The Great Debate: eGallon vs Gasoline

See how EVs are the more affordable choice compared to gas vehicles

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The nonprofit Veloz, together with its electric vehicle (EV) education platform ElectricForAll.org, is helping drivers make sense of the “eGallon,” which is the electric equivalent cost to drive the same distance as one gallon of gasoline. The comparison is one of the great debates in the transportation sector, and the conclusion is consistent: EVs deliver strong economic benefits. In nearly every scenario, EVs cost less to fuel and less to operate on a per-mile basis than comparable gasoline vehicles.

“When you look at the total cost of ownership, EVs offer drivers meaningful savings through lower operating costs and by providing greater price predictability,” says Josh D. Boone, Executive Director of Veloz. “EVs allow drivers to save money in their day-to-day lives at a time when other expenses are rising across the nation.”

The eGallon Facts*:

• A full EV charge still beats the pump by a wide margin. Looking at the U.S. average cost for an average battery, it costs $12.86 to fully charge an EV at home compared to $43.00 to fill up a standard 14-gallon gas tank.
• Electricity prices are rising, but not enough to erase EV savings. While residential electricity prices rose materially in recent years, the eGallon still translates to a lower cost per mile than a gallon of gasoline. Charging at home, where most EV charging happens, generally produces a lower per-mile cost than buying gasoline at the pump: an average of 5 cents per mile to charge versus 12 cents per mile for gas.
• EVs show meaningful total-cost advantages for many drivers. Independent analysis and consumer guides show EV owners often spend substantially less on fuel and maintenance than gas-powered owners. EV drivers can save up to $2,000 a year while helping utilities operate the grid more efficiently.

EVs Help the Electrical Grid

Beyond direct cost-per-mile savings, EV adoption can help electric utility companies and communities manage power demand and lower system costs over time. While electricity rates are rising nationwide, much of that increase stems from growing electricity demand from AI data centers and extreme weather — not from EVs. A single large AI-optimized data center can draw as much power as a small city. By comparison, according to 2025 estimates from Recurrent Motors, all EVs in the U.S. use about 23.5 TWh per year, representing less than 1% of total U.S. electricity consumption. (Source)

Smart charging, managed charging programs, and vehicle-to-grid technologies give utility companies new tools to shift EV charging to low-cost, low-demand hours. Electric utilities report that up to 80–90% of EV charging already occurs at night, when demand is lowest. This allows EVs to absorb excess overnight supply, reduce incremental grid costs, and help lower bills for all customers, including those who don’t drive electric. When charging is optimized, EVs can strengthen the grid, lower system costs, and help reduce rates for everyone. (Source)

Actionable Tools for Consumers on ElectricForAll.org:

• Calculate gas savings by ZIP code, compare home charging savings and public charging savings, as well as savings on maintenance with the EV Savings Calculator that is state and vehicle specific.
• Check with local utilities for time-of-use rates and managed-charging incentives that can lower charging costs further.
• Review and consider the total cost of ownership (fuel + maintenance + incentives) for both new EVs and used EVs. Many EV models are already cheaper to own and operate than comparable gas models.
• Find all available incentives by ZIP code, including new and used vehicle incentives, utility time-of-use rates for EV owners, home-charging rebates, and more.

About Veloz

Veloz is a national non-partisan, 501 (c)(3) nonprofit and the power behind the nation’s largest and most inventive multi-partner public education campaign for electric vehicles, the architect of events and educational programming garnering both state and national attention, and the organization bringing together a passionate, diverse board and members from the public and private sectors.

About Electric For All

ElectricForAll.org, powered by Veloz, helps consumers understand how to switch to electric transportation and provides consumers a way to easily find an EV and see all federal, state and local incentives by zip code. Other tools on ElectricForAll.org include:

• Explore the Growing Used EV Market
• Learn About Home Charging
• Find a Public Charger Near You
• Get the Facts About Going Electric
• Find More Ways to Go Electric

*Methodology and sources: This release synthesizes peer-reviewed analyses, government data, and consumer research to compare per-mile operating costs and “fill-up” costs for EVs versus gasoline vehicles. Key sources include: Kelley Blue Book, AAA, Edmunds, Energy Innovation’s 2024 eGallon update (modeling fill-up cost comparisons by state and vehicle), U.S. Energy Information Administration (retail electricity price trends and monthly updates), the U.S. Department of Energy / Alternative Fuels Data Center vehicle cost tools, consumer resources and studies on EV operating cost advantages, and Electric For All / Veloz program materials and outreach. Readers can consult these resources for state-level detail and model-specific comparisons.