District of Columbia

Is an EV Worth It in District of Columbia?

With electricity at $0.15/kWh and gas at $3.5/gallon in District of Columbia, see how much you could save by switching to an electric vehicle.

EV vs Gas Costs in District of Columbia

District of Columbia residents pay an average of $0.15/kWh for electricity and $3.5/gallon for gas. At average driving of 12,000 miles per year, an EV driver in District of Columbia could save approximately $1,176 per year on fuel costs alone compared to a typical gas SUV.

Electricity rate

$0.15/kWh

District of Columbia average

Gas price

$3.5/gal

District of Columbia average

Est. annual fuel savings

$1,176

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

Best value in your state

Tesla Model Y vs Subaru Forester vs Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Gas/Hybrid is better for this scenariomedium confidence

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid Is Cheaper

Gas saves you

$3,653

over 5 years

EV saves per month

$86

fuel + maintenance

Operating cost payback

6.3 years

beyond ownership

Best case (Home charging): EV costs $3,653
Worst case (Public charging only): EV costs $7,703

The Subaru Forester costs $3,653 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

$3,653

over 5 years (all-in)

EV saves per month

$86

fuel + maintenance

Operating cost payback

6.3 years

beyond ownership period

Vehicles compared

Model Y · Forester · RAV4 Hybrid

EV · Gas · Hybrid

Tesla Model Y

Electric

Purchase Price$44,990
Monthly Fuel$41
Annual Fuel$486
Total Fuel$2,430
Total Maintenance$3,000
Total Insurance$11,550
Resale Value$24,745
Total Cost of Ownership$37,226

Subaru Forester

Gas

Purchase Price$33,695
Monthly Fuel$121
Annual Fuel$1,448
Total Fuel$7,241
Total Maintenance$5,250
Total Insurance$9,625
Resale Value$22,239
Total Cost of Ownership$33,573

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Hybrid

Best
Purchase Price$35,385
Monthly Fuel$88
Annual Fuel$1,050
Total Fuel$5,250
Total Maintenance$5,000
Total Insurance$10,175
Resale Value$24,062
Total Cost of Ownership$31,748
Year 1RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$8,466
Forester
$7,110
RAV4 Hybrid
$6,712
Year 2RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$16,361
Forester
$14,006
RAV4 Hybrid
$13,228
Year 3RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$23,749
Forester
$20,705
RAV4 Hybrid
$19,565
Year 4RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$30,687
Forester
$27,222
RAV4 Hybrid
$25,734
Year 5RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$37,226
Forester
$33,573
RAV4 Hybrid
$31,748
Tesla Model Y (EV)Subaru Forester (GAS)Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (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 $1,824 less than pure gas. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.

Fuel vs Charging

Charging the Model Y costs about $486/year vs $1448/year for gas in the Forester. That's $962/year in fuel savings alone.

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 66% of its value vs 55% 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 District of Columbia EV Buyers

Electricity costs: District of Columbia's average residential electricity rate of $0.15/kWh is near the national average. This keeps EV charging competitive with gas fueling.

Gas prices: At $3.5/gallon, gas prices are near the national average.

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 District of Columbia.

Compare Specific Vehicles

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