Tesla Model 3 LR vs Toyota Camry
Model 3 $42k − $7.5k = $34.5k. 5-yr fuel $2,800. Camry $30k, 5-yr fuel $9,000. Total: Model 3 ~$48k, Camry ~$52k.
EV TCO calculator
EV vs gas — true 5-year cost of ownership
Sum purchase price (minus federal tax credit), fuel/electricity, insurance, maintenance and registration over 5 years. Default electricity 4.0 mi/kWh, gas 28 mpg.
EV Cost of Ownership
EV 5-year cost of ownership
5-year total cost$31,823.53
Cost per mile$0.53/mi
Depreciation$17,250.00
Charging$2,823.53
Insurance$8,000.00
Maintenance$2,500.00
Registration$1,250.00
Results are first-pass estimates. Verify with installers, manufacturers, and utility tariffs before purchase.
How it works
How it works
- 5-yr fuel: EV = miles ÷ efficiency × electric rate. Gas = miles ÷ mpg × gas price.
- Up-front: MSRP − $7,500 federal credit (if eligible) − state rebates. Plus home charger install ~$1,200.
- Maintenance: EV ≈ $0.06/mi (tires, brake fluid, cabin filter). Gas ≈ $0.10/mi (oil, brakes, exhaust).
Worked examples
Worked examples
Chevy Bolt EUV vs Honda Civic
Bolt $27k − $7.5k = $19.5k. 5-yr fuel $2,100. Civic $24k, fuel $7,200. Bolt ~$33k, Civic ~$45k — EV wins by $12k.
F-150 Lightning vs F-150 EcoBoost
Lightning $52k − $7.5k = $44.5k. 5-yr fuel $5,500 (towing-adjusted). Gas $48k, fuel $13,500. EV wins by ~$11k.
EV TCO FAQ
EV TCO FAQ
Who qualifies for the $7,500 credit?
Per IRA: AGI under $300k (joint) / $150k (single), vehicle MSRP under $80k truck/$55k car, final assembly in North America, battery sourcing rules apply.
Does the calculator include insurance differences?
Yes — set each premium separately. EVs typically run 10–20% higher due to battery replacement cost.
What about resale value?
Not modeled — Tesla and Toyota hold value well; Bolt, Leaf, and Mach-E have weaker resale. Subtract estimated residuals from both totals.
How does TOU charging affect cost?
Off-peak EV rates (often $0.10/kWh) cut fuel cost 30–50% vs the $0.16 default. Adjust the electric rate field.
Calculator directory
Choose the right EV, solar, and battery calculator
EV charging time calculator
Enter your battery capacity, starting and target state of charge, and charger output to estimate charging time, the kWh pulled from the wall, and your cost per session — all from open, transparent formulas.
Open calculatorSolar panel calculator
Size a solar PV array from your daily electricity use, local peak sun hours, system losses, and panel wattage. Also estimates roof area and an off-grid battery bank using depth-of-discharge and round-trip efficiency.
Open calculatorBattery runtime calculator
Enter your battery capacity in watt-hours, the running load, idle standby draw, usable depth-of-discharge, and inverter efficiency to estimate practical runtime for a Jackery, EcoFlow, Bluetti, APC UPS, or any custom 12 / 24 / 48 V bank.
Open calculatorHome battery backup calculator
Add up critical loads (fridge, well pump, internet, a few lights), pick how many hours per day you need them, set a target number of backup days, and the calculator returns the battery bank size and how much solar recharge offsets the draw each day.
Open calculatorEV road trip calculator
Estimate stops, charging time, and drive time from route distance, EV range, battery capacity, departure SOC, reserve SOC, target stop SOC and DC charger power.
Open calculatorSolar payback calculator
Apply the 30% federal ITC, model 0.5%/year panel degradation and 3%/year rate inflation, and see year-by-year cumulative savings until the system breaks even.
Open calculatorNet metering calculator
Compare a solar bill under traditional 1:1 net metering vs export-only credits (e.g. CA NEM 3.0). Get monthly net cost, exported kWh, self-consumption ratio, and annualized totals.
Open calculatorHeat pump vs gas calculator
Convert your annual heating demand to kWh and therms with COP and AFUE, then compare yearly fuel cost and CO₂. Uses EPA grid average 0.39 kg CO₂/kWh and 5.3 kg CO₂/therm.
Open calculatorGenerator sizing calculator
List your running watts and the largest motor (well pump, AC compressor, fridge), apply LRA-based starting surge, and add a safety factor for fuel headroom and altitude derating.
Open calculatorSolar lease vs buy calculator
Model cash purchase (with 30% ITC) versus a 25-year lease with annual escalator. Inputs: system cost, lease payment year 1, escalator %, annual production, retail rate.
Open calculatorSolar panel tilt calculator
Get the year-round optimal tilt (≈ latitude), summer tilt (latitude − 15°) and winter tilt (latitude + 15°), plus expected production gain from seasonal adjustment.
Open calculatorSolar inverter sizing calculator
NREL and SEIA recommend a DC:AC ratio of 1.15–1.30. Higher ratios cost less per AC watt but cause midday clipping. Find the sweet spot for your location.
Open calculatorWind turbine calculator
Estimate annual kWh from rotor swept area, average wind speed, air density, capacity factor and turbine efficiency. Uses the Weibull-corrected power equation.
Open calculatorEV total cost of ownership calculator
Sum purchase price (minus federal tax credit), fuel/electricity, insurance, maintenance and registration over 5 years. Default electricity 4.0 mi/kWh, gas 28 mpg.
Open calculator