Should You Buy an EV or Gas Car?
See the real ownership cost in 30 seconds — including charging, fuel, maintenance, depreciation, and break-even analysis.
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Build Your Own MatchupYour Numbers
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Average American drives ~13,500 miles/year
Charge at home overnight — cheapest option
Enter what you actually pay to charge. On a time-of-use or EV plan (cheap overnight rates) or with solar, your rate may be well below the state average, e.g. 8¢ overnight vs 12¢ standard.
Your verdict
Featured Comparison
The most mainstream matchup. Two more category-matched comparisons follow below.
Too Close to Call
EV saves you
$1,783
over 10 years
EV saves per month
$108
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
8.7 years
within ownership
The difference between the Tesla Model Y and Subaru Forester is small — only $1,783 over 10 years.
SUV
Tesla Model Y vs Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
EV vs Gas vs Hybrid — same vehicle class
EV saves you
$1,783
over 10 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$108
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
8.7 years
achievable within ownership
Vehicles compared
Model Y · Forester · RAV4 Hybrid
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost BreakdownEV vs Gas vs Hybrid
| Tesla Model YStandard RWDElectric | Subaru ForesterPremium (gas, AWD)Gas | Toyota RAV4 HybridXLE Premium AWDBestHybrid | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $41,630 | $33,520 | $38,950 |
| Monthly Fuel | $32 | $112 | $79 |
| Annual Fuel | $379 | $1,345 | $951 |
| Total Fuel | $3,791 | $13,448 | $9,512 |
| Total Maintenance | $9,300 | $15,750 | $15,000 |
| Total Insurance | $18,900 | $15,750 | $16,650 |
| Resale Value | $10,491 | $13,555 | $17,481 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $63,130 | $64,913 | $62,631 |
Tesla Model Y
Standard RWD
Electric
Subaru Forester
Premium (gas, AWD)
Gas
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
XLE Premium AWD
Hybrid
Cost Over 10 Years
Why This Result
At your inputs, neither option has a decisive cost advantage. Small changes in gas prices, electricity rates, or driving habits could tip the balance either way. The Toyota RAV4 Hybrid may offer a good compromise between cost and efficiency.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Model Y costs about $379/year vs $1345/year for gas in the Forester. That's $966/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $29/year ($292 over 10 years) for the Model Y. For example, an overnight EV or time-of-use plan at $0.08/kWh instead of your $0.13/kWh would save about $146/year. Charging from rooftop solar can lower it further. Enter your actual overnight or solar rate above to see your own numbers.
Maintenance
EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Model Y saves roughly $6450 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The Forester holds 67% of its value vs 42% for the Model Y. Purchase price and resale value are often the largest factors in total cost of ownership.
Insurance
EV insurance tends to run higher due to specialized repair costs. We've included $2,100/year for the Model Y vs $1,750/year for the Forester in the total comparison.
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Let others see how the numbers compare.
EV vs Gas is a close call for me — only $1,783 difference over 10 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
Sedan
Lucid Air Pure vs BMW 530i xDrive vs Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC
EV vs Gas vs Gas — same vehicle class
Lucid Air Pure vs BMW 530i xDrive vs Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC— same vehicle class
Too Close to Call
EV saves you
$3,019
over 10 years
EV saves per month
$101
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
7.6 years
within ownership
The difference between the Lucid Air Pure and BMW 530i xDrive is small — only $3,019 over 10 years.
EV saves you
$3,019
over 10 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$101
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
7.6 years
achievable within ownership
Vehicles compared
Lucid Air · BMW 530i · E 350 4MATIC
EV · Gas · Hybrid
Full Cost BreakdownEV vs Gas vs Hybrid
| Lucid Air PurePure RWD, 19in wheelsBestElectric | BMW 530i xDrive530i xDriveGas | Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATICE 350 4MATICGas | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $72,400 | $64,250 | $69,250 |
| Monthly Fuel | $30 | $108 | $120 |
| Annual Fuel | $360 | $1,300 | $1,444 |
| Total Fuel | $3,604 | $13,000 | $14,444 |
| Total Maintenance | $10,800 | $18,000 | $11,160 |
| Total Insurance | $25,200 | $20,700 | $27,396 |
| Resale Value | $16,073 | $17,001 | $22,853 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $95,931 | $98,949 | $99,398 |
Lucid Air Pure
Pure RWD, 19in wheels
Electric
BMW 530i xDrive
530i xDrive
Gas
Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC
E 350 4MATIC
Gas
Cost Over 10 Years
Why This Result
At your inputs, neither option has a decisive cost advantage. Small changes in gas prices, electricity rates, or driving habits could tip the balance either way. The Mercedes-Benz E 350 4MATIC may offer a good compromise between cost and efficiency.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Lucid Air costs about $360/year vs $1300/year for gas in the BMW 530i. That's $940/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $28/year ($277 over 10 years) for the Lucid Air. For example, an overnight EV or time-of-use plan at $0.08/kWh instead of your $0.13/kWh would save about $139/year. Charging from rooftop solar can lower it further. Enter your actual overnight or solar rate above to see your own numbers.
