Estimate the real running cost of a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) by splitting your daily miles between electric-only driving and gasoline hybrid mode, then blending the two costs into a single cost per mile.
Quick Facts
Method
Split-cost blending of EV and gas miles
Miles up to your electric range use electricity cost; any remaining miles use gasoline cost at your hybrid-mode MPG.
Results
Calculated
Daily fuel cost
—
Blended electricity + gasoline cost per day
Blended cost per mile
—
Total daily cost ÷ daily miles
Monthly cost
—
Daily cost × 30 days
Electric-mile share
—
Percent of daily miles driven on battery
Ready
Enter your driving distance, PHEV specs, and local prices, then press Calculate.
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How to use this calculator
A plug-in hybrid (PHEV) runs on two power sources: a battery charged from an outlet and a gasoline engine that takes over once the battery is depleted. This calculator splits your typical daily mileage between the two, prices each portion separately, and blends them into a single cost per mile. Enter your daily driving distance, the PHEV's electric-only range, its electric consumption in kWh per 100 miles, your electricity and gasoline prices, and its gas-mode MPG, then click Calculate.
Understanding the inputs
Daily driving distance is the total miles you drive on a typical day. Electric-only range is how far the PHEV travels on battery alone before the gas engine engages, per the vehicle's EPA rating. Electric consumption (kWh/100mi) and gas-mode MPG both come from the window sticker or owner's manual. Electricity price and gasoline price should reflect your actual local rates.
Interpreting the results
Daily fuel cost and blended cost per mile show your true running cost given how much of your driving stays within electric range. Monthly cost projects that over 30 days. Electric-mile share tells you what percent of your daily miles are covered by the battery: the closer to 100%, the more the gasoline engine sits unused and the lower the blended cost per mile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How is PHEV blended cost per mile calculated?
The calculator splits your daily miles into an electric portion (up to your battery's electric-only range) and a gasoline portion (any remaining miles). Electric cost is kWh per 100 miles times electricity price times electric miles divided by 100. Gasoline cost is gas miles divided by MPG times gas price. Adding both and dividing by total daily miles gives the blended cost per mile.
What is the electric-only range on a PHEV?
It is the distance a plug-in hybrid can travel using only its battery, in electric (EV) mode, before the gasoline engine takes over. Typical PHEVs offer roughly 20 to 40 miles of electric range depending on battery size, so trips shorter than that range can be driven on electricity alone.
Why does daily driving distance matter so much?
If your daily distance stays within the electric-only range, the entire trip runs on cheaper grid electricity. Once daily miles exceed that range, the extra miles burn gasoline at the vehicle's hybrid-mode MPG, which usually costs more per mile, so the ratio of daily miles to electric range drives your blended fuel cost.
How accurate are these cost estimates?
This uses the standard split-cost method with the electricity price, gasoline price, kWh/100mi, and MPG you enter, assuming the battery is charged before each trip. Real-world costs vary with driving style, terrain, temperature, and whether you actually plug in daily, so treat the result as a planning estimate rather than an exact bill.