California
Is an EV Worth It in California?
With electricity at $0.27/kWh and gas at $4.85/gallon in California, see how much you could save by switching to an electric vehicle.
EV vs Gas Costs in California
California residents pay an average of $0.27/kWh for electricity and $4.85/gallon for gas. At average driving of 12,000 miles per year, an EV driver in California could save approximately $1,421 per year on fuel costs alone compared to a typical gas SUV.
Electricity rate
$0.27/kWh
California average
Gas price
$4.85/gal
California average
Est. annual fuel savings
$1,421
EV vs gas (fuel only)
These are fuel-only estimates. Use the calculator below to see total ownership cost including purchase price, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation.
Your Numbers
Adjust the inputs to match your situation. Results update instantly.
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.
Best value in your state
Tesla Model Y vs Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Subaru Forester Is Cheaper
Gas saves you
$6,882
over 5 years
EV saves per month
$106
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
10.5 years
beyond ownership
The Subaru Forester costs $6,882 less over 5 years than the Tesla Model Y.
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
$6,882
over 5 years (all-in)
EV saves per month
$106
fuel + maintenance + insurance
Operating cost payback
10.5 years
beyond ownership period
Vehicles compared
Model Y · Forester · RAV4 Hybrid
EV · Gas · 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 | $66 | $167 | $118 |
| Annual Fuel | $787 | $2,007 | $1,420 |
| Total Fuel | $3,937 | $10,034 | $7,098 |
| Total Maintenance | $3,000 | $5,250 | $5,000 |
| Total Insurance | $12,075 | $10,062 | $10,638 |
| Resale Value | $17,485 | $22,592 | $29,135 |
| Total Cost of Ownership | $43,157 | $36,275 | $32,550 |
Tesla Model Y
Standard RWD
Electric
Subaru Forester
Premium (gas, AWD)
Gas
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
XLE Premium AWD
Hybrid
Why This Result
The gas vehicle's lower purchase price and depreciation outweigh the EV's fuel savings at your current mileage. Consider the Toyota RAV4 Hybrid as a middle ground — it costs $3,724 less than pure gas. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.
Fuel vs Charging
Charging the Model Y costs about $787/year vs $2007/year for gas in the Forester. That's $1220/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 ($146 over 5 years) for the Model Y. For example, an overnight EV or time-of-use plan at $0.08/kWh instead of your $0.27/kWh would save about $554/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 $2250 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.
Key Factors for California EV Buyers
Electricity costs: California's average residential electricity rate of $0.27/kWh is above the national average. Higher electricity rates reduce the EV fuel cost advantage, but EVs still typically cost less per mile than gas.
Gas prices: At $4.85/gallon, higher gas prices make the EV value proposition stronger in California.
Total cost of ownership: Fuel is only part of the picture. Our calculator compares total ownership cost including purchase price, maintenance, insurance, and depreciation — giving you the full financial picture for California.