Analysis · Case Studies

EV vs. gas case studies: 24 cities, full five-year math

Each case study follows one household in one city: a specific EV and a comparable gas or hybrid vehicle, the local utility rate, gas price, incentives, insurance and depreciation. The results differ because the inputs differ, and each page shows which inputs moved the total.

Drive Economics has no affiliation with, sponsorship from, or endorsement by any automaker, dealer, charger maker, utility or program named here.

24case studies
16states
12 · 9 · 3EV lower · gas or hybrid lower · within $500
5 yrstandard horizon
Run your own comparisonMethodology

The short answer

  • The EV has the lower five-year cost in 12 of 24 cases, gas or a hybrid has the lower cost in 9, and 3 are within about $500.
  • The largest differences come from local electricity rates and gas prices, the price gap between the two vehicles, and how quickly each model loses value.
  • An efficient hybrid is the comparison vehicle in several cases, and it narrows the fuel-cost gap more than a conventional gas car.
  • Several pages include a scenario in which a federal EV credit returns. The federal $7,500 credit ended September 30, 2025 and is not currently active (IRS); base results do not include it.

Five-year cost difference in every case study

EV minus gas or hybrid, as published. Light bars show the range across rate plans, charging habits or mileage. Click a row to open the case.

Swipe to see the full chart →

−$10k−$5k$0+$5k+$10k+$15k← Gas or hybrid cheaperEV cheaper →Rivian R1T vs. F-150 PlatinumBoulder, CO+$14,528VW ID.4 vs. TiguanPortland, OR+$8,935Honda Prologue vs. PassportSan Diego, CA+$8,012Mustang Mach-E vs. EscapeDetroit, MI+$6,797Equinox EV vs. EquinoxMiami, FL+$6,040Subaru Solterra vs. ForesterGolden, CO+$5,682Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson HybridChicago, IL+$3,466 to +$5,540Equinox EV vs. EquinoxPhoenix, AZ+$3,159Tesla Model Y vs. RAV4Denver, CO+$3,103Lucid Air vs. BMW 540iMenlo Park, CA+$1,622 to +$3,962Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson HybridPasadena, CA+$1,388 to +$2,516Genesis GV60 vs. GV70St. Louis, MO$0 to +$1,107Kia EV6 vs. SportageAtlanta, GA+$567Ioniq 5 vs. TucsonSeattle, WA+$370Ioniq 6 vs. Accord LXChicago, IL−$118Cadillac Lyriq vs. XT5Naples, FL−$706Nissan Ariya vs. RogueChicago, IL−$1,031Toyota bZ4X vs. RAV4 HybridAustin, TX−$2,505Tesla Model 3 vs. Camry HybridBoston, MA−$3,558Ioniq 6 vs. Elantra HybridWestchester, NY−$3,981 to −$3,803Nissan Leaf vs. Corolla HybridColumbus, OH · 7 yr−$6,669 to −$4,072F-150 Lightning vs. F-150 XLTDallas, TX−$5,311Kia EV9 vs. TellurideCharlotte, NC−$5,750Silverado EV vs. SilveradoNashville, TN−$9,172
Totals include purchase price net of incentives, depreciation, fuel or electricity, insurance and maintenance. Columbus uses a 7-year horizon. See the methodology.

All case studies

Case studyColorado

Rivian R1T vs. F-150 Platinum: 5-Year Cost in Boulder

Rivian R1T vs. Ford F-150 Platinum in Boulder. Xcel EV Accelerate + $4.33/gal + CO $1,500 truck credit deliver a $14,528 lower five-year cost for the Rivian.

EV costs $14,528 lessRead →Case studyOregon

VW ID.4 vs. Tiguan: 5-Year Cost in Portland

VW ID.4 vs. Tiguan in Portland. High Oregon gas, PGE EV Time-of-Day rate, and Oregon's $2,500 rebate deliver a large lower five-year cost for the EV.

EV costs $8,935 lessRead →Case studyCalifornia

Honda Prologue vs. Passport: 5-Year Cost in San Diego

Honda Prologue vs. Passport in San Diego. SDG&E EV-TOU-5 at 12.3¢/kWh Super Off-Peak plus $5.69/gal gas produce a $8,012 lower five-year cost for the Prologue.

EV costs $8,012 lessRead →Case studyMichigan

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs. Escape: 5-Year Cost in Detroit

Ford Mustang Mach-E vs. Escape in Detroit. DTE Overnight Savers + $4.23/gal gas — same brand, same footprint, wildly different economics. EV costs less.

EV costs $6,797 lessRead →Case studyFlorida

Chevy Equinox EV vs. Equinox: 5-Year Cost in Miami

Chevy Equinox EV vs. Equinox gas in Miami. FPL's EVolution Home subscription drops 5-yr electricity to $750. EV costs $6,040 less.

EV costs $6,040 lessRead →Case studyColorado

Subaru Solterra vs. Forester: 5-Year Cost in Golden, CO

Subaru Solterra vs. Forester Wilderness in Golden, CO. $4.50/gal gas + Xcel EV Accelerate carry the outcome; CO credit dropped to $750. Solterra costs less.

EV costs $5,682 lessRead →Case studyIllinois

Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson Hybrid: 5-Year Cost in Chicago

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson Hybrid near Chicago: ComEd Rate BEST, the Illinois EV rebate and charging discipline decide the 5-year cost gap.

