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EV vs PHEV vs Hybrid vs Petrol — Running Cost Comparison
Four drivetrains, one set of assumptions. Pick one of each and see what they cost per month, per year and per mile at your mileage and your local prices.
Your numbers
Change any value — results update instantlyPreparing the calculator…
$69.19 / month
Cheapest option: Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD
| Vehicle | Type | Month | Year | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model Y Long Range RWD | Battery electric | $69.19 | $830.30 | $0.069 |
| Kia Niro Plug-in Hybrid | Plug-in hybrid | $87.24 | $1,046.88 | $0.087 |
| Subaru Crosstrek Hybrid AWD | Hybrid | $119.31 | $1,431.67 | $0.119 |
| Toyota Corolla | Petrol | $125.77 | $1,509.22 | $0.126 |
monthly cost = miles ÷ efficiency × price × (1 + charging loss)
miles = 1,000
home rate = $0.1942/kWh (80% of charging)
public DC rate = $0.4700/kWh (20%)
charging loss = 10%How to read this
All four are costed on the same mileage, the same electricity price, the same fuel price and the same city/highway mix. That is the point — it removes the usual apples-to-oranges problem where each car is quoted on different assumptions.
It is still a running-cost comparison. It does not include purchase price, finance, insurance, maintenance, depreciation, tax or incentives, and it is not a whole-life ownership cost figure.
Frequently asked questions
Which drivetrain is cheapest to run?
Usually a battery-electric car charged at home. The ranking can change if you rely on public fast charging or drive mostly on the highway.
What is a utility factor?
For plug-in hybrids, the EPA's estimate of the share of miles driven on electricity.
Why is my plug-in hybrid so expensive here?
Check the home charging switch — without home charging a PHEV runs mostly on petrol.
Do you include the purchase price?
No — running cost only.
Can I share this?
Yes, via the URL.
Is this a quote?
No, an estimate.
Does winter change the ranking?
It compresses it — cold weather hurts electric range more than petrol economy. Use the winter switch to see.
Data sources. Vehicle efficiency: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov (2026 model year). Electricity prices: U.S. EIA Form 861M (residential, June 2026). Fuel prices: U.S. EIA weekly retail (week ending 2026-09-07). All figures are estimates, not quotes.