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Neither gasoline cars nor electric cars are always cheaper to own and drive. EVs generally cost less to fuel and maintain, but their purchase price, financing, charging setup, insurance, local energy prices, incentives and how long you keep the car can outweigh those savings. Compare similar vehicles using your own prices and driving habits; no single payback period applies to every buyer.
Compare total cost of ownership, not just fuel
A useful comparison includes what you pay to buy and finance the car, the energy it uses, maintenance and tires, insurance, registration, taxes and fees, and any charging equipment or installation you need. The U.S. Department of Energy’s Vehicle Cost Calculator methodology accounts for these categories and notes that estimates can change with electrical service, incentives and charging arrangements.
Start with two vehicles that match in body style, equipment level and likely ownership period. Use the purchase prices and financing terms actually available to you, then add local operating costs. A cheaper fuel bill alone does not establish that one car will cost less overall.
Where electric cars can cost less
Energy
Electricity can cost less per mile than gasoline, especially when most charging is done at home at a favorable utility rate. The result depends on the vehicle’s efficiency, the gasoline price where you live, your electricity rate and how often you use public charging. The DOE calculator methodology describes fuel and electricity assumptions; the Alternative Fuels Data Center (AFDC) also explains electric-vehicle benefits and considerations.
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- Educational STEM tools: A great choice for who love architecture and science. Fun and fun, these tanker kits will make for an enjoyable learning experience and give them great satisfaction while assembling their own electric motor kit. Create a circuit and let the fun begin.
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- Package includes: 1 set of DIY power car accessories.
AFDC gives an illustrative example of about $6 to charge a 54 kWh battery at 10.7 cents per kWh. That is an example using the stated rate, not a current universal bill or a quote for a particular car. Your cost depends on the amount of energy needed and what your utility or charging provider charges.
Maintenance
AFDC’s published average maintenance figures, on a per-mile basis, are 10.1 cents for gasoline vehicles, 9.0 cents for plug-in hybrids and 6.1 cents for all-electric vehicles. These are broad comparisons, not a repair-cost forecast for an individual model. AFDC says: “The battery, motor, and associated electronics require little to no regular maintenance.” Read its maintenance and safety overview for context.
Rank #2
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Maintenance is only one part of ownership cost. Tires, insurance, registration and taxes or fees still belong in the comparison; use model-specific quotes where possible rather than assuming the average maintenance difference will determine the winner.
Charging setup can change the math
Home and public charging are not interchangeable cost assumptions. Home charging depends on your utility’s rates and the equipment you already have; public charging may involve different prices and billing methods. AFDC notes that charging stations can bill by energy, session, time or subscription in its charging infrastructure operation and maintenance guidance.
Rank #3
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A Level 2 (240 V) home charger is optional, not a universal requirement. AFDC notes that some vehicles include a Level 1 cordset and describes Level 2 as an option for faster home charging. Whether an upgrade makes sense depends on your charging needs, the included equipment, your home’s electrical service and installation expense. See AFDC’s home-charging guide.
Include installation costs only if you need equipment or electrical work, and include public charging fees if that is part of your routine. A household that can charge conveniently at home may face a different cost picture from one that relies heavily on public stations.
Rank #4
- A PERENNIAL CLASSIC FOR EXPERIENCED MODELERS: AMT’s 1/25 scale 1967 Shelby GT-350 is the perfect project for muscle car builders. Add it to your collection today!
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Purchase price, financing and incentives
Compare the amount you would actually pay for each vehicle, including financing cost, rather than relying on a general sticker-price comparison. The DOE’s January 2025 incremental purchase cost report is a modeled analysis, not a retail quote for a specific buyer or vehicle. Its figures should not replace current dealer pricing and financing offers.
Do not count an incentive unless you have checked that you qualify and that it applies to your purchase or installation. The IRS says qualified home recharging property placed in service before July 1, 2026 may be eligible for the Alternative Fuel Vehicle Refueling Property Tax Credit. Eligibility and timing matter; check the IRS clean vehicle tax credits page for the applicable requirements. This home-property credit is not a credit that every EV buyer automatically receives.
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How to make a fair comparison
- Choose comparable cars. Match body style and equipment level, and use the same expected ownership period.
- Calculate acquisition cost. Use the actual purchase prices, down payments and loan terms you can get. Subtract only incentives you can claim.
- Estimate energy cost from local inputs. Compare local gasoline prices and fuel economy with your electricity price, EV efficiency and likely home/public charging mix.
- Add charging costs where relevant. Include equipment and installation only if your situation requires them; add public charging fees if you expect to use public stations.
- Include remaining ownership expenses. Compare maintenance, tires, insurance, registration, taxes and fees using model-specific estimates or quotes where available.
- Apply your mileage and time horizon. Estimate annual miles and how long you expect to keep each car. These determine how much any per-mile operating-cost difference can accumulate.
AFDC’s calculator methodology is a useful checklist for categories, but the inputs still need to reflect your circumstances. Its consumer page uses 2023 vehicles for illustrative sample costs, so those sample annual fuel costs should not be treated as current 2026 prices. A separate DOE total-cost study is a 2021 modeled analysis; it shows the range of lifecycle cost categories, not a current quote. See the 2021 total-cost-of-ownership study.
When each option may be the lower-cost choice
- An EV may come out ahead when its purchase and financing costs are competitive, home charging is practical and economical, and your driving gives lower energy and maintenance costs time to add up.
- A gasoline car may come out ahead when its acquisition cost is substantially lower, charging would require costly installation or frequent expensive public charging, or your ownership period and mileage are too limited for operating savings to offset the difference.
These are decision conditions, not guarantees. Insurance, local prices, incentives and the particular vehicles can change the result. The evidence does not support one universal break-even mileage or payback period.
Quick Recap
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
