivers in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada and other markets that measure distance in miles. It is the easiest way to compare an EV against a petrol or diesel car priced in pence per mile or cents per mile.
Formula for EV cost per mile
Cost per mile equals consumption in kWh per mile multiplied by electricity price per kWh, divided by charging efficiency expressed as a fraction. If you only know consumption in miles per kWh, take its reciprocal first. If you only know consumption in kWh per 100 km, multiply by 0.621 to convert to kWh per 100 miles, then divide by 100 to get kWh per mile.
Typical EV consumption in mile units
A typical efficient EV achieves 3.5 to 4.5 miles per kWh in mixed driving. A larger crossover sits at 2.8 to 3.5 miles per kWh. Trucks and large SUVs at highway speed can drop to 2.0 to 2.5 miles per kWh, especially in winter or when towing.
Cost per mile on home vs public charging
At 30 cents per kWh on a US home tariff and 4 miles per kWh at 90 percent efficiency, cost per mile is about 8.3 cents. The same car on a 45 cents per kWh DC fast charger costs about 12.5 cents per mile. UK drivers can use the same formula in pence per kWh and pence per mile.
EV vs petrol cost per mile
A petrol car at 35 mpg and 4.50 per US gallon costs about 12.9 cents per mile. An EV at 4 miles per kWh on a 13 cents per kWh tariff at 90 percent efficiency costs about 3.6 cents per mile — roughly one third the petrol cost. UK drivers can repeat the calculation in pence.
Common questions
How do I calculate EV cost per mile?
Divide the electricity price by the vehicle's miles-per-kWh figure, then account for charging efficiency. At 0.25 per kWh, 3.5 mi/kWh and 90 percent efficiency, the result is about 0.079 per mile.
How many miles does an EV get per kWh?
Efficient EVs can achieve 4 mi/kWh or better. Many mid-size EVs sit around 3 to 3.5 mi/kWh, while larger vehicles can be closer to 2 to 2.5 at higher speeds.
Why does charging efficiency affect the result?
You pay for electricity drawn from the wall, and some of it is lost before it reaches the battery. Allowing for those losses makes the cost-per-mile estimate more realistic.
Why might my real-world cost be higher?
Cold weather, highway speeds, tyres, hills, cabin heating and public-charging fees can all raise the final figure. Replace the defaults with your own tariff and normal efficiency where possible.