EV costs $3,466–$5,540 lessRead →Case studyArizona

Chevy Equinox EV vs. Equinox: 5-Year Cost in Phoenix

Chevy Equinox EV vs. Equinox gas in Phoenix. SRP's ultra-cheap overnight EV rate delivers a large lower five-year cost for the EV in a state without EV credits.

EV costs $3,159 lessRead →Case studyColorado

Tesla Model Y vs. Toyota RAV4: 5-Year Cost in Denver

Tesla Model Y vs. Toyota RAV4 in Denver. Xcel EV Accelerate at about 3¢/kWh and $4.51 gas: the Model Y costs $3,103 less after Colorado’s credit fell.

EV costs $3,103 lessRead →Case studyCalifornia

Lucid Air vs. BMW 540i: 5-Year Cost in the Bay Area

Lucid Air Pure vs. BMW 540i xDrive in Menlo Park: Lucid’s efficiency, $5.15 gas and PG&E rates decide the 5-year luxury sedan comparison.

EV costs $1,622–$3,962 lessRead →Case studyCalifornia

Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson Hybrid: 5-Year Cost in Los Angeles

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson Hybrid in Pasadena across three SCE rate plans. The marketed EV rate costs more than default TOU for typical mileage.

EV costs $1,388–$2,516 lessRead →Case studyMissouri

Genesis GV60 vs. GV70: 5-Year Cost in St. Louis

Genesis GV60 vs. GV70 in St. Louis over 5 years: cash flow favors the EV, but depreciation-inclusive total cost is essentially tied on Ameren rates.

Essentially evenRead →Case studyGeorgia

Kia EV6 vs. Sportage: 5-Year Cost in Atlanta

Kia EV6 vs. Kia Sportage in Atlanta. Georgia Power's exceptional Plug-In EV rate barely tips the outcome toward the EV — without it, gas costs less.

EV costs $567 lessRead →Case studyWashington

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson: 5-Year Cost in Seattle

Hyundai Ioniq 5 vs. Tucson in Seattle. Seattle City Light's cheap electricity plus WA's EV sales tax exemption make the math essentially a coin flip.

Essentially evenRead →Case studyIllinois

Ioniq 6 vs. Accord and Elantra Hybrid in Chicago

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs. Honda Accord and Elantra Hybrid in Chicago over 5 years: even cheap ComEd overnight power can’t close the gap to an efficient hybrid.

Essentially evenRead →Case studyFlorida

Cadillac Lyriq vs. XT5: 5-Year Cost in Naples, FL

Cadillac Lyriq vs. XT5 in Naples, FL. Luxury EV maintenance savings evaporate at Y4-Y5. XT5 costs $706 less — essentially tied over 5 years.

XT5 costs $706 lessRead →Case studyIllinois

Nissan Ariya vs. Rogue: 5-Year Cost in Chicago

Nissan Ariya vs. Rogue in Chicago. Cold-weather range loss, weak Ariya retention, and a $7K MSRP gap overwhelm IL rebate + ComEd rates — gas costs less.

Rogue costs $1,031 lessRead →Case studyTexas

Toyota bZ4X vs. RAV4 Hybrid: 5-Year Cost in Austin

Toyota bZ4X vs. RAV4 XLE Hybrid in Austin. Austin Energy rates and a Power Partner credit don’t offset a 40 MPG hybrid: the RAV4 costs $2,505 less.

RAV4 Hybrid costs $2,505 lessRead →Case studyMassachusetts

Tesla Model 3 vs. Camry Hybrid: 5-Year Cost in Boston

Tesla Model 3 vs. Toyota Camry Hybrid in Boston. Eversource rates + 47 MPG hybrid + low mileage — Camry Hybrid costs less in a state with an EV rebate.

Camry Hybrid costs $3,558 lessRead →Case studyNew York

Ioniq 6 vs. Elantra Hybrid: 5-Year Cost in Westchester

Hyundai Ioniq 6 vs. Elantra Hybrid in Westchester, NY. Con Ed's two EV programs land within $200 over 5 years — but skipping both costs $6,421.

Elantra Hybrid costs $3,803–$3,981 lessRead →Case studyOhio

Nissan Leaf vs. Corolla Hybrid: 7-Year Cost in Columbus

Nissan Leaf S+ vs. Toyota Corolla Hybrid in Columbus over 7 years: AEP Ohio rates, battery cooling and the depreciation gap at the affordable tier.

Corolla Hybrid costs $4,072–$6,669 lessRead →Case studyTexas

F-150 Lightning vs. Gas F-150: 5-Year Cost in Dallas

Ford F-150 Lightning vs. gas F-150 XLT in Dallas. No TX state credit, cheap retail EV rates, $2.89/gal gas. Gas F-150 costs $5,311 less.

F-150 XLT costs $5,311 lessRead →Case studyNorth Carolina

Kia EV9 vs. Telluride: 5-Year Cost in Charlotte

Kia EV9 vs. Kia Telluride in Charlotte. No NC state credit, federal expired, Duke Energy moderate rates. Telluride costs $5,750 less.

Telluride costs $5,750 lessRead →Case studyTennessee

Silverado EV vs. Gas Silverado: 5-Year Cost in Nashville

Chevy Silverado EV vs. gas Silverado in Nashville. No TN state credit, federal expired. Gas Silverado costs ~$9,200 less — MSRP gap is the story.

Silverado costs $9,172 lessRead →

About these case studies

Results are as published on each page, including later corrections. Households are illustrative profiles built from public data, not real customers. Prices, rates and incentives are dated on each page.

Drive Economics has no affiliation with, sponsorship from, or endorsement by any automaker, dealer, charger maker, utility or program named here.