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EV vs petrol car cost calculator

Written and reviewed by Omm · Last reviewed · General information, not investment advice

Is an electric car cheaper than a petrol, diesel or CNG car? Enter how far you drive, the fuel and electricity prices, and the price of each car. The calculator shows the running cost of each, the monthly saving, how long the extra price of the electric car takes to pay back, and the total cost over the years you keep it.

km

Between 1 and 20000

years

Between 1 and 20

Petrol / diesel / CNG car

Fuel

Between 1 and 500

km

Between 1 and 60

Between 0 and 20

Between 50000 and 100000000

Electric car

kWh

Between 1 and 200

km

Between 20 and 1000

%

Between 0 and 40

Between 0 and 50

Between 0 and 100

%

Between 0 and 100

Between 0 and 20

Between 50000 and 100000000

Costs and prices

Between 0 and 10000000

Between 0 and 1000000

Between 0 and 1000000

The electric car costs ₹5,400 less to run each month, but over 5 years, including the higher price, the fuel car is still ₹1,26,000 cheaper.

Fuel car, per km

₹7.47

Electric car, per km

₹2.07

Fuel car, per month

₹7,467

Electric car, per month

₹2,067

Monthly saving with the electric car

₹5,400

Extra price of the electric car

₹4,00,000

Fuel car: total cost over 5 years

₹15,73,000

Electric car: total cost over 5 years

₹16,99,000

Price paid back after

75 months (74,074 km driven)

How it works

Monthly saving = fuel car cost per month − electric car cost per month. Payback (months) = (price of electric car − subsidy − price of fuel car) ÷ monthly saving. Total cost = price + running cost × years + other yearly costs × years

Each car’s running cost is worked out per kilometre the same way as in the car running cost calculator: fuel price over mileage for a fuel car, and battery size over range, with charging loss and a mix of home and public charging, for an electric car. Maintenance per km is added to both.

The monthly saving is the difference between the two monthly costs at the distance you drive. If the electric car costs more to buy, the payback is how many months of that saving it takes to cover the extra price, after any subsidy or discount. The distance you drive matters a great deal: the more you drive, the faster the saving builds up.

The total cost over the years you keep the car adds the purchase price, the running cost and the other yearly costs you enter, such as insurance. Resale value, loan interest, road tax, parking and battery replacement are not included, so the real gap can be larger or smaller.

Every price and mileage is an example to replace with your own. Fuel and electricity prices differ by city and change over time, and the result changes with them.

Example. Driving 1,000 km a month, the petrol car costs about ₹7,467 a month to run and the electric car about ₹2,067, a saving of ₹5,400 a month. With the electric car costing ₹4,00,000 more, that extra price is paid back after about 75 months. Over 5 years the petrol car costs about ₹15,73,000 in total and the electric car about ₹16,99,000.

Read the guide: EV vs petrol car in India: running cost, payback and what to check.

Frequently asked questions

Is an electric car cheaper than a petrol car in India?

To run, usually yes, because a unit of electricity moves the car further than the same money spent on fuel. To buy, an electric car often costs more, so whether it is cheaper overall depends on how far you drive, how long you keep it and the prices where you live. Enter your own numbers.

How long does an electric car take to pay for itself?

The payback is the extra price divided by the monthly running-cost saving. A person who drives a lot saves more each month and pays it back sooner. The calculator shows the months and the kilometres driven by then.

Does the calculator include subsidies?

You can enter a subsidy or discount on the electric car, and it is taken off the price. Schemes and amounts change and differ by state, so check what applies to the car you are buying.

What about the battery?

Battery replacement is not included. Warranties differ between makers; check the battery warranty and what a replacement would cost before deciding.

Why do the results change so much with the kilometres I drive?

Running costs scale with distance but the price difference is fixed. A person who drives few kilometres takes much longer to recover a higher purchase price from running-cost savings.

After how many kilometres does an electric car break even?

Divide the extra price of the electric car by the saving per kilometre. The calculator shows this as the payback distance and time for your figures. The more you drive each month, the sooner it arrives.

Is home charging cheaper than public charging?

Usually yes, because a unit of electricity at home generally costs less than at a public fast charger. Enter both prices and the share you expect to charge in public to see the effect on the cost per km.

Sources

Rules, rates and definitions on this page come from these official sources. Check the current position there before you decide.

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