The whole electric car (EV) debate can get pretty heated online. “Longevity issues,” “hidden costs,” – it’s enough to make your head spin. Here’s the thing: I’m not an EV fanatic. Our household actually has both an EV (a Tesla Model Y) and a reliable Mercedes-Benz CLA250 4-cylinder turbo petrol car (going strong at 6 years old).
Number crunching time!
Numbers Don’t Lie: The Cost Breakdown
Curiosity got the better of me, so I decided to crunch some real-world numbers on our Tesla ownership. I factored in our electricity rate, the kWh used for charging, and the current odometer reading. For comparison, my wife’s previous daily driver was a 2019 Mazda CX-9 with a consistent 5-year fuel consumption of 14.4L/100km.
Tesla Model Y
KM: 1485
Energy: 303.467kWh
Cost: $112.80
Mazda CX-9
KM: 1485
Fuel Avg: 14.4L/100KM @ $2.27
Cost: $486.91
Early Days, Early Insights (with a Caveat):
It’s important to note that this is a snapshot, not the whole story. Our Tesla cost includes one Supercharger session, which is pricier than home charging. For petrol, I used the average cost of Premium 98 for the last month (April-May). The average cost over the past year isn’t far off at $2.16/L.
The Experiment Continues:
‘m tracking these costs over the next year to see if our efficiency holds up. At the same time, I’ll be comparing it to my daily driver, which gets slightly better fuel economy than the Mazda.
The Point? Real Information, Real Choices
This isn’t about preaching EVs or bashing petrol cars. It’s about sharing real-world data to help you make informed decisions. Is an EV right for you? Only you can say! But hopefully, this glimpse into our experience sheds some light on the actual costs of EV ownership. Stay tuned for the