EV use can be more expensive than gas

[CharonPDX]

Curious how it is more capable than a F250 diesel (what year)?

It was a 1997 F-250 7.3 Powerstroke, RWD, manual transmission, 8' bed supercab.

Max tow capacity 10,000 lbs, so the Rivian can tow more. (And it tows *WAY* better - no problem maintaining 65 MPH going uphill towing my old 8000 lb trailer; the Powerstroke would be *SCREAMING* to maintain 55 on the same hill.)

Payload was ~2000 lbs, so while on paper the Rivian can't hold that, realistically, it can no problem.

The F-250 as an RWD without lockers, the Rivian is *WAAAAAY* better offroad. (My F-250 got stuck trying to back out of my driveway once because one tire was on the grass, which was wet.)

Even the 4.5' versus 8' bed isn't a huge difference. I've carried a 12' conference table, 12' 2x4s, 10'x4' plywood, hauled cubic yards of mulch and gravel, and helped friends move in the Rivian no problem. Yeah, the actual bed isn't as long enclosed, but the tailgate down is more usable than the tailgate in the F-250 was, and the gear tunnel, frunk, and larger cabin allow for carrying more moving boxes than the F-250. And with the tonneau (versus no bed cover in the F-250) WAY more "protected from the weather" carrying capacity.

I'm sure there are definite use-cases where the F-250 would be capable of that the Rivian simply isn't - but I haven't found them yet. And yes, other version of the F-250 would be capable - a crew cab would erase the Rivian's cab difference; the 4x4 would reduce the Rivian's win there.

But nothing about the F-250 can beat the Rivian's glorious silence while driving, or the significantly lower operating cost.

Sponsored

 

[Birdowin]

If we use the rough average of the cost of gasoline nationwide, about $3.60/gal, and assume that a typical ICE vehicle (SUV/pickup) gets 15 mpg, the cost per mile driven is $0.24. From what I've read and seen posted in this and other Rivian forums, the kWh cost at some public chargers can make your cost per mile exceed that.

For example, one recent post detailed a cost of something like $0.80 per kWh at a charger in a Flying J location. If your Rivian averages 2.0 miles per kWh, your cost per mile driven at that rate is $0.40. I've also seen folks detail encounters with public charging stations with even higher rates, in some cases significantly over $1.00/kWh. Thankfully, these kind of rates don't seem to be the norm, and hopefully, don't represent a trend.

Still, as others have pointed out, your cost for charging on road trips needs to be combined with that from home charging. Electricity rates vary considerably depending on location, but most folks are nowhere near the public charger rates.

Your comparison at $.80 is on the extreme upper edge. Traveling in Oregon and California I usually see $.38 to $.48. Run the numbers with those costs.

 

[Birdowin]

If you are spending $70-$90k on a vehicle you are not necessarily looking for the cheapest option.
We drive our Rivian's because they are so awesome to drive.

 

[RoverZac]

I don't have time to read through 10 pages, but don't forget to compare apples to apples...

R1 = Ram TRX

 

[Kgautam28]

Have you ever compared your expenses on ev vs gas. I used my r1s this weekend and charged it a bit at a public charging station. It was $.50/kwh. It cost me $12.50 for a 57miles added miles. I then realized that it's actually going to cost me more to do a long drive with EV rather than a gas SUV. I would spend about $60 to get about 400 miles added for a range rover evoque while it would end up costing me about $87 to charge multiple times to get up to 400 miles added.

What are your experiences? Is charging in public always going to be costly?

If you are comparing charging cost from fast chargers, you should compare fuel prices to that shell pump in the middle of downtown, then you will see its still lower than gas,
But most of us 95% or more of our charging at home.

 

[tschatz]

EV use can also be MUCH cheaper than gas. I use DCFC and home charging approximately 5-10X/year. Aside from that, I am charging at work for free all year. It all depends on your circumstances. Everyone has the opportunity to do the homework and see if it makes sense for them ?‍

I agree, really depends on how you use it. We have a 2019 Hyundai Kona and in nearly 5 years and 68,000 miles we have replaced only tires and wiper blades. (Still on the original brake pads even) We charge at home (with solar) and run around town with it, only one time have I taken it on a longer trip and used DCFC. Battery still has 93%-94% of it's capacity when bought new, so minimal battery degradation everyone talks about. I can't begin to think of the money saved in 5 years, and the car cost was only in low $30's after IRS and CA rebates totaling 10k back then.... a total win in every respect, in my specific circumstances.

In my new R1T after 4 months I've taken it on two long drives to the Sierra Nevada mountains from San Diego, 400m each way. Having done this drive hundreds of times in ICE vehicles, I can say that depending on gas prices (CA SUCCCCKS for gas prices) the cost of this trip using RAN and EA stations (with membership) runs about 50-60% of what it would cost for gas in my old Audi Q7.

 

[Mark_AZR1T]

I was spending $800-900 a month on gas for two vehicles (local driving) and now we spend $0.00 as we charge with solar. I just returned from Mexico for the Baja 500 and charged at home for free and then .38 kwH three times to get to Ensenada, Baja and back, (free charge at hotel). Total charging costs $78. Total travel distance 788 miles.

Same trip in the Tundra was 3 1/2 tanks of gas at $80 a tank +/-.

Sponsored