How much cheaper is an EV than a gas car over 10 years?

Over 10 years, most EV owners save $12,000–$28,000 compared to a comparable gas car. A typical driver doing 12,000 miles/year saves roughly $1,100/year on fuel and $600/year on maintenance. Over 10 years that’s $17,000 in operational savings alone. Add any state incentives and subtract any remaining purchase price premium, and the net advantage for most drivers is $12,000–$20,000. High-mileage drivers (18,000+/year) can see $25,000–$35,000 in savings.

Does EV depreciation affect the 10-year total cost calculation?

Yes, significantly. EVs historically depreciate faster than comparable gas cars, especially in years 1–3. A Tesla Model 3 loses about 40–45% of value in the first 3 years vs 30–35% for a comparable gas sedan. Over 10 years, many EVs and gas cars converge to similar residual values (15–25% of original price). The depreciation hit is mostly front-loaded. If you keep the car 8–10 years, the depreciation disadvantage shrinks considerably and the fuel/maintenance savings dominate.

What is the total cost of owning a Tesla Model 3 for 10 years?

A Tesla Model 3 RWD at $27,490 costs roughly $42,000–$48,000 total over 10 years (purchase price + 10 years of fuel/charging + maintenance, minus the residual value). A comparable Honda Accord at $29,000 runs $52,000–$60,000 over the same period. The Model 3 owner comes out $8,000–$15,000 ahead, depending on electricity and gas prices in their state. In states with cheap electricity like Washington and Idaho, the gap widens to $18,000+.

Are there states where an EV costs more than gas over 10 years?

Hawaii is the clearest case. At $0.44/kWh, the charging cost per mile rivals gas cost per mile. If electricity stays that expensive, the 10-year EV advantage shrinks to near zero or turns slightly negative for low-mileage drivers. Outside Hawaii, most states favor the EV over 10 years — even California at $0.31/kWh, because CA gas prices ($4.50+/gallon) more than offset the high electricity costs.

EV vs Gas: Total Cost Over 10 Years

The 5-year comparison is where most people look. The 10-year number is where EVs really separate from gas. Fuel and maintenance savings compound. The purchase price gap closes. And depreciation — which hurts EVs early — flattens out.

The calculator below models all of it: fuel, maintenance, depreciation, and your state’s electricity and gas prices. Select a year range to see cumulative cost by year.

EV vs Gas: 10-Year Total Cost Comparison

Midsize sedan comparison. National averages: $3.30/gal gas, $0.16/kWh electricity. 12,000 miles/year.

Cost Component	EV (10 Years)	Gas Car (10 Years)	EV Saves
Purchase Price	$27,490	$28,000	$510
Fuel (10yr)	$7,680	$19,800	$12,120
Maintenance (10yr)	$6,000	$12,000	$6,000
Residual Value (yr 10)	$6,873 (25%)	$7,840 (28%)	$967 (gas wins)
Net 10-Year Cost	$34,297	$51,960	$17,663

Tesla Model 3 RWD vs Honda Accord. Insurance excluded (comparable for both drivetrains). Source: EIA electricity rates, AAA gas prices, iSeeCars depreciation data.

Calculate Your Total Cost

EV Model

Gas Car Purchase Price ($)

Gas Car MPG

Annual Miles Driven

Your State

Ownership Period

5-Year Cost Calculator

Standard EV vs gas comparison — side-by-side 5-year totals

Fuel Savings Calculator

Annual fuel savings by state with your exact MPG and mileage

Is an EV Worth It?

Breakeven timeline and verdict for your specific situation

Maintenance Cost Calculator

EV vs gas maintenance breakdown — oil, brakes, filters, tires

EV Depreciation

Model-by-model residual values — Model Y retains 63%, Leaf 42%

Charging Costs by State

Home vs public charging rates — $0.10/kWh to $0.44/kWh

Why 10 Years Changes the Math

The 5-year comparison favors gas cars more than 10 years does. At year 5, you’re still absorbing the EV’s higher purchase price. Fuel and maintenance savings have accumulated, but not enough to completely close the gap on an EV that costs $3,000–$8,000 more upfront.

By year 10, that math flips hard. 10 years of $1,100/year fuel savings is $11,000. 10 years of $600/year maintenance savings is $6,000. Combined, that’s $17,000 in savings that completely swamps any purchase price premium. The only variable that can reverse this is living in Hawaii or another extremely high-electricity state.

Depreciation Over 10 Years

Early EV depreciation gets a lot of attention. The Nissan Leaf lost 50%+ of value in 3 years. Newer EVs hold up much better: Tesla Model 3 retains about 55–60% after 3 years, and Model Y retention beats the Honda Accord in the same period. iSeeCars 2024 data shows this narrowing clearly.

Over 10 years, residual values converge. A well-maintained gas car and a well-maintained EV both land around 15–25% of original value. The depreciation argument against EVs is weaker now than it was in 2019, and much weaker over 10 years than over 3.

State-by-State: Where the Gap Is Biggest

California: $0.31/kWh electricity, $4.80/gallon gas. You spend more to charge, but you spend way more to fuel a gas car. The EV 10-year advantage in California runs $20,000–$30,000 for an average driver. High gas prices overwhelm the electricity cost disadvantage.

Washington: $0.10/kWh. Cheapest home charging in the continental US. A Tesla Model 3 costs about $3.90 to add 100 miles of range. A 30 MPG gas car at $3.10/gallon costs $10.30 for the same distance. That gap is $0.063/mile, or roughly $756/year at 12,000 miles. Over 10 years: $7,560 in fuel savings before touching maintenance.

Hawaii is the exception. At $0.44/kWh, charging costs $0.11/mile. A 30 MPG car at $4.60/gallon costs $0.153/mile. The EV still wins on fuel but by a narrow margin. No state incentives, and the 10-year EV advantage in Hawaii can be under $5,000 — weak compared to the mainland.

Data: EIA State-Level Residential Electricity Prices, EPA Fuel Economy Ratings Database, DOE Alternative Fuels Data Center, IRS Clean Vehicle Tax Credit Schedules

Last updated: January 2025

How we calculate this · Tax credit eligibility varies by income and vehicle. Verify with your tax professional before purchase.