Electric vehicles have been sold as the best way to protect the environment since they reduce emissions, need less maintenance, and don’t guzzle up fuel like normal cars do. Despite all their benefits, you might wonder whether charging them is actually cheaper than regular vehicles.
Luckily, you don’t have to spend years doing that kind of research, because one YouTuber already did it for all of us by keeping a detailed record of his Tesla’s charging costs versus the fuel needed for a BMW. His results were definitely eye-opening.
Teslas are often seen as a computer on wheels, but many buyers often wonder whether their high price point is actually justified or not
A YouTuber named Andy Slye makes videos exploring different kinds of technology, especially ones that can save people’s time, energy, and money
In one of his videos, the content creator mentioned that he bought a Tesla Model 3 in 2018 and quickly became a top referrer for the car, motivating over 1,000 people to buy it. This Kentucky native has since been keeping a log of the cost of charging his Tesla at home.
Slye had previously owned a BMW 3 Series, and then one day decided to upgrade to an electric vehicle. He said that since he drives around 400 miles a week, he built a logbook spanning 75,000 miles that detailed how costly it was to charge the vehicle compared with the fuelling costs for his BMW.
Andy detailed exactly how much electricity his Tesla used after covering 75,000 miles
He said the car used 18,656 kWh of electricity and that, if you count the energy lost while charging or idling, the total would be 20,728 kWh. The content creator also mentioned that energy prices in Kentucky are generally low and that he had supercharging credits, so he only spent $54, which brought his costs down significantly to $1,404 over 6 years.
On the flip side, if Slye had to cover the fuel costs for his BMW 3 Series, he would have had to spend $9,353 across the exact same distance.
Using an electric vehicle essentially saved Andy at least $8,000 in fuel costs
Even though the YouTuber was trying to show exactly how useful his Tesla was for him, his low energy costs could be because he charged the car at home overnight during cheaper “off-peak” hours. His supercharging credits also worked to his advantage.
That’s why Andy acknowledged that electricity costs can vary by geographic location. This didn’t stop him from pointing out that since he got the EV, he'd saved over $25,000 by not having to pay for fuel. That’s probably why his plans for the future include using these savings to buy a solar roof for his house so that he can charge his Tesla for free.
Just because the cost of charging an electric vehicle might be cheaper, it might not always be the solution for everyone
That’s why EV experts at Amber explained that as long as the car is up and running, it might help save a person on fuel costs, but once its battery needs to be replaced, that can be a huge financial drain. The cost to replace a Tesla Model 3 battery is estimated at around $11,000-14,000, which doesn’t even include sales tax or labor.
If owners need a replacement after their warranty expires, it can be costly, especially if they choose the 100 kWh battery, which averages around $20,000-22,000. The benefit of this battery is extended range, better efficiency, faster charging, and a new warranty.
Apart from the overall cost of a Tesla, buyers also need to make sure charging ports are easily accessible
Everybody usually gets swayed by the look and features of the vehicle without realizing that charging an EV can take a lot of time. According to the Indy Auto Man dealership, if a person is using a 120V outlet, they might get 2-5 miles of range per hour, and a full charge could take almost 40–50 hours.
With a 240V home charger, they’ll get 10 to 20 miles per hour, with charging time cut to 4–10 hours. A supercharger, though, can get the battery to 80% within just 20 minutes to an hour and adds nearly 240 miles. Since Teslas take a while to recharge, it’s important that folks have ports nearby. Unfortunately, this makes it less accessible for folks in rural areas who don’t have constant access to an indoor outlet, or who might need to go far just to charge their car.
A big concern people have about using electric vehicles is that they could add to greenflation. According to researchers, this concept refers to the process in which production methods that use low-carbon technologies require costly investments, which could increase the cost of each unit produced and later require even more expensive materials.
In this case, if electricity prices are rising and EVs are being pushed as the better option for folks, people have to grapple with rising costs, which at some point might become too extreme to handle, even if it's for the greater good.
Ultimately, when it comes down to whether people should even opt for a Tesla or a normal gas car, a lot of factors play into the decision
According to AYVENS, a global leader in sustainable mobility, choosing an electric vehicle depends on a person’s lifestyle, budget, and driving habits. Folks who can't charge their car indoors might find it hard to take their EV somewhere and wait for it to reach full capacity. In those cases, a regular vehicle might be the best option, even if gas is a bit pricier.
It can definitely feel tempting to think about the allure of Teslas, especially if someone like Andy Slye is advocating so passionately for them. In the end, it's your choice and shouldn't come at the cost of your comfort; after all, there are many other ways to help the environment besides buying a certain kind of car.
What are your thoughts on this gas versus charging experiment, and what kind of vehicle do you generally prefer? We’d love to hear your input on this.
Most folks felt that charging the EV was a waste of time as compared to just filling up a car with gas, while some people shared their positive experiences with electric vehicles