Maintenance
EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Lucid Air saves roughly $7200 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The BMW 530i holds 44% of its value vs 37% for the Lucid Air. Purchase price and resale value are often the largest factors in total cost of ownership.
Insurance
EV insurance tends to run higher due to specialized repair costs. We've included $2,800/year for the Lucid Air vs $2,300/year for the BMW 530i in the total comparison.
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Let others see how the numbers compare.
EV vs Gas is a close call for me — only $3,019 difference over 10 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
Adventure SUV
Rivian R1S vs Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Compared within the same vehicle class
Rivian R1S vs Jeep Grand Cherokee L— same vehicle class
Jeep Grand Cherokee L Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$7,219
over 10 years
EV saves per month
$160
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
13.8 years
beyond ownership
The Jeep Grand Cherokee L costs $7,219 less over 10 years than the Rivian R1S.
Operating cost payback falls outside your ownership period. You may not recover the extra upfront cost through fuel and maintenance savings alone.
Gas saves you
$7,219
over 10 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$160
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
13.8 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Rivian R1S vs Grand Cherokee L
Adventure SUV
Full Cost Breakdown
| Rivian R1SPremium Dual-Motor AWDElectric | Jeep Grand Cherokee LOverland 4x4BestGas | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price | $85,885 | $59,895 |
| Monthly Fuel | $51 | $155 |
| Annual Fuel | $616 | $1,857 |
| Total Fuel | $6,162 | $18,571 |
| Total Maintenance | $10,050 | $19,500 |
| Total Insurance | $23,400 | $20,700 |
| Resale Value | $17,005 | $17,394 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $108,492 | $101,273 |
Rivian R1S
Premium Dual-Motor AWD
Electric
Jeep Grand Cherokee L
Overland 4x4
Gas
Cost Over 10 Years
Why This Result
The gas vehicle's lower purchase price and depreciation outweigh the EV's fuel savings at your current mileage. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Rivian R1S costs about $616/year vs $1857/year for gas in the Grand Cherokee L. That's $1241/year in fuel savings alone.
Your electricity rate matters
Home charging is the EV's biggest lever. Every 1¢/kWh lower saves about $47/year ($474 over 10 years) for the Rivian R1S. For example, an overnight EV or time-of-use plan at $0.08/kWh instead of your $0.13/kWh would save about $237/year. Charging from rooftop solar can lower it further. Enter your actual overnight or solar rate above to see your own numbers.
Maintenance
EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, less brake wear, no transmission fluid. The Rivian R1S saves roughly $9450 in maintenance over the ownership period.
Depreciation & Resale
The Grand Cherokee L holds 48% of its value vs 33% for the Rivian R1S. Purchase price and resale value are often the largest factors in total cost of ownership.
Insurance
EV insurance tends to run higher due to specialized repair costs. We've included $2,600/year for the Rivian R1S vs $2,300/year for the Grand Cherokee L in the total comparison.
Share Your Result
Let others see how the numbers compare.
At my mileage, the Jeep Grand Cherokee L beats the Rivian R1S by $7,219 over 10 years. Check yours → isevworthit.com
Custom comparison
Want to Compare Different Vehicles?
Choose from 6 EVs, 6 hybrids, and 16 gas vehicles to build your own head-to-head matchup.
How We Calculate EV vs Gas Cost
A simple, transparent process that gives you a clear answer in seconds.
Enter your driving details
Tell us your annual mileage, local gas price, electricity rate, and how long you plan to own the vehicle. We pre-fill with your state's averages.
We compare total ownership cost
We calculate the all-in cost for each vehicle — purchase price, fuel or charging, maintenance, insurance, and estimated resale value after depreciation.
Get your personalized verdict
See which option costs less, how much you save, and when you break even. Each EV is compared against a gas vehicle in the same class for a fair result.
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Data Sources & Assumptions
Transparency builds trust. Here's exactly how we calculate results and where our data comes from.
Total Cost of Ownership
Purchase price + fuel/charging + maintenance + insurance − estimated resale value. This gives you the true all-in cost of owning each vehicle.
Fuel & Charging
EV cost = monthly miles × kWh per mile × electricity price. Gas cost = monthly miles ÷ MPG × gas price. We use real efficiency figures for each vehicle.
