📊 Tesla Cost of Ownership vs. Gas Car
📅 Ownership Timeframe
Deciding whether to buy an electric vehicle often comes down to the math. Over Vegas Carmen's first 52,000 miles in a Long Range Model 3, Vegas Carmen tracked every single expense to see if EVs actually live up to the hype. This calculator lets you compare the true costs of charging, maintenance, and insurance to see exactly how much you might save by ditching gas.
⚡ Fuel & Charging
Charging is where you'll see the most obvious savings. Remember that supercharging on road trips costs significantly more than charging at home, which was about half the cost for her setup. As Vegas Carmen puts it, in 2023 she spent $1,679. Gas would have cost her $4,240, so that year she saved $2,565.
Adjust the total charging and fuel estimates below based on your own expected mileage, local electricity rates, and gas prices.
🔧 Maintenance Costs
EV maintenance is incredibly minimal because they lack complex moving parts. As Vegas Carmen notes, between the air filters, rotating their tires, and the windshield washer fluid, maintenance has cost them a total of $158.
A gas car over that same 50,000-mile stretch averages around $2,000 in routine oil changes, brake pads, and standard upkeep.
🛡️ Insurance Premiums
Insurance is the one area people warn you about with Teslas, but Vegas Carmen actually saved money here too. As Carmen points out, their upcoming premium for this month here in October is $93.79, and that's based off a safety score of 99.
An average gas car costs about $150/month, though Tesla's slow customer service is a trade-off you have to accept for the lower rate.
🔗 Resources & Discounts
Resources and Links
🔗 See Also
Based on content by Carmen on Vegas Carmen (YouTube).
Original: TESLA vs GAS: TRUE Costs After 50k Miles
📊 Results
Gas Total Cost
Tesla Total Cost
Total Savings
The Verdict
Go Electric ⚡
Calculator updated by heyfinfam (v26.8.6) · View history
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