Quote:
Originally Posted by sheepdog 44
I just did the math and it turns out that gas is so cheap right now that my 01 Insight costs less to operate than an electric car. If you get at least 54.4mpg, at $2.22 per gallon of gas and 14.07¢ per KWH of electricity, then you are equal to the fueling cost of an electric car.
At ~65mpg my car costs me a little over half a cent less at 3.4¢ per mile vs 4¢ per mile. Gas would need to rise 48¢ per gallon before i have an equal operating cost to an electric car. But even at current gas prices my Moms Prius could easily hit 54.4mpg or be not far off with her commute of nice rolling hills.
It's not something you think about because it's usually assumed an electric car costs less to operate than a gas or hybrid car. In my case it does not right now, and if you drive a Prius you might be close. Moral of the story is enjoy cheap gas while it lasts, it won't be for long.
The math:
2.22 / ((.1407 x 33.04) / 114) = 54.44
current gas price / (( cents per KWH x KWH in a gallon of gas) / Combined epa of Nissan Leaf) = the mpg you would need to equal the fueling cost of an EV
You can find out what your equivalent mpg goal for fueling cost would be by pasting this into google 2.22 / ((.1407 x 33.04) / 114) and changing for your mpg and kwh electricity costs.
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It is more accurate to do the math for an electric car on its own:
My lifetime average in our Leaf is 141.8MPGe = 237.6 Wh/mile. The official EPA equivalency is 33.7kWh / gallon of gasoline. Using your 14.07¢ / kWh price, that is 4.2 miles / kWh. So 14.07¢ / 4.2 = 3.35¢ / mile.
Also, you need to add in regular maintenance costs; which is essentially $0 for an EV. Angie's List says oil changes average $46, so 46 / 5000 = ~0.92¢ / mile. At 3000 miles, that is ~1.53¢ / mile. Tuneups cost more.