Range and cost calculator
Start from a vehicle in the database (or type your own battery and claimed range), then set your weight, terrain and cruising speed. You get an estimate, and the math behind it is printed below the result.
Your estimate
- Estimated range
- – mi
- Energy use
- – Wh/mi
- Charging cost
- – ¢/mi
- Car fuel cost
- – ¢/mi
That's about –× cheaper per mile than the car's fuel alone. It's an estimate; wind, cold, tire pressure and battery age all move it.
The formula
base Wh/mibattery Wh ÷ claimed range–
weight factor(rider + vehicle) ÷ (165 lb + vehicle)–
terrain factor1.00 flat, 1.15 rolling, 1.35 hilly–
speed factor1 + 0.03 × (speed − 12 mph), never below 0.70–
real Wh/mibase × weight × terrain × speed–
rangebattery Wh ÷ real Wh/mi–
¢/mireal Wh/mi ÷ 1000 ÷ 0.85 charging efficiency × ¢/kWh. Car: $/gal ÷ mpg × 100.
The 165 lb test rider, the 12 mph test speed, the terrain and speed factors and the 85% charging efficiency are our assumptions, not published standards. Makers rarely state their test conditions. If you've logged your own Wh/mi, tell us; real numbers will replace these guesses.
Where the default prices come from
- Electricity 18.16¢/kWh: U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A (U.S. residential average, August 2026), checked Oct 26, 2026.
- Gasoline $4.284/gal: U.S. EIA Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update (regular, U.S. average, week of Oct. 19, 2026), checked Oct 26, 2026.
- Car 27.2 mpg: EPA Automotive Trends Report highlights (model year 2024 new-vehicle real-world average), checked Oct 26, 2026. Older cars and trucks usually get less.
Car cost here is fuel only. Insurance, parking, maintenance and depreciation are left out on both sides.