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EV Cost

Pick any electric vehicle to see the total estimated cost of ownership. Depreciation, financing, electricity, insurance, maintenance, and incentives — every line item, honest math, priced to your ZIP.

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

California

Electric vehicle

Your EV

$

Auto-fills when you pick a trim. Editable.

$

Auto-fills from charging equipment selection. Editable. One-time cost.

−$

US federal EV tax credit ended Sept 30, 2025. Enter your country's national or federal EV subsidy if applicable.

−$

Auto-fills based on your ZIP and vehicle type. Editable.

$

Auto-fills when you pick a vehicle. Editable.

$

Auto-fills when you pick a vehicle. Editable.

Pick electric make → model → trim

Purchase & financing

Cash vs. loan changes the true cost by thousands. Interest paid over the loan is a real ownership expense.

Depreciation

The loss in your vehicle's value over time — usually the single biggest ownership cost. We use geometric depreciation: Residual = MSRP × (1 − r)ⁿ.

% / yr

Mainstream EV — default 18% / yr. Editable.

Residual value after 5 years $—
Total depreciation loss $—

5-year true cost to own

$—

Pick a vehicle to begin

Cost breakdown

Depreciation loss$—
Charging equipment (one-time)$—
Electricity (over horizon)$—
Insurance (over horizon)$—
Maintenance (over horizon)$—
National EV incentive−$—
State & utility incentives−$—
True cost to own$—

Data & assumptions

  • Electricity rate loading…
  • EV fuel economy —
  • Depreciation model Geometric — MSRP × (1 − r)ⁿ
  • National EV incentive User-entered — US federal credit ended Sept 30, 2025

Sources: U.S. EIA (electricity rates), EPA fueleconomy.gov (vehicle specs), Drive Economics curated MSRP + incentive data. Depreciation is modeled geometrically — real-world depreciation is typically steeper in year 1 and flatter thereafter, so 5-year totals are directionally accurate but year-1 loss may exceed the modeled value. The US federal EV tax credit expired for vehicles purchased after September 30, 2025, so the "National EV incentive" field defaults to $0; enter your country's national or federal EV subsidy if you're outside the US or the credit was applied at point of sale before expiration. State- and utility-level incentives (below) still apply regardless of where you live. Insurance and maintenance defaults are sector averages — edit them to match your driving profile and provider.