🚗 EV vs Gas: What Actually Costs More?

With gas prices staying volatile and EV adoption rising across Canada, one question keeps coming up:

👉 Is driving electric actually cheaper than gas?

Short answer:
👉 Yes — in most cases, EVs are significantly cheaper over time.

Let’s break it down using real Canadian numbers 👇

📊 5-Year Cost Comparison (Canada Average)

Assumptions:

  • 20,000 km/year driving

  • Gas price: $1.65/L

  • Electricity: $0.13/kWh

  • Gas car: 8.9 L/100km

  • EV: 18 kWh/100km

⛽ Gas Car (5 Years)

  • Annual fuel cost: ~$2,937

  • 5-year fuel cost: $14,685

  • Maintenance (oil, brakes, fluids): ~$6,000

👉 Total: ~$20,685

⚡ Electric Vehicle (5 Years)

  • Annual charging cost: ~$468

  • 5-year charging cost: $2,340

  • Maintenance: ~$2,000

👉 Total: ~$4,340

💰 Total Savings Over 5 Years

👉 EV Savings: ~$16,000+

That’s not just a small difference — that’s a massive ownership advantage.

🔢 Run Your Own Numbers (Interactive Calculator)

Want to see your exact savings?

👉 Use our calculator here:
👉 https://usedelectriccarscanada.ca/calculators

Adjust:

  • Your yearly driving

  • Local gas prices

  • Electricity rates

⛽ Fuel vs Charging Cost (The Real Difference)

Gas:

  • Prices fluctuate constantly

  • Expensive in BC, Ontario, and Atlantic Canada

  • Long-term upward trend

Electricity:

  • Much more stable

  • Significantly cheaper per km

  • Even cheaper with off-peak home charging

👉 Learn how charging actually works in Canada:
👉 https://usedelectriccarscanada.ca/charging-costs/home-charging-guide

🔧 Maintenance Costs (Where EVs Really Win)

Gas vehicles require:

  • Oil changes

  • Transmission servicing

  • Exhaust system repairs

  • More frequent brake replacement

EVs:

  • No oil changes

  • Fewer moving parts

  • Regenerative braking reduces brake wear

👉 See a real-world example:
👉 https://usedelectriccarscanada.ca/the-breakdown/the-breakdown-tesla-model-3

❄️ What About Winter in Canada?

Yes — EVs lose range in cold temperatures.

👉 Typically 20–40% range loss

But here’s the key:

  • It doesn’t dramatically increase costs

  • Electricity is still far cheaper than gas

👉 Full breakdown here:
👉 https://usedelectriccarscanada.ca/winter-climate/winter-range-loss

⚠️ When Gas Might Be Cheaper

EVs don’t win in every situation:

  • You drive very little (under ~8,000 km/year)

  • You rely only on expensive public fast charging

  • You buy a higher-priced EV with no incentives

🧠 Real-World Example (Canada)

Driver A (Gas Car)

  • ~$250/month fuel

  • ~$100/month maintenance

👉 ~$350/month

Driver B (EV)

  • ~$40/month charging

  • ~$30/month maintenance

👉 ~$70/month

💥 Monthly Savings:

👉 ~$280/month
👉 ~$16,800 over 5 years

🏁 Final Verdict

In Canada, EVs are almost always cheaper to own long-term.

🥇 EV Wins On:

  • Energy costs

  • Maintenance

  • Total ownership cost

⚠️ Gas Only Wins If:

  • You drive very little

  • You don’t have access to charging

🔗 Sources & Further Reading

Here are credible, real sources to support this data: