The costs come from the model in our bike vs car cost calculator. Electricity is miles × Wh per mile ÷ 1,000 × price per kWh. We use 18.2¢ per kWh, the average US residential price from January to July 2026 according to the EIA’s Electric Power Monthly, and $4.33 a gallon of regular, the US average for the week of October 12, 2026 in the EIA’s Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update.
Electricity cost per 100 miles
Energy use is measured at the outlet: a bit more than what comes out of the battery, because of charger losses. That’s why filling a 500 Wh battery costs about 9 cents before those losses (0.5 kWh × 18.2¢) and about 11 cents with them, since roughly 0.6 kWh comes out of the wall. About 11 Wh per mile (7 Wh/km) at the outlet is typical for city and mixed riding. Electricity prices vary a lot by state, so pick the column closest to your bill.
| Energy use at the outlet | 12¢/kWh | 15¢/kWh | 18.2¢/kWh | 25¢/kWh | 30¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 Wh/mi (5 Wh/km) | $0.10 | $0.12 | $0.15 | $0.20 | $0.24 |
| 10 Wh/mi (6.2 Wh/km) | $0.12 | $0.15 | $0.18 | $0.25 | $0.30 |
| 11 Wh/mi (6.8 Wh/km) | $0.13 | $0.17 | $0.20 | $0.28 | $0.33 |
| 13 Wh/mi (8.1 Wh/km) | $0.16 | $0.20 | $0.24 | $0.33 | $0.39 |
| 16 Wh/mi (9.9 Wh/km) | $0.19 | $0.24 | $0.29 | $0.40 | $0.48 |
| 20 Wh/mi (12.4 Wh/km) | $0.24 | $0.30 | $0.36 | $0.50 | $0.60 |
| 24 Wh/mi (14.9 Wh/km) | $0.29 | $0.36 | $0.44 | $0.60 | $0.72 |
Yearly cost: e-bike vs gas car
E-bike at 11.3 Wh per mile (7 Wh/km) with $180 a year of maintenance (tires, brake pads, a chain and a tune-up). Gas car at 22.2 mpg, the EPA’s typical passenger vehicle, with 11.7¢ a mile of maintenance, repairs and tires, AAA’s 2026 average. No parking, insurance or registration for the car.
| Miles per year | E-bike electricity | E-bike with maintenance | Car gas | Car with maintenance | Savings with the e-bike |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1,000 mi (1,609 km) | $2 | $182 | $195 | $312 | $130 |
| 2,000 mi (3,219 km) | $4 | $184 | $390 | $624 | $440 |
| 2,200 mi (3,541 km) | $5 | $185 | $429 | $687 | $502 |
| 3,000 mi (4,828 km) | $6 | $186 | $585 | $936 | $750 |
| 5,000 mi (8,047 km) | $10 | $190 | $975 | $1,560 | $1,370 |
| 8,000 mi (12,875 km) | $16 | $196 | $1,561 | $2,497 | $2,300 |
The 2,200-mile row is the calculator’s default commute: 5 miles each way, there and back, 5 days a week for 44 weeks.
Cost per mile of each option
| Option | Cost per mile | Per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| E-bike, electricity only | $0.002 | $0.20 |
| Gas car, fuel only | $0.195 | $19.51 |
| Gas car with maintenance | $0.312 | $31.21 |
| Car, all-in IRS rate | $0.76 | $76.00 |
The last row is the IRS business standard mileage rate from July 1, 2026, a reference for what a car costs once you count insurance, depreciation and registration.
How to read the charts
- Electricity barely matters. On an e-bike, the costs that count are maintenance and, above all, the battery: replacing it after a few years costs far more than all the electricity you’ll use in that time.
- With few miles, gas savings alone don’t cover it. Below about 600 miles a year, the e-bike’s maintenance costs more than you save on gas and car upkeep; the real savings arrive when you sell a car or stop paying for parking.
- If your utility has time-of-use rates, charging overnight makes the chart cheaper: look at the 12¢ or 15¢ column.
- Prices change. The ones on this page are from October 2026. In the calculator you can enter your local gas price and the rate on your electric bill.
To see how many miles you get from each charge, check the e-bike range chart by battery size and what changes it in the e-bike range guide; to make the battery last more years, the guide to e-bike battery care; and if you’re still choosing a model, the guide to choosing an e-bike.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an e-bike?
Very little: a 500 Wh battery stores half a kilowatt-hour, about 9 cents at the US average of 18.2¢ per kWh. With charger losses, about 0.6 kWh comes out of the wall, roughly 11 cents. At a typical 11 Wh per mile at the outlet, 100 miles cost about 20 cents.
What is the cost per mile of an e-bike compared with a car?
Electricity works out to about $0.002 a mile. A gas car that gets 22.2 mpg costs $0.195 a mile in gas alone at $4.33 a gallon, nearly 100 times more, and $0.31 a mile with maintenance and wear.
How much can I save a year commuting by e-bike?
On a 5-mile commute, 5 days a week for 44 weeks (2,200 miles), about $502 a year compared with a gas car, after $180 of e-bike maintenance. If you also stop paying for parking, the savings grow a lot.
Sources
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Electric Power Monthly, table 5.3, average residential price, January-July 2026
- U.S. Energy Information Administration: Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update, week of October 12, 2026
- IRS: standard mileage rates (76 cents per mile for business from July 1, 2026)
- EPA: typical passenger vehicle (22.2 mpg)
- AAA: Your Driving Costs 2026 fact sheet (maintenance, repair and tires 11.7¢ per mile)