Gas & Electricity Prices
State gas and residential electricity prices are approximate averages (AAA / EIA), as of March 30, 2026. They are refreshed weekly from the EIA when the data job is live. You can override both with your actual rates.
Depreciation & Resale
Resale value uses each model's five-year depreciation from iSeeCars studies of used-car sales (2025-2026 editions; a few models use older or proxy figures). EVs have recently depreciated faster than gas cars. For years 6-10 every vehicle keeps about 60% of its year-5 value (consistent with published 10-year figures for the RAV4, CR-V and Model 3). Real depreciation varies by condition, mileage, and market demand, and price cuts since those cars were sold new may mean a new buyer loses less.
Maintenance & Insurance
Annual estimates based on industry averages for each vehicle class (reviewed November 2026). Insurance varies by state using Insurance Information Institute rankings (early 2026). Vehicle purchase prices are entered by hand (November 2026): prices are base-trim MSRP plus destination for a feature-comparable trim, from manufacturer releases where available and third-party reports otherwise. Taxes, options and dealer fees are not included. Check current pricing before buying.
Fair Comparison
Each EV is priced at its base or standard trim and compared against a gas or hybrid vehicle in the same class, using the trim with comparable equipment (not the cheapest trim). The trim used is shown in each comparison table.
Incentives are NOT included
All results exclude federal and state tax credits, rebates, and utility incentives, as well as financing costs, home charger installation, and time value of money. Incentives, where you qualify, would make an EV look better than shown here.
These estimates are directional, not precise financial advice. Your actual costs will depend on your specific vehicle, driving habits, local utility rates, and financing terms.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about EV vs gas cost comparisons.
How accurate is this comparison?
We use realistic estimates for purchase price, fuel, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation based on current market data. Your actual costs will vary, but this gives you a strong directional answer to help inform your decision.
Why do you compare EVs to specific gas vehicles?
Fair comparisons require matching vehicle classes. We compare the Tesla Model Y against the Subaru Forester and Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (mainstream SUVs), the Lucid Air Pure against the BMW 530i xDrive and Mercedes-Benz E 350 (price-matched luxury sedans), and the Rivian R1S against the Jeep Grand Cherokee L (adventure SUVs). This prevents misleading results from cross-class comparisons.
Are EVs actually cheaper to own than gas cars?
It depends. Electricity is cheaper per mile than gas and EVs cost less to maintain, which favors high-mileage drivers with home charging. But EVs have recently lost value faster: an iSeeCars study of five-year-old cars found EVs lost about 57% of their price versus about 42% for all vehicles. That depreciation often cancels the fuel savings, so the answer changes with your mileage, electricity rate, and the specific vehicles.
How does depreciation affect the result?
Depreciation is often the biggest cost factor. We estimate resale value using five-year depreciation data by model from iSeeCars (2025-2026 studies of used-car sales). Gas and hybrid vehicles like the RAV4 tend to hold value well, while some EVs depreciate faster. Our total cost includes the net cost after resale.
Is Lucid better than BMW for total cost?
It depends on your inputs. The Lucid Air Pure costs a bit more than a BMW 530i xDrive but has much lower fuel costs. For high-mileage drivers with average electricity rates, the Lucid often wins on total ownership cost. Our calculator shows the exact numbers for your situation.
Do EVs last longer than gas cars?
Not proven yet. EV batteries lose about 1.8% of capacity per year on average (about 18% by year 10, per Geotab fleet data), and replacements are rare on recent models. But no study shows EVs outlasting gas cars, and the EV fleet is still young. The long-term case for EVs rests on lower fuel and maintenance costs adding up year after year, which is why the calculator opens on a 10-year view. Switch to 5 years to see the shorter horizon.
Does my electricity plan change the answer?
A lot. Charging cost depends on your rate, and many utilities offer EV or time-of-use plans with much cheaper overnight electricity (for example 8¢/kWh overnight versus 12¢ on a standard plan). Solar can lower it further. The calculator starts from your state's average residential rate; replace it with your own overnight or solar rate to see your real savings. Public fast charging is modeled at a flat $0.40/kWh and is usually far more expensive than home charging.
How is break-even calculated?
Break-even measures when the EV's lower operating costs have offset its higher upfront cost compared to the equivalent gas vehicle. We divide the EV's extra net purchase cost (price minus resale) by its monthly running-cost savings (fuel, maintenance, and insurance) to find the crossover point.
What costs are included in total cost of ownership?
Purchase price, total fuel or charging cost, annual maintenance, annual insurance, and estimated resale value based on depreciation. Incentives are excluded: we do not include federal or state tax credits, rebates, utility programs, financing, or home charger installation. These can change the result in your favor, so check what applies to you.