Free tool · Running cost
EV vs Petrol Cost Calculator
See how much you save by going electric. Enter driving habits, electricity tariff and petrol price to compare per-km costs and multi-year savings.
Your inputs
You save over 5 years
Running the Tata Nexon EV on electricity vs an equivalent 18 kmpl petrol vehicle, on energy / fuel cost alone.
Total spend over 5 years
Estimates only. Figures cover energy / fuel cost alone and exclude purchase price, insurance, maintenance, inflation and subsidies. Assumes ~10% home-charging loss; actuals vary with tariffs, driving style and conditions.
How we calculate your savings
You set annual kilometres and an electricity tariff (₹/kWh). On the EV side we use real-world efficiency in kWh/km and add about 10% home-charging loss. Petrol cost per km is fuel price ÷ mileage. The difference, scaled by distance and years, is your fuel saving.
Why EVs cost less to run
Electric motors convert more energy into motion, and electricity is cheaper per unit of useful work than petrol — often ₹1–2/km at home vs ₹6–8/km for petrol. Maintenance is lower too: no oil changes, fewer moving parts, and regenerative braking that extends pad life.
Reaching break-even
EVs often cost more to buy but much less to run. Break-even is when running savings offset that premium — faster if you drive more. Check subsidies and the EMI calculator to see how monthly payments sit against fuel savings.
What the estimate does and doesn’t include
This tool focuses on electricity vs petrol. It does not model battery degradation, inflation, or insurance differences, and assumes mostly home charging at your tariff.
Indicative only. Verify current tariffs and fuel prices for your city before a purchase decision.
Frequently asked questions
In most Indian conditions an electric car costs roughly ₹1–₹2 per km in electricity, while a petrol car costs ₹6–₹8 per km in fuel — often 70–85% cheaper to “fuel”. The exact gap depends on your tariff, EV efficiency, petrol mileage and fuel price.
Multiply usable battery kWh by your tariff, then add about 10% for charging losses. Example: 40 kWh at ₹8/unit ≈ ₹352 for a near-full charge. Slab and time-of-day rates can change this.
It depends on the purchase price gap and how much you drive. At 12,000–15,000 km/year many buyers recover the premium in about 4–6 years through fuel and maintenance savings; higher mileage shortens payback. Subsidies help further.
Yes. Fewer moving parts, no engine oil changes, and regenerative braking that reduces pad wear. Annual service is typically a fraction of a comparable petrol car.
Yes. Home AC charging isn’t 100% efficient — we include roughly 10% loss so per-km cost stays realistic rather than optimistic.
Almost always at home tariffs. Heavy use of commercial DC fast charging (₹18–24/unit) raises per-km cost and can approach a very efficient petrol car.
No — this tool focuses on running cost (energy vs fuel). Use the EMI calculator for financing and the subsidy calculator for purchase incentives.
They’re a solid directional estimate. Real costs vary with driving style, weather, traffic and price moves. We exclude battery degradation, inflation and insurance differences.