How does and electric car compare in operating costs to an efficient gas, or hybrid car?

Just consider electricity and amortized battery costs versus gasoline and basic repair.



Also, will the comparison remain valid for years to come? Or will the relative cost of electricity and gasoline (and taxes) change significantly to alter cost benefit?How does and electric car compare in operating costs to an efficient gas, or hybrid car?
There is no one "Electric car" We can take the Nissan leaf as the first Truly production electric car and suggest that others in the future will tend to match or better this performance. In the short term most electric vehicles will be slightly more expensive when they come to marked in the next 2 years.

The Nissan leaf is priced at about 32,000. With rebates this comes to about 25,000 in the US and in some states with additional incentives like California this comes to about $20,000. The battery costs around $9000. So in California the base vehicle is costing you about $11,000. Over the course of the warranty period the vehicle is likely to deprecate about 50% of its value compared to a hybrid or petrol vehicle with will lose closer to 75% of its value.

The battery is under warranty for 8 years or 100,000 miles. If we amortize the cost of the battery over the warranty period this comes to $.09 per mile. At the national average for electricity of approximately $ .12 per KW hr electricity for the vehicle will cost approximately $ .04 per mile. This total of the battery and electricity is approximately $ .13 per mile which is about equal to the operating costs of a petrol vehicle that gets 22 miles to the gallon.

At the end of the warranty period it is likely you can replace the battery for double the performance at half the cost.

Hybrid and gas vehicles are likely to cost more, up to four times as much and mileage will vary. Average annual repair costs for petrol vehicles is difficult to find with one source suggesting $2265 per year.
Let's say it costs $4,000 for a replacement battery at say 100,000, and it costs $0.025 per mile for the electricity. That would make your total cost for 100,000 miles $6,500.

Now assuming gasoline cost $5.00 per gallon and the car say 30 mpg city, yes there are cars out there that will get that and have the same seating as a electric car. That means you'd use 3,334 gallons of gasoline at a cost $16,670 at $5,00 or $13,336 at $4.00 per gallon.

That means you will be $6,836 to $10,170 ahead but here's the rub, most electric cars cost much more that a gas powered models, For example a Toyota Prius cost about 22,800 base price a toyota corolla costs about 15,600 that gives you a diffrence of $7,200 which mean until gasoline goes over $4,00 you lose money on an car.

Now don't forget gasoline includes road tax, right now electric cars are getting a pass but at some point they will be charged a tax per mile and that will mean gas will have to cost even more to run an electric are.How does and electric car compare in operating costs to an efficient gas, or hybrid car?
"Nissan estimates that the Leaf's 5 year operating cost will be US$1,800 versus US$6,000 for a gasoline car." - wikipedia



I'd guess the comparison will change substantially. Battery costs may come down, electricity and gas prices will rise.
i have en electric car. fuel costs about 2.5 cents per mile to run. versus about 5 times that for gasoline. in 2.5 years(8300 miles) it has needed no repairs or maintenance. only battery charging. i baby the batts, and they show no signs of giving up anytime soon, despite the fact that i have saved the value of an entire string already.



i drive past gas stations at 3.25 per gallon and laugh.How does and electric car compare in operating costs to an efficient gas, or hybrid car?
At THIS time the cost/benefit ratio is in favor of gas over either of the others.

I am NOT a fortune teller, so I can't answer the other part.