Is EV Charging Cheaper Than Gas? Find Out

Through all the excitement and flash of the automotive world, the average customer only really cares about one thing: how much does the damn car cost? While new EVs are taking over the streets, people are wondering how everything stacks up to the gas systems they’re used to. How much is insurance? How much does maintenance cost? Is EV charging cheaper than gas? Well, in this article we’ll be covering that last point. Let’s dive into the cost, benefits, and potential savings of making the switch from gas to electric.

The Cost of EV Charging vs. Gas

EV Charging Costs: The Basics

Charging an EV isn’t just about plugging in, crossing your fingers, and hoping for the best. Charging location is just as important as how much juice you need. Home charging is the secret to maximizing the return on your dollar, averaging about $0.13 per kilowatt-hour (kWh). To put that into perspective, driving 100 miles would cost you about $4. When you compare that to public charging stations, where prices can swing from $0.20 to $0.60 per kWh, you can see that making the investment in a home charger starts saving you piles of money quickly. NACS charge ports, or fast charging stations, get you back on the road fast, but at a steeper premium.

Comparing to Gasoline Costs

Gasoline may be the old guard, but it’s still in the game, and it’s not going anywhere any time soon. Price comparison between the two energy sources is natural. So, let’s do some quick math: If you’re shelling out $3 per gallon and your ride gets 25 miles per gallon, you’re looking at $12 for every 100 miles. That’s 3X the cost of electricity for the same distance – and that’s when gas is stable.

Cost Savings Over Time

In the long game, EVs trump gas cars handily in cost savings. Fewer moving parts mean less maintenance, and the disparity in fuel costs becomes a more noticeable plus the more you drive.

Benefits of Switching to Electric Vehicles

Outside of the cost and environmental benefits, switching to an EV is fun. They give you instant torque and acceleration that is unmatched by even the most powerful gasoline supercars. You can get the thrill of high performance at a fraction of the cost. Another dimension of this is the fact that you can convert your favorite traditional ICE car into an EV by changing the propulsion system. Woah, right? Keep scrolling.

Convert a Gas Car to Electric

Can You Convert a Gas Car to Electric?

The answer is a resounding yes – but it’s not a project for the faint of heart. There are reliable conversion shops across the country, but it’s a serious play. Replacing your entire gas system with an electric one takes time and money, but the payoff – both financially and environmentally – is substantial. Not only does conversion increase the resale value of your car, it reduces your carbon footprint by 10X in comparison to purchasing a brand new car.

Conversion Considerations

Conversion can cost from ~$16,000 to over $100,000, depending on the vehicle and desired component range. It’s a job for those with serious mechanical and electrical knowhow, or the means to hire professionals. However, you can receive rebates and incentives from the government – depending on your state of residence – in order to help recoup your investment after the fact. These incentives, in combination with the increased valuation of your ride, go a long way in maintaining and even increasing the position of your car in the resale market.

When the dust settles, EV charging emerges as the champion of financially efficient propulsion. On average, you can get to where you need to go for a third of the cost in comparison to gasoline. Financial perks aside, EVs offer awesome and exciting performance enhancements to traditional gas cars, so converting a gas car to electric is a move that will quickly emerge into popular culture. Get ahead of the trend and make the call to improve your quality of life – before the train leaves the station.