Does Electricity For An EV Cost Less Than Gasoline? It Depends. – CleanTechnica

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For years, EV advocates like those of us here at CleanTechnica, have been telling people that it costs less to drive an EV than it does to drive a car with an infernal combustion engine. That much is true, but like all blanket statements, it needs a little context. A recent article by New York Times reporter Francesca Paris shows what should be intuitively obvious to the most casual observer.

In places where the cost of electricity is low and gasoline prices are high, it is absolutely true. But in places where the cost of electricity is high and gasoline prices are low, the EV advantage may be considerably reduced. In some cases, it may vanish altogether. One important factor is whether the EV we are talking about is charged at home or at DC fast chargers on a regular basis. There is also one other factor that alters the picture. In many places, utility companies offer significantly lower costs for electricity during off-peak hours — typically 10 pm to 6 am.

Paris’ research shows the cost of driving an electric car 100 miles in the US is about $5.26. Hybrids like the Toyota Prius are more fuel efficient than conventional cars, so the cost of driving one of them for 100 miles is just slightly higher at $6.15. A typical gasoline-powered car gets crappy gas mileage, so driving one of them for 100 miles is higher at around $12.80. But driving an EV for 100 miles and depending on Level 3 DC fast charging costs about $15.62, Paris found.

She says the cheapest places to charge are rural Western states where residential electricity costs are low. The most expensive states are Hawaii and California, where the cost of electricity is the highest in the nation. The states where EV drivers have the biggest advantage are those where electricity is cheap and gas is expensive. Washington is at the top of that list. Connecticut, on the other hand, has less expensive gas and more expensive electricity, which means the economic advantage of driving an EV is blunted.

The New York Times has two interactive graphics that chart all the costs in all the states, which we are not going to reproduce in full, but you are welcome to look at on your own. In my own case, when I am driving my Model Y in Florida, I am paying about $4.50 for enough electricity to drive 100 miles. But when I am driving my Chevy Bolt in Connecticut, the cost of electricity is $9.50 — nearly double.

This may be a good time to point out that Tesla charges non-Tesla owners less to use its Supercharger network than most other DC fast charging networks. I use a Flo charging station in Pomfret, Connecticut, from time to time because it is the only fast charger available on a back road that I travel often. It costs as much as $0.80 per kWh, which is expensive, but you know what? It is a lot cheaper than calling a flat bed if I run out of battery charge. I know I am paying a premium for convenience and I am perfectly fine with that. I use it about twice a year and if I am overpaying by $5 or $10, so be it.

EV Fuel Costs Don’t Tell The Whole Story

Fuel costs are not the whole story. Some people have solar panels on their roof and use the electricity they supply to charge their EV. Does that mean their cost of “fuel” is zero? Of course not. That rooftop solar system has to be paid for somehow. There is no free lunch. There are other costs of owning a vehicle that may be lower for EV drivers.

Here is a comment on the New York Times story from a person who obviously drives an EV that struck me as especially pertinent:

“What about differences in maintenance costs? My gas powered car requires service every 7-10 thousand miles with costs ranging from $350 (routine) to $2500 (major every 50-60,000 miles). It’s hard to decide when its really necessary to take my electric car in for any service. I can change the cabin filter and rotate the tires myself.

“Other than that, what is there to service? Brakes last forever because they aren’t used with regenerative braking, no fluids, no spark plugs, starter, cooling system, etc. I took it in once for service just to see what might happen. They checked all systems (electronically, of course), rotated my tires, and changed the cabin filter. Bill was $90.”

Here is another from an EV owner who does not have access to a home charger:

“I live in an apartment, so I use only public Level 2 or 3 chargers. In my area, the cost of charging at public chargers varies a lot. There are city chargers that are only $0.15 per kWh, and there are also a couple of free level 2 chargers here. On the other hand, EVGo and Electrify America are more expensive than gas. I only use them when I’m traveling.

“In general, I save about $20 – $30 a week compared to what I paid for gas. Having said that, I wouldn’t recommend getting an EV unless you can charge at home, just because of the time and planning required. Cities should put cheap L2 chargers in every neighborhood, at workplaces, etc. so that we can charge while doing other activities. They also need to maintain them better.”

We could not agree more with the last two points. Unfortunately, the US government has decided to prop up the coal producers which contributed so generously in the last election cycle, and deny access to funding for EV chargers, unless and until the courts force them to honor the commitments made by the prior administration.

As usual, the answer to the question, “Does it cost less to drive an EV?” is — it depends. If cost is your only criterion, a used Prius is probably your best bet. But most drivers consider a number of factors when purchasing an automobile. We have published 10,412 articles about the advantages of driving an EV, but we admit it is not a “one size fits all” situation.

If you dream at night of a lifted Ford Super Duty with 40-inch wheels and tires, an EV is probably not the right choice for you. If you live in an apartment, co-op, or condo community that makes charging an EV at home overnight impossible, then an EV is probably not the right choice for you either.

But if you enjoy not spending time at Jiffy Lube or the service department at your local dealer and would like to never buy another muffler or pay for a brake job in your life, and if you enjoy the feel of instant torque when the light turns green, an EV may be just what the doctor ordered. If you can figure out the home charging piece and find a car that fits your budget, go for it. Most EV drivers are quite satisfied with the choice they made, although there will always be those who say they aren’t.

The bottom line is that no car — other than a Ferrari 250 Testa Rossa in mint condition — is a money-making investment. The most any of us can do is limit the economic pain of owning an automobile as much as possible. If it feels good and you can afford it, do it!