Ev Vs Petrol Total Cost
Calculator
Results
- Break-even (years)
- 3.990062 yr
- Net position at the horizon
- $10,876.01
- Total savings
- $16,876.01
- First-year saving
- $1,423.50
- Purchase price premium
- $6,000.00
- Electricity used per year (kWh)
- 2,550 kwh
Cumulative cash flow crossing zero at break-even
- Cumulative cash flow
- Cumulative cost of doing nothing
- Cumulative cost with the upgrade
Year-by-year cash flow until break-even
| 1 | 1,423.50 | 1,423.50 | -4,576.50 | 2,387.50 | 6,964.00 |
| 2 | 1,475.58 | 2,899.08 | -3,100.92 | 4,848.50 | 7,949.42 |
| 3 | 1,529.96 | 4,429.04 | -1,570.96 | 7,385.94 | 8,956.90 |
| 4 | 1,586.73 | 6,015.77 | 15.77 | 10,002.88 | 9,987.11 |
| 5 | 1,646.00 | 7,661.77 | 1,661.77 | 12,702.49 | 11,040.72 |
| 6 | 1,707.88 | 9,369.65 | 3,369.65 | 15,488.09 | 12,118.44 |
| 7 | 1,772.47 | 11,142.12 | 5,142.12 | 18,363.12 | 13,221.00 |
| 8 | 1,839.89 | 12,982.01 | 6,982.01 | 21,331.14 | 14,349.13 |
| 9 | 1,910.27 | 14,892.28 | 8,892.28 | 24,395.89 | 15,503.60 |
| 10 | 1,983.73 | 16,876.01 | 10,876.01 | 27,561.22 | 16,685.21 |
Comparison
| Scenario | Total cost over the horizon | Cumulative energy cost | Net position at the horizon |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do nothing | 27,561.22 | 27,561.22 | 0.00 |
| With the upgrade | 16,685.21 | 16,685.21 | 10,876.01 |
Formula
saving(n) = L × p_fuel(1+g_f)^(n−1) − kWh × p_elec(1+g_e)^(n−1) + Δservice= 3.99
Note
This is a simplified cash-flow model. It projects the prices, escalation rate and equipment costs you entered with a single geometric escalation and no discounting, no inflation adjustment, no financing costs and no tax treatment; savings are assumed to accrue evenly within each year, which is what the fractional break-even interpolates. Real energy prices, tariff structures, grants, weather, occupancy and equipment performance vary widely and change over time. A break-even of zero means the cumulative cash flow never crosses into positive territory within the horizon you chose. Get a professional energy assessment and a written quotation before committing to any of these measures.
More in Energy payback
See all →Frequently asked questions
What costs are included beyond the purchase price?+
The comparison should include fuel or electricity cost per mile/km, routine maintenance (oil changes and brake wear differ significantly between EVs and petrol cars), insurance, and any purchase incentives or tax credits. Depreciation is often the largest cost of owning any vehicle and should be reflected in the resale value assumption at the end of the comparison period.
Why does annual mileage change which vehicle wins?+
EVs typically have a higher purchase price but a much lower cost per mile for 'fuel,' so the breakeven mileage is the point where cumulative running-cost savings offset that price gap. Drive 20,000 km a year and you cross that breakeven in a couple of years; drive 5,000 km a year and the EV may never catch up within a typical ownership period.
How much does electricity price versus petrol price affect the result?+
Very significantly — the ratio between your local electricity rate (especially if you can charge off-peak or at home) and your local petrol price essentially sets the per-km savings rate for the EV. In regions with cheap electricity and expensive fuel the EV wins decisively; in regions with subsidized fuel and costly electricity the gap narrows or reverses.
Does the calculator account for battery degradation or replacement?+
A realistic model should assume modest range/capacity loss over the ownership period (typically 1.5-2.5% per year) rather than a full battery replacement, since most EV batteries are warrantied for 8 years/160,000 km and rarely need full replacement within that window. If you plan to keep the car well past the warranty period, it's worth manually adding a contingency cost.
Why might the total cost of ownership favor petrol even when 'fuel' savings favor the EV?+
Higher EV insurance premiums in some markets, a steeper depreciation curve on certain models, and financing costs on a larger loan principal can all outweigh the running-cost advantage, especially over a short ownership window. The full total-cost-of-ownership number is what matters for the decision, not the per-km energy cost alone.