Canada & US ownership-cost model
Compare yearly energy costs, operating savings, payback time and five-year costs with country-specific units, currency and editable rates.
Starter scenario
not a market quote
Use the combined EnerGuide rating or your real average.
Editable example—not a live pump price.
Use your vehicle rating; raise it to test winter driving.
EV price minus gas-vehicle price; negative if the EV costs less.
Default is $0. Add only an incentive you have verified.
Positive means the EV costs less to maintain; negative means it costs more.
EV energy plus maintenance difference
Five-year gas = fuel. Five-year EV = net price premium + charging − entered maintenance savings. The same base vehicle price and costs common to both sides cancel out. Financing, depreciation, insurance, resale value, taxes, charger installation and public charging are excluded.
Read the assumptions
The arithmetic is simple. The quality of the inputs is what makes the estimate useful.
Ontario’s optional Ultra-Low Overnight plan prices electricity differently by time of day. The preset uses the OEB’s 3.9¢/kWh overnight energy price; the standard TOU off-peak preset is 9.8¢/kWh. Those are not complete bill rates.
For a better estimate, use the incremental cost from your own bill and include a buffer for charging losses. Price any public fast charging separately at the network’s posted rate.
The starter input uses EIA’s July 2026 national residential average revenue of 18.31¢/kWh. It is a benchmark, not a utility quote: prices, rate structures, taxes and demand charges vary by state and provider.
Use the marginal rate from your own bill, add a buffer for charging losses and price any public fast charging separately. Source [6]
A battery-electric vehicle does not need engine oil changes, spark plugs or an exhaust system. Both vehicles still need tires, suspension work, cabin filters and other wear items; EV tire wear can vary with vehicle weight, power and driving style.
Rather than assuming a universal percentage, enter your own annual dollar difference using service schedules, warranty terms and local labour rates for the two exact models.
Cold batteries, cabin heating, snow, winter tires and short trips can push energy use above the label figure. Avoid applying one blanket “winter penalty” to every EV: temperature, route, heat-pump equipment, preconditioning and parking conditions all matter.
Run a second scenario with a higher kWh/100 km or kWh/100 mi input. For trip planning, preserve a practical reserve and check the vehicle maker’s cold-weather guidance.
Natural Resources Canada’s EnerGuide label reports model-specific consumption. For gasoline vehicles, the combined rating is in L/100 km. Use your trip computer if your real-world average differs. Sources [2]–[3]
(annual km ÷ 100) × consumption × unit priceEPA and the Department of Energy publish model-specific MPG, MPGe and energy-use figures at FuelEconomy.gov. Use the combined MPG and kWh/100 mi figures for the exact vehicles, or your own measured averages. Source [8]
(annual miles ÷ MPG) × gas price; (miles ÷ 100) × kWh/100 mi × rateTransport Canada’s successor is the Electric Vehicle Affordability Program (EVAP), which began in 2026. Eligibility depends on the purchase or lease, vehicle, dealer participation and available funding.
The rebate field defaults to $0. Confirm the current program rules and transaction-specific amount on Transport Canada’s official pages before entering anything. Sources [4]–[5]
The New Clean Vehicle Credit, Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle Credit and Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit all have acquisition-date rules. State, local and utility programs may differ.
The incentive field defaults to $0. Check the IRS and any relevant state or utility program for the exact transaction before entering an amount. Source [9]
FAQ
Canada mode uses kilometres, L/100 km and CAD. US mode uses miles, MPG and USD. The EV side changes from kWh/100 km to kWh/100 mi, and each country loads its own editable starter rates.
Multiply annual distance by the EV’s kWh per 100 distance units, divide by 100, then multiply by your electricity price per kWh. Add charging losses or public-charging costs separately if they apply.
No. The OEB’s ULO price is the electricity commodity line. Delivery, regulatory charges, taxes and fixed charges can affect your bill. Use the editable field to model the marginal rate that best reflects charging at your home.
It is EIA’s July 2026 national residential average revenue per kWh. Your utility price may be very different, so replace the starter with a rate from your own bill.
No. Transport Canada says iZEV closed on March 31, 2025. Check the current EVAP rules and eligible-vehicle information before entering an incentive.
The IRS says the New Clean Vehicle Credit, Previously-Owned Clean Vehicle Credit and Qualified Commercial Clean Vehicle Credit are not available for vehicles acquired after Sept. 30, 2025. Check the IRS for transaction-specific rules.
Run a cold-weather scenario using a higher kWh/100 km or kWh/100 mi value based on your vehicle, route and conditions. Cabin heating, battery conditioning, winter tires, snow and short trips can all change practical consumption.
Financing, insurance, depreciation, resale value, sales tax, charger installation, public fast charging, fixed electricity charges and maintenance costs common to both vehicles are excluded. This is a decision aid, not a dealer quote or financial advice.
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