EV use can be more expensive than gas

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

Simply focus on the exhaust tailpipes as you drive and breath in deeply, that is not a generalization, it’s reality!! Just because it doesn’t stink real bad is not black in color does not mean it’s okay for your lungs!!

Stop being lemmings, sheep, parrots … Focus on the tailpipes and think about what you are doing to yourself, your family and everyone else. Stop being self centered and selfish.

Uh ok. Not sure how a discussion about comparison of operating cost turned into this. But, preach on!

Sponsored

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

This thread reminds me of joke about how OPEC keeps making profits:

Reporter: how do you handle competition from electric vehicles?

OPEC spokesperson: Easy. Repeat this pattern.

Year 1: high gas prices - start of interest in EVs
Year 2: high gas prices - more interest in EVs
Year 3: high gas prices - some buy EVs
Year 4: low gas prices - EVERYONE buys gas guzzlers
Year 5: high gas prices - start of interest in EVs

Don’t remember whether this is actually correct but still makes me laugh ?

Supply and demand. Not far from reality.

 

[Better Late than Never]

If you're comparing gas to electric with home charging, don't forget to factor in the 10, 20, or even 30 minutes it takes to drive to a gas station and fill up the car vs two minutes to plug in after I park at home. Or at work if you have that option.

 

[Cycliste]

For me, ICE use is more expensive in fatigue and comfort than my R1T. Fatigue is more important for me. Do whatever is best for your particular situation.

 

[SANZC02]

Agree - but battery health is difficult to measure (at least now), this is why used 7-8-year-old EVs are so cheap. You can argue that an ICE engine is also can fail (and many other components of ICE), however, for ICE you have multiple options to replace failed components with non-OEM parts, or salvaged parts. You can not do the same for EV batteries.

I am glad to see that new companies popping up that actually repair the battery packs and resell them

My Tesla is 8 years old, still has 92% of original range and that is with 95+% Superchargers over its lifetime.

My experience the batteries last way longer than people originally were thinking.

 

[Hillbilly]

I can't imagine public charging only for an EV. Crazy expensive. Seems dumb.

 

[Sempervirens]

Locally (In CA) we generally charge for $0 (solar + regional free spots) but I know for a fact over the long haul I will still come out less than gas prices.

Data Point: We drove 1700mi on a road trip in April, charged at a mix of free hotel/motel chargers, Rivian Adventure Networks, and 2 Electrify Americas.

Total charging cost was $170. I fully expect this to go up as free charging disappears, but gas will likely go up as well.

 

[moosetags]

And those maintenance items are very inexpensive. The EV tire replacement cost is an additional item that should be thrown in.

Not so in my case. My R1T was purchased as a supplement to my Silverado Duramax which is also a very heavy vehicle with poor tire life. Therefore, EV tire replacement cost is not a factor in my situation.

Brian

 

[strykerwsu]

EV car is not a good finance decision. You spend more money on EV tax, depreciation due technology change, tires, etc.

If you charge at home it is cheaper than gas, public chargers are 1.5-3x more expensive than gas.

It is fun to drive, it is nice gadget , but not a good finance decision

It is at pre hike pricing and $.06kwh.

 

[IGR]

Range Rover Evoque doesn't sound like an equivalent vehicle. It really needs to be a 3 row SUV that has 500+ hp and a giddy up in the 3-4.5 sec range...

I may have a more fair comparison...
Previously I owned SRT Durango (6.4L v8) is a 3 row SUV, with about 500 hp, and 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. Besides the fact that Rivian is more capable and cost less to refuel...

I don't think you all realize what a pain it is to own a car with Brembo breaks, I think you take it for granted with EV's.
On SRT Durango OEM pads wear rotors as much that it all needs to be replaced together as a set after only 2 years! in 2021 it would have been $800 to do just the front at a dealer. Durango had 2-piece rotor however, otherwise very similar system

And don't even get me started on break pad dust, if you know you know.

Pic below of me doing breaks on said, Durango.

You can see edge of the rotor is not flush with the surface, meaning it had to be replaced.
(harbor freight jack stands lol)

So you see, when comparing to a high performance SUV, devil is in details.

Edit: I may have been wrong on the cost, I think $800 was only for parts, for one side...
Edit 2: I was curious so I did some research, its $929 just for one rotor. Man, EVs are cheap!

