Comparing Energy Costs per Mile for Electric and Gasoline Vehicles

[dmallind]

16. And the cheapest line is a high estimate

I'm only on my 2nd week of EV use and averaging 4.6m/kWh. More experienced drivers can easily get into high 5's and even 6's from time to time.

I pay about .14/kWh all inclusive. That's right at 3c/mile compared to the 12c for even a very economical 30mpg mixed car (my 4.6 includes city and hwy - so should the ICE). Now after rebates I probably paid 8K more for an EV compared to a comparably equipped car. So on that alone after 90k miles I'll be ahead. Now add in all the oil changes and additional maintenance on the vastly greater number of moving parts in a superheated environment.

And those <90000 miles (probably much less) will all be near silent, sending no money to ME tyrants, and no gas station stops. Oh and the battery will still be under warranty.

Now it's true there are trade offs. No sense buying an EV if you are a 1 car household with frequent long trips to make. But for the vast majority of us who average well under the range of EVs (used cars don't average 30k a year for a reason) for daily needs and have access to multiple cars, it's eventually going to pay for the upfront costs. The environmental benefits are a side issue to me. Of course to me so is the CBA beyond being feasible. I went that way because I like the technology and hate engine noise.