EVs feel cheaper to run. They usually are. But the math depends on three numbers most people skip.
If you have ever stared at a number on a form and wondered where it came from, you are not alone. EVs feel cheaper to run. They usually are. But the math depends on three numbers most people skip.
Cost/km = (kWh/100km × electricity price) / 100. 18 kWh/100km × $0.15/kWh = $0.027/km.
Petrol car: (L/100km × $/L) / 100. 7 L/100km × $1.50 = $0.105/km — about 4× the EV.
Public DC chargers run $0.30–0.60/kWh — closes the gap to petrol significantly.
What about maintenance savings? EVs save ~50% on routine maintenance — no oil, fewer brake jobs, no transmission service.
Insurance cost? Often 15–20% higher for EVs — repair costs of batteries are the reason.
The math is the easy part. Acting on what it tells you is where the real win lives.