 

[hgpayne]

You can't just cherry pick charge costs. You have to include the whole picture.

In a gas vehicle you are suck always going to the gas station. It's a bonus not pleasurable task you do one a week for your typical home to work commute. On a road trip you may go fill up the night before and then make stops along the path for rest, food, and refueling -- always paying the local gas price.

In an EV your work commute is covered by home and/or work charging. This is typically way cheeper to "free" for you, plus every day you just drive to work and back home. No extra gas station runs needed. For that road trip you just charge to full at home the night before. Operationally I charge to 90% then turn it up to 100% when I get up. By the time I've showered, packed, got breakfast, the car is at 100% or close enough and the battery and cabin are warm and ready to go. En route I stop to rest and for food but charge while I cook these things so the extra "refuel" stop isn't needed. There's chargers may be expensive or not. I've stumbled upon free DCFC as well as really cheap asking my vacation paths. They area nice perk. I've yet to stumble upon a free gas station, but too be fair I haven't road tripped in a gas car since 2016. Maybe things have changed? When I get to my destination there is typically free or cheap L2 I can take advantage of.

Bottom line, when I don't cherry pick the expensive charges only along the way but sum up my total cost for a road trip, it is 30-75% of what the trip would have cost in fuel alone were we still taking our old gasser. There's more savings if I ignore the needed oil change, brake wear, etc but let's keep it simple.

 

[Doug]

Seems like this has turned into two cost factors, dollars and impact on environment. As for impact on environment, I think it has been shown that EVs have more impact in production than an ICE but over the life of the vehicle it is easily less impactful than an ICE. It seems most of the media articles are trying push a specific agenda instead of reporting objectively. As far as tires polluting more, it may be true, but I have 35000 miles on my original tires on my R1T. This is about the same as what we get with our work vans, so I struggle with that claim having a lot of merit.

As a lot have already said, cost depends on your circumstances. If you charge at home or work it is going to be a lot cheaper than an ICE. Traveling is a much different story. I live in an area with very few EVs, so people ask all the time how it compares to an ICE for cost. I usually say it depends where you chose to charge. We have fast chargers here that are .56kw and in one town .09kw. I pay .11kw at home so it is about .05 a mile I figure. Several others have said this, but each person has to do the math for themselves. I bought the truck for both of these reasons and as a bonus I love driving it. I plan on 250,000 miles or more so I believe I will come out further ahead financially and environmentally than if I had bought an ICE equivalent.

 

[djsider2]

I may have a more fair comparison...
Previously I owned SRT Durango (6.4L v8) is a 3 row SUV, with about 500 hp, and 0 to 60 in 4 seconds. Besides the fact that Rivian is more capable and cost less to refuel...

I don't think you all realize what a pain it is to own a car with Brembo breaks, I think you take it for granted with EV's.
On SRT Durango OEM pads wear rotors as much that it all needs to be replaced together as a set after only 2 years! in 2021 it would have been $800 to do just the front at a dealer. Durango had 2-piece rotor however, otherwise very similar system

And don't even get me started on break pad dust, if you know you know.

Pic below of me doing breaks on said, Durango.

You can see edge of the rotor is not flush with the surface, meaning it had to be replaced.
(harbor freight jack stands lol)

So you see, when comparing to a high performance SUV, devil is in details.

Edit: I may have been wrong on the cost, I think $800 was only for parts, for one side...

As a previous owner of Audi SQ5, brake pads and rotors will come up twice in 6 years with lots of city driving. It is expensive, even with aftermarket brands and shops.

Doing it yourself wasn't worth my time to learn + do because its a loss either way.

 

[Glembi2]

Alas, I do miss chatting with my old mechanic buddies when I would fill up the tank of the old beast. Now, stopping by just to chat seems weird. Maybe time to just stop by to clean the windows.

 

[UnsungZero_OldTimeAdMan]

As a previous owner of Audi SQ5, brake pads and rotors will come up twice in 6 years with lots of city driving. It is expensive, even with aftermarket brands and shops.

Doing it yourself wasn't worth my time to learn + do because its a loss either way.

Similar experience with my BMWs. And dealer service is often 2x compared to independent mechanic, which isn't exactly cheap to begin with. Everyone has to make a living.

Sponsored