Tennessee

Is an EV Worth It in Tennessee?

With electricity at $0.12/kWh and gas at $3.05/gallon in Tennessee, see how much you could save by switching to an electric vehicle.

EV vs Gas Costs in Tennessee

Tennessee residents pay an average of $0.12/kWh for electricity and $3.05/gallon for gas. At average driving of 12,000 miles per year, an EV driver in Tennessee could save approximately $1,061 per year on fuel costs alone compared to a typical gas SUV.

Electricity rate

$0.12/kWh

Tennessee average

Gas price

$3.05/gal

Tennessee average

Est. annual fuel savings

$1,061

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

$3,923

over 5 years

EV saves per month

$81

fuel + maintenance

Operating cost payback

6.7 years

beyond ownership

Best case (Home charging): EV costs $3,923
Worst case (Public charging only): EV costs $8,459

The Subaru Forester costs $3,923 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

$3,923

over 5 years (all-in)

EV saves per month

$81

fuel + maintenance

Operating cost payback

6.7 years

beyond ownership period

Vehicles compared

Model Y · Forester · RAV4 Hybrid

EV · Gas · Hybrid

Tesla Model Y

Electric

Purchase Price$44,990
Monthly Fuel$32
Annual Fuel$389
Total Fuel$1,944
Total Maintenance$3,000
Total Insurance$10,500
Resale Value$24,745
Total Cost of Ownership$35,690

Subaru Forester

Gas

Purchase Price$33,695
Monthly Fuel$105
Annual Fuel$1,262
Total Fuel$6,310
Total Maintenance$5,250
Total Insurance$8,750
Resale Value$22,239
Total Cost of Ownership$31,767

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid

Hybrid

Best
Purchase Price$35,385
Monthly Fuel$76
Annual Fuel$915
Total Fuel$4,575
Total Maintenance$5,000
Total Insurance$9,250
Resale Value$24,062
Total Cost of Ownership$30,148
Year 1RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$8,159
Forester
$6,749
RAV4 Hybrid
$6,392
Year 2RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$15,747
Forester
$13,284
RAV4 Hybrid
$12,588
Year 3RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$22,827
Forester
$19,621
RAV4 Hybrid
$18,605
Year 4RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$29,458
Forester
$25,778
RAV4 Hybrid
$24,454
Year 5RAV4 Hybrid leads
Model Y
$35,690
Forester
$31,767
RAV4 Hybrid
$30,148
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 $1,618 less than pure gas. Driving more or higher gas prices could change this.

Fuel vs Charging

Charging the Model Y costs about $389/year vs $1262/year for gas in the Forester. That's $873/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 Tennessee EV Buyers

Electricity costs: Tennessee's average residential electricity rate of $0.12/kWh is below the national average. This gives EV owners a significant charging cost advantage.

Gas prices: At $3.05/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 Tennessee.

Compare Specific Vehicles

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