How Much Does 100 Miles Really Cost in 2026? Electric vs Gasoline With Real EIA Prices

 

Most people compare sticker price. Smart buyers compare cost per mile.

Should you buy an electric car or a gasoline car? Which one is actually cheaper to run? The answer is not simple, but it can be calculated with real numbers from 2026.

The full comparison depends on purchase price, electricity rate, gasoline price, annual mileage, where you charge, maintenance, insurance, battery life, and resale value. Here we focus on what you can measure every month: energy cost and scheduled maintenance.

### Why Electric Cars Use Less Energy

An electric motor turns most of its energy into movement. A gasoline engine wastes most of it as heat.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a typical EV is 87%-91% efficient after regenerative braking is included, compared to about 30% for a conventional gasoline vehicle, depending on the drive cycle.

That does not automatically mean it is cheaper. Efficiency tells you how much energy is wasted, not how much that energy costs. For that, you need a cost per mile calculation.

### How Much Does 100 Miles Cost in an Electric Car?

EV efficiency is measured in kWh per 100 miles. Most modern EVs use 25-35 kWh per 100 miles. Let's use 30 kWh as a mid-size example.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration reported the average residential electricity price at 18.16 cents per kWh in August 2026.

30 × 0.1816 = $5.45

So in this example: *$5.45 per 100 miles when charging at home.*

This is an example calculation, not an official rating for a specific model. Your rate changes by state. Hawaii averaged 47.18 cents per kWh in 2026, New York averaged 28.65 cents, so home charging can be twice as cheap in one state versus another.

### How Much Does 100 Miles Cost in a Gasoline Car?

Assume 30 MPG, which is close to the U.S. average for a non-hybrid sedan.

The EIA reported the average U.S. retail gasoline price at $4.35 per gallon in September 2026.

100 miles ÷ 30 MPG = 3.33 gallons

3.33 × $4.35 = $14.48

So in this example: *$14.48 per 100 miles for gasoline.*

Difference in this scenario: About $9.03 saved per 100 miles with home charging.

Put that on annual mileage:

- 5,000 miles/year: EV $272 vs gasoline $724

- 12,000 miles/year: EV $654 vs gasoline $1,737

- 20,000 miles/year: EV $1,090 vs gasoline $2,896

Mileage is the multiplier. If you drive 5,000 miles, the savings are small. If you drive 20,000 miles, they become significant.

### Home Charging vs Public Charging Changes Everything

Home charging is usually the cheapest option. Public fast charging is not.

Recent Q2 2026 pricing data tracked by Paren and cited in AAA's 2026 Your Driving Costs analysis showed average public DC fast charging at $0.538 per kWh.

At that rate:

30 × 0.538 = $16.14 per 100 miles

That is more expensive than gasoline at 30 MPG. In AAA's 2026 numbers, that translated to 16.3 cents per mile for an EV on public charging vs 13.8 cents per mile for gasoline and 5.5 cents per mile for an EV charged at home.

If you charge at home 80% of the time and use public chargers on road trips, your average stays low. If you rely on public charging daily because you cannot charge at home, most of the fuel savings disappear.

### Maintenance: Where EVs Save Quietly

A gasoline car needs oil changes, oil filters, spark plugs, engine air filters, fuel filters, timing belts, and transmission service. An EV does not have those parts.

The Department of Energy's Argonne National Lab study found:

- Battery EV scheduled maintenance: *6.1 cents per mile*

- Conventional gasoline vehicle: *10.1 cents per mile*

Over 12,000 miles, that is about $732 vs $1,212 per year in scheduled maintenance alone. The savings come from fewer moving parts and from regenerative braking, which reduces brake wear.

EVs still need tires, cabin filters, brake fluid, and suspension checks. Tires can actually wear faster on EVs due to higher torque and weight.

### So Which Is Cheaper?

On energy and scheduled maintenance alone at national average prices in 2026:

*Home-charged EV: about 5.5-6.8 cents per mile*

*Gasoline car at 21-30 MPG: about 14-20.6 cents per mile*

At 18.16 cents per kWh home and $4.35 per gallon gas, the EV costs roughly one-third per mile.

That advantage narrows or reverses if you pay over 40 cents per kWh on public chargers, drive mostly at 75 mph in winter where EV efficiency drops up to 39%, or compare against a hybrid at 50+ MPG.

If you can charge at home, drive more than 10,000 miles a year, and keep the car for several years, an EV is very hard to beat on running costs. If you cannot charge at home and drive less than 5,000 miles, a gasoline or hybrid can still be cheaper overall.