EV use can be more expensive than gas

[Angelian]

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?

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[aznkukuboi]

Yea, back in my model Y, I did some quick math, and if you don't charge at home, it's cheaper to go gas.

 

[sirna7]

Model Y is quite efficient too

 

[Electrified Outdoors]

Talking only about fuel cost....Right now it doesn't make sense if you have to rely on public charging 100%..

Now, a gas car is not anywhere near as fun to drive and when talking about a 4x4 SUV rembrr has will come with lots of maintenance to include:

1. Oil changes
2. Serpentine belt
3. Engine air filters
4. Transfer case fluid changes
5. Front and rear differential fluid changes
6. Transmission fluid change
7. Fuel filter

You don't have any of that with an EV.

 

[NC-Rivian]

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?

50c/kw is pretty expensive for sure … and our R’s have big batteries to fill. It helps bring the cost down if you join the various “clubs” for a nominal monthly fee. Payoff is about 100kw. Be glad you didn’t stop at a Pilot … the kw’s there are even more expensive.

 

[shap]

Talking only about fuel cost....Right now it doesn't make sense if you have to rely on public charging 100%..

Now, a gas car is not anywhere near as fun to drive and when talking about a 4x4 SUV rembrr has will come with lots of maintenance to include:

1. Oil changes
2. Serpentine belt
3. Engine air filters
4. Transfer case fluid changes
5. Front and rear differential fluid changes
6. Transmission fluid change
7. Fuel filter

You don't have any of that with an EV.

New luxury car comes with free 3 year maintenance and really needs oil and filter changes. Not a good comparison imho.

Even 5 years old car does not need 70% of what you mentioned

 

[shap]

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?

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

 

[Schroederhc]

Home charging is key, as well as a subscription if you will be fast charging. The home charging rate for me is about 3 cents/kwh, plus $12 monthly Supercharger sub. I spend significantly less per year. I am still holding on to one ICE vehicle for a while.

 

[COdogman]

RAN is a great deal if you are traveling where you can access it. And joining the DCFC provider discount clubs does bring the cost down if you need to use those chargers on a trip. Also choosing hotels with chargers that you can use overnight is usually cheaper.

It requires a lot of planning but it can be done.

 

[Animalhouse]

Huntsville AL to Morgan City and the chargers in Alabama only cost about .38kwh (used three ALabaster/Greenville/Saraland). Yet on I was in Mississippi (Courtland at the outlet mall) and Louisiana (Baton Rouge) along (I10) the price jumped up to .48-.52 kWh. All were Electrify America (EA) station I only charged up to 85% with my Rivian and this was Labor Day 2023.

Huntsville AL to Nashville cost to charge .38 kWh

Huntsville to Cullman Al use charger just off the exit .54kwh (EV Go) near hotel. D restaurant area). Go to another charger it’s only .38kwh and it’s not even a mile difference and at a park and near down town/tourist area.

Huntsville to Dalton Ga stopped in Treant (.42kwh) Ringold (was free) both were EVGO chargers. Check at Blink charger in Chattanooga across the river from the tennennesse Aquarium and it was .49 kWh and the charged $2 just to hook up (heavy shopping area limited space). Also tried an EA charger out the way on I75 near Bella Vista at an EA and it was .38kwh. This was sparing 2023 and again 2024.

My personal opinion is it still cheaper to drive my Rivian in the long run at the same time it seems like it the wild Wild West when it comes to charging stations. You have different variables all at play from broken chargers to it’s the land owner of the station setting the price because they know it’s all location location location to where we as the EV driver didn’t look to see other charging options available. I hope these will improve with time so only time will tell.

 

[Tucker74]

If you are using 100% public chargers, especially fast chargers you are correct. Ownership wise you are not, I spend ~$100/mo charging once a week at home. I was paying $300-$400/mo in gas to drive a Toyota that got 18mpg. Also - if you plan well you will not spend that much on fast charging on road trips. Starting 100% charged, and planning hotel stops with free charging are key. I drove TX to FL last summer for $107 in fast charging ?

 

[golden_frog]

I view it more as a weighted average of your home vs public charging. My R1T has 25,000 miles, ~200 of which came from public charging and the rest for $0.18/kwh at home

Do people really use public charging that often?

 

[sherold]

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 ?‍

 

[Yossarian]

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.

 

[md2023]

Depends on circumstances. If relying solely on expensive public chargers with an expensive, inefficient EV it is prob not a financial win. To the other extreme of a more efficient and inexpensive EV charging at home from solar.
I charge at home from solar (also a cost to install - but would have installed solar regardless of vehicle), 95% of the time so it is a no-brainer in my case.
I do think it is important to remember that the vehicle and charging tech will improve. I am lucky to be able to afford a fun and functional (camping, skiing, etc.) truck and am glad it is making a very small contribution to the environment.

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