EV vs Gas Car: Portland to Mt Hood Cost Comparison

If you’re a Portland-based skier or snowboarder, you’ve probably wondered: Is driving an EV to Mt Hood cheaper than a gas car? With rising gas prices, cold-weather range loss, and charging infrastructure improving, the answer might surprise you.

We crunched the numbers for a 160-mile round trip from Portland to Mt Hood Meadows, comparing:

• Electricity vs gas costs (home charging vs public DCFC vs gas stations)
• Time comparison (charging vs filling up)
• Winter considerations (range loss, cold-weather efficiency)
• Yearly cost comparison (30 ski trips per season)

We also expanded the analysis to Seattle-based drivers (Seattle Crystal Mountain and Seattle Stevens Pass) to give Washington readers a fair comparison.

Here’s what we found.

The Trip: Portland to Mt Hood Meadows

Route Details

• Distance (round trip): 160 miles
• Elevation gain: 3,500 ft
• Time (one way): ~1h 15m (without traffic)
• Charging stops (EV): 1x DCFC top-off (if needed)
• Gas stops (gas car): 1x fill-up (if needed)

Assumptions

| Factor | EV Assumption | Gas Car Assumption | |----------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| | EV Model | Tesla Model Y Long Range | Toyota RAV4 (28 MPG) | | Gas Price | N/A | $3.75/gallon (2026 avg) | | Electricity Cost | $0.12/kWh (home) | N/A | | DCFC Cost | $0.30/kWh (public) | N/A | | Winter Range Loss| 40% loss (180 mi 108 mi) | N/A | | Heater Use | 10% range loss | N/A |

Cost Breakdown: EV vs Gas Car

EV Costs (Tesla Model Y Long Range)

Home Charging (Cheapest Option)

• Electricity used: 50 kWh (160 mi / 3.2 mi/kWh)
• Cost: 50 kWh × $0.12/kWh = $6.00

Public DCFC (If Needed)

• Electricity used: 50 kWh
• Cost: 50 kWh × $0.30/kWh = $15.00

Time Cost (Charging vs Filling Up)

• Home charging: 0 min (charge overnight)
• Public DCFC: 15-20 min (top-off at Mt Hood Village)
• Gas car fill-up: 5 min

Gas Car Costs (Toyota RAV4, 28 MPG)

• Gas used: 160 mi / 28 MPG = 5.71 gallons
• Cost: 5.71 gal × $3.75/gal = $21.41

Cost Comparison Table

| Vehicle | Charging/Fueling Method | Cost (Round Trip) | Time Cost (Extra) | |-----------------|-------------------------|-------------------|--------------------| | Tesla Model Y | Home charging | $6.00 | 0 min | | Tesla Model Y | Public DCFC | $15.00 | 15-20 min | | Toyota RAV4 | Gas station | $21.41 | 5 min |

Yearly Cost Comparison (30 Ski Trips)

| Vehicle | Charging/Fueling Method | Yearly Cost (30 Trips) | |-----------------|-------------------------|------------------------| | Tesla Model Y | Home charging | $180.00 | | Tesla Model Y | Public DCFC | $450.00 | | Toyota RAV4 | Gas station | $642.30 |

Savings with EV (home charging): $462.30/year Savings with EV (public DCFC): $192.30/year

Winter Considerations: EVs vs Gas Cars

Cold Weather Impact

• EVs: 40% range loss in winter (180 mi 108 mi).
• Gas cars: 5-10% MPG loss (28 MPG 25-26 MPG).

Heating the Cabin

• EVs: 10-30% range loss (using cabin heat).
• Gas cars: No MPG loss (waste heat from engine).

Traction and Safety

• EVs: AWD/4WD is common (better traction in snow).
• Gas cars: AWD/4WD is optional (FWD/RWD models struggle in snow).

Charging vs Gas Stations in the Mountains

• EVs: Limited DCFC availability (nearest to Mt Hood: Mt Hood Village, Government Camp).
• Gas cars: Gas stations everywhere (but prices are higher in mountain towns).

Seattle to Crystal Mountain & Stevens Pass: Cost Comparison

Seattle to Crystal Mountain (Round Trip: 166 Miles)

EV Costs (Tesla Model Y Long Range)

• Home charging: 52 kWh × $0.12/kWh = $6.24
• Public DCFC: 52 kWh × $0.30/kWh = $15.60

Gas Car Costs (Toyota RAV4, 28 MPG)

• Gas used: 166 mi / 28 MPG = 5.93 gal
• Cost: 5.93 gal × $3.75/gal = $22.24

Yearly Cost (30 Trips)

| Vehicle | Charging/Fueling Method | Yearly Cost (30 Trips) | |-----------------|-------------------------|------------------------| | Tesla Model Y | Home charging | $187.20 | | Tesla Model Y | Public DCFC | $468.00 | | Toyota RAV4 | Gas station | $667.20 |

Savings with EV (home charging): $480.00/year Savings with EV (public DCFC): $199.20/year

Seattle to Stevens Pass (Round Trip: 170 Miles)

EV Costs (Tesla Model Y Long Range)

• Home charging: 53 kWh × $0.12/kWh = $6.36
• Public DCFC: 53 kWh × $0.30/kWh = $15.90

Gas Car Costs (Toyota RAV4, 28 MPG)

• Gas used: 170 mi / 28 MPG = 6.07 gal
• Cost: 6.07 gal × $3.75/gal = $22.76

Yearly Cost (30 Trips)

| Vehicle | Charging/Fueling Method | Yearly Cost (30 Trips) | |-----------------|-------------------------|------------------------| | Tesla Model Y | Home charging | $190.80 | | Tesla Model Y | Public DCFC | $477.00 | | Toyota RAV4 | Gas station | $682.80 |

Savings with EV (home charging): $492.00/year Savings with EV (public DCFC): $205.80/year

Time Comparison: Charging vs Filling Up

| Task | EV (Home Charging) | EV (Public DCFC) | Gas Car | |--------------------|--------------------|------------------|---------| | Overnight charge | 8 hours | N/A | N/A | | Top-off at DCFC | N/A | 15-20 min | N/A | | Fill up at gas station | N/A | N/A | 5 min | | Total time cost | 0 min | 15-20 min | 5 min |

Key Takeaways:

• Home charging is the fastest (0 extra time).
• Public DCFC adds 15-20 min to your trip.
• Gas cars are quickest for fill-ups (5 min).

Which is Cheaper: EV or Gas Car?

Upfront Cost

• EVs are more expensive (Tesla Model Y starts at $47,740).
• Gas cars are cheaper (Toyota RAV4 starts at $28,675).

Long-Term Savings

• EVs save $462-$492/year on fuel (home charging).
• EVs have lower maintenance costs (no oil changes, fewer moving parts).
• State incentives and lease deals can lower EV costs (the federal $7,500 credit was eliminated in 2025, but leased EVs may still benefit from commercial credits passed through as lower payments).

Break-Even Point

• Assuming $15,000 price difference (after incentives):
• Break-even at ~32 ski trips/year (home charging).
• Break-even at ~75 ski trips/year (public DCFC).

Bottom Line: Should You Drive an EV to the Mountains?

EVs Win If:

You charge at home (cheapest option). You drive AWD/4WD (better traction in snow). You plan charging stops (use PlugShare or A Better Routeplanner). You want lower long-term costs (fuel + maintenance savings).

Gas Cars Win If:

You don’t have home charging (public DCFC adds cost/time). You take spontaneous trips (no planning needed). You drive a lot in winter (gas cars handle cold better). You don’t want to deal with range anxiety.

Final Verdict:

• If you ski 10+ times/year, an EV is cheaper (even with public DCFC).
• If you ski 30+ times/year, an EV is a no-brainer (saves $460+/year).
• If you don’t have home charging, a gas car is more convenient (but costs more).

Pro Tip:

• Rent an EV for a ski trip before buying—see if it works for you!
• Use A Better Routeplanner to plan charging stops.
• Pre-condition your battery while plugged in (warms battery for better efficiency).
• Pack winter gear (chains, blankets, snacks—just in case).

Author: Electric Cascades Date: 2026-02-05