EV Cost of Ownership
Is an electric car worth it?
Purchase premium vs running costs, home charging vs public, and the break-even point where an EV actually starts paying you back.
Compare your actual cost
- 1. Hybrid fuel + upkeep per year$1,950 upkeep + 12,000 mi x $0.095 fuel/mi$3,090
- 2. EV electricity + upkeep per year$1,200 upkeep + 12,000 mi x $0.042 electricity/mi$1,704
- 3. You save per year$3,090 minus $1,704$1,386
- 4. Over 5 years$1,386 x 5 years$6,930
Running costs only. In this model the EV is cheaper from year 1, so savings start immediately. See the full methodology
The teardowns to read first
Is an Electric Car Worth It
An EV costs more upfront but far less to run, so whether it pays off depends on how you drive and charge.
Read the teardown 02Cost analysisElectric Car vs Gas Car
This teardown runs the real electric car vs gas car cost math: the upfront premium, cost per mile, five-year total cost of ownership, and the break-even year.
Read the teardown 03Cost analysisHow Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home
This teardown prices the ongoing energy cost of charging an EV: the cents-per-mile formula, monthly cost by mileage, and home versus public versus gasoline.
Read the teardown 04Cost analysisHow Much Does an Electric Car Cost in 2026
This teardown prices what an electric car actually costs to buy: illustrative new and used tiers, why the upfront premium exists, incentives, and leasing.
Read the teardown 05Ownership analysisHow Long Do EV Batteries Actually Last
This teardown covers how long EV batteries really last: actual degradation rates, warranty floors, what truly ages a pack, and why replacement is rare.
Read the teardown 06Cost analysisElectric Car Cost Per Mile vs Gas
This teardown runs the electric car cost per mile vs gas math: the EV formula, the gas formula, home versus public charging, and a per-mile comparison table.
Read the teardownFind your question by topic
Every teardown, newest first
Buying playbookHow to Buy a Used EV (What to Check)
This teardown shows how to buy the best used EV: why depreciation makes it a value, the battery health check that matters most, and the red flags to skip.
Read the teardown
How it worksEV Range Extenders
This teardown explains how a range extender for an EV works, what an EREV and a PHEV really are, and whether the small onboard generator is worth its weight.
Range playbookElectric Cars With the Longest Range (2026)
This teardown maps the electric cars with the longest range in 2026, from 300 mile mainstream EVs to flagships near 500, and how real driving reshapes it.
Charging playbookHow to Find Free EV Charging (2026 Guide)
This teardown maps where free EV charging exists, from malls and workplaces to hotels and dealerships, plus the apps to find it and whether it is worth it.
Selling playbookHow to Sell a Used Electric Car (7 Steps)
This teardown walks you through seven steps to sell a used electric car, from pricing on battery health to closing the sale safely, so you get a fair price.
Charging playbookHow to Use a Public EV Charger (6 Steps)
This teardown walks you through how to use a public EV charger in six steps: finding a station, matching the connector, plugging in, starting a session, and paying.
ReferenceEV Charging Reference
This reference maps EV charging end to end: the three levels and their power, the J1772, CCS, NACS, and CHAdeMO connectors, and the kWh divided by kW time rule.
How it worksHow Does Regenerative Braking Work
This teardown explains what regenerative braking is and how it works: the motor that becomes a generator, one-pedal driving, the range gain, and the limits.
Ownership playbookHow to Lease an Electric Car (7 Steps)
This teardown walks you through how to lease an electric car in seven steps: budget, lease terms, incentives, dealer quotes, negotiating cap cost, and delivery.
The EV reading path
From sticker shock to break-even
Purchase premium, charging costs, maintenance, depreciation, and the payoff point, in order.
Follow the pathQuick answers
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Hands-on EV cost teardowns, from real numbers, not press releases.
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Every figure in our teardowns is illustrative and varies by car, driving, rates, and where you live. Incentives and EV tax credits change often and carry eligibility rules, so confirm the current terms before you count on them. More about how we research
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