ThrottleJournalEV vs Petrol vs Diesel: Which Is Cheaper to Run?
An electric car costs more to buy but much less to run, and the real question is whether the savings are big enough to matter for your driving. The answer depends on how far you drive, what you pay for fuel and electricity, and where you charge. This guide compares the three fuel types per kilometre, shows a worked example with a break-even calculation, and explains who actually benefits. Run your own numbers in the calculator below.
Enter your monthly distance, fuel and electricity prices, and each car’s price and efficiency to see running costs and the break-even point.
EV vs petrol vs diesel cost comparison
Petrol car
Diesel car
Electric car
How running cost is calculated
Petrol or diesel cost per km = Fuel price ÷ Mileage + Maintenance per km
Electric cost per km = Electricity price ÷ Efficiency + Maintenance per km
For an EV, the electricity price is a blend of home and public charging. Public fast charging often costs far more per kWh than home electricity, so the share of public charging changes the result.
Worked example: 1,000 km a month
These are the calculator’s default assumptions, and you should replace them with your own:
| Petrol | Diesel | Electric | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | ₹10,00,000 | ₹11,50,000 | ₹15,00,000 |
| Efficiency | 15 km/l | 19 km/l | 6 km/kWh |
| Energy price | ₹100/l | ₹90/l | ₹8/kWh home, ₹18/kWh public |
| Maintenance per km | ₹0.70 | ₹0.80 | ₹0.40 |
The EV assumes 20% of charging is done in public and 80% at home.
| Cost per km | Per month | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Petrol | ₹7.37 | ₹7,367 | ₹88,400 |
| Diesel | ₹5.54 | ₹5,537 | ₹66,442 |
| Electric | ₹2.07 | ₹2,067 | ₹24,800 |
The EV costs about ₹5,300 a month less to run than the petrol car, and about ₹3,470 less than the diesel.
Does the EV pay back its higher price?
Break-even = Extra purchase price ÷ Monthly running-cost saving
- EV vs petrol: ₹5,00,000 ÷ ₹5,300 = about 94 months (7.9 years)
- EV vs diesel: ₹3,50,000 ÷ ₹3,470 = about 101 months (8.4 years)
Over a 5-year plan with purchase price included, the totals are about ₹14.42 lakh for petrol, ₹14.82 lakh for diesel and ₹16.24 lakh for the EV. At 1,000 km a month, the petrol car is the cheapest overall.
How distance changes the answer
Break-even time against the petrol car, with the same assumptions:
| Distance per month | EV vs petrol break-even |
|---|---|
| 500 km | about 15.7 years |
| 1,000 km | about 7.9 years |
| 1,500 km | about 5.2 years |
| 2,000 km | about 3.9 years |
| 3,000 km | about 2.6 years |
So the EV only comes out ahead within 5 years if you drive roughly 1,600 km a month or more against petrol, and roughly 1,700 km a month or more against diesel. Taxi drivers and high-distance commuters benefit most. Occasional drivers usually don’t recover the extra cost.
What if you charge only at home?
With 100% home charging, the EV’s cost per km drops to about ₹1.73, and the break-even against petrol falls to about 7.4 years at 1,000 km a month. Access to cheap home charging matters a lot.
What the comparison leaves out
The calculator compares running costs and purchase prices. Several things can shift the result:
- Resale value. Used EV values are less certain than petrol and diesel values, and can swing either way.
- Battery life and replacement. Most EVs carry a long battery warranty, but out-of-warranty replacement can be expensive.
- Subsidies, tax and registration benefits, which differ by state and country and change over time.
- Insurance, which can cost more for EVs.
- Charging convenience. Without home or workplace charging, an EV is harder to live with.
- Fuel price changes over the years you own the car.
Use our total cost of ownership calculator to include insurance, servicing and resale value.
Who should choose what?
EV: high-distance drivers with home or workplace charging, and people who plan to keep the car for many years.
Diesel: high-distance drivers without reliable charging, and those who do long highway runs.
Petrol: low or moderate distance drivers, and city drivers who want a lower purchase price.
6 ways to lower running costs, whatever you drive
- Charge at home at off-peak rates where possible.
- Keep tyres at the right pressure. It helps petrol, diesel and electric cars alike.
- Drive smoothly. Gentle acceleration saves energy in every car.
- Plan long trips around charging or fuel prices.
- Service on time.
- Check your real efficiency. Use our mileage calculator and enter your own figures here.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EV really cheaper than petrol?
Per kilometre, yes, often by a wide margin. Whether it is cheaper overall depends on its higher purchase price and how far you drive.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Multiply the units your car needs (distance ÷ km per kWh) by your electricity tariff. At 6 km/kWh and ₹8 per unit, home charging costs about ₹1.33 per km.
Is diesel still worth it?
For high-distance drivers it can be, because of better mileage. But diesel cars cost more to buy, and rules on diesel vehicles vary, so check local regulations.
What if I mostly use public fast chargers?
Your cost per km rises a lot. Use the share of public charging field in the calculator to see the impact.
Does the calculator include subsidies?
No. If a subsidy applies, subtract it from the EV purchase price before you calculate.
How long do EV batteries last?
Many manufacturers offer warranties of around 8 years or a set distance, but real life varies with climate, charging habits and usage. Check the warranty terms of the specific model.
The calculator and examples on this page are estimates for general information. Prices, subsidies and efficiency vary, and resale value, battery replacement, insurance and road tax are not included. Read our Disclaimer before making a purchase decision.