EV-ICE Cost and Carbon Comparison Tool

Here is a simple spreadsheet tool to calculate and compare the carbon emissions and operating costs for EVs versus internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. I developed it for this article.

Here's how I described it to my newsletter subscribers:

A couple of weeks ago, I got curious about a real, measured method for comparing EVs with their gas-burning internal combustion engine (ICE) counterparts, and I posted this article using averages. Given the variables, however, I realized that the averages don’t always apply, and in a given situation, what looks like a big carbon benefit for EVs might actually be the reverse—it depended on variables like the efficiency of the ICE car you are replacing, the efficiency of the EV, and the sources of your electricity. It seemed necessary to set up a way to compare these based on the data that are specific to your situation.

But then another question entered as well. It’s all fun and good to reduce carbon emissions, but as soon as you demonstrate that, people like me wonder—“But does it cost more?” Again, the answer is specific to a situation. The electricity to power EVs is measured in kilowatt-hours (kwh) and the cost per kwh varies widely depending on where you live, whether or not your have your own renewable source of electricity, and the local cost of charging stations, if you need to use them. It also depends on the price of gasoline, which can also vary widely by region, and from week to week or month to month. So these variables need to be accounted for in a cost calculation.

In order to take a look at the effect of these variables on a case by case basis, I developed a spreadsheet that enables the user to input the relevant data specific to their situation, and then see how the two vehicles compare. You can use it to compare annual usage or even for something as small as a 300-mile trip. You just need to enter a few data points, and the spreadsheet will calculate your comparisons. I’ll show you how to get a copy of the spreadsheet in a moment. First, I want to identify the inputs you will need and clarify the assumptions used in it.

The spreadsheet is super easy to use, with an inputs page that is open and other pages protected. When you download, you can also get three PDF articles I recently published on EVs and their role in climate solutions.