Green Car Calculator

Updated September 2011

Hybrids, diesels and electrics cost more than their gasoline-engine counterparts, but you may be able to save money over the long-term with better fuel economy. Compare the five-year ownership cost of green vehicles and their conventional equivalents (or any vehicle in the second drop-down menu) to see if you'll save money buying a green car. Then, since the vehicles you're comparing may take regular, premium or diesel fuel, input the price of fuel for each vehicle (our five-year calculations add 3.5% to fuel costs every year for inflation). Skip this step for the Nissan Leaf - the "fueling" cost will be automatically calculated using average utility rates (for the Chevrolet Volt, average utility rates will be combined with the price of fuel you input). Then, select the average number of miles you drive every year, and click the Submit button to see the results.

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