Does this include incentives or tax credits?

No. Subtract incentives from the premium separately.

Not modeled; this is a cash/payback view.

Resale value differences?

Not included—consider resale if comparing total ownership cost.

Not modeled; this is gas vs hybrid (non-PHEV) fuel use only.

Use realistic combined MPG for your driving mix.

finance calculator

Gas vs Hybrid Savings Calculator

Compare annual fuel costs for a gas vs hybrid vehicle and see fuel savings and simple payback on the hybrid price difference.

Results

Annual fuel cost (gas): $1,607
Annual fuel cost (hybrid): $938
Annual savings (fuel ± maint): $670
Simple payback (years): 4.48

How to use this calculator

Enter annual miles, MPG for gas and hybrid, and fuel price.
Enter hybrid price difference and annual maintenance difference.
Review annual fuel costs, savings, and payback years.

Inputs explained

Annual miles: Miles driven per year.
Gas/Hybrid MPG: Realistic combined MPG for each vehicle.
Fuel price: Price per gallon of fuel.
Hybrid price difference: Extra upfront cost of the hybrid vs the gas model.
Maintenance difference: Add if hybrid costs more to maintain; subtract if it costs less.

How it works

Fuel cost = (Annual miles ÷ MPG) × fuel price.

Savings = gas fuel cost − hybrid fuel cost − maintenance difference.

Payback = price difference ÷ annual savings.

Formula

Fuel cost = (Annual miles ÷ MPG) × Price/gal
Savings = Gas fuel cost − Hybrid fuel cost − Maint diff
Payback = Price difference ÷ Savings

When to use it

Comparing two trims (gas vs hybrid) before buying.
Estimating payback from fuel savings at your mileage.
Testing scenarios with changing fuel prices or MPG assumptions.

Tips & cautions

Use conservative MPG/fuel price to avoid overestimating savings.
If savings are small, payback may be long—consider non-fuel factors (incentives, resale).
Adjust maintenance diff if hybrid service is higher/lower than gas model.
Simple payback only; ignores financing, incentives, taxes, and resale.
Fuel economy varies with driving style and conditions—use realistic numbers.
Maintenance difference is a single annual estimate; real costs vary over time.

Worked examples

12,000 miles, 28 MPG gas, 48 MPG hybrid, $3.75/gal, $3,000 premium, $0 maint diff

Gas fuel ≈ $1,607
Hybrid fuel ≈ $938
Savings ≈ $669
Payback ≈ 4.48 years

15,000 miles, 25 MPG gas, 50 MPG hybrid, $4.00/gal, $2,500 premium, $150 extra maint

Gas fuel ≈ $2,400
Hybrid fuel ≈ $1,200
Savings ≈ $1,050
Payback ≈ 2.38 years

Deep dive

This gas vs hybrid savings calculator compares annual fuel costs and shows simple payback on the hybrid’s price difference, factoring in maintenance differences.

Use it to decide if a hybrid’s fuel savings justify the extra upfront cost at your mileage and fuel price.

FAQs

Does this include incentives or tax credits?: No. Subtract incentives from the premium separately.
Financing impacts?: Not modeled; this is a cash/payback view.
Resale value differences?: Not included—consider resale if comparing total ownership cost.
Plug-in hybrids?: Not modeled; this is gas vs hybrid (non-PHEV) fuel use only.
City vs highway MPG?: Use realistic combined MPG for your driving mix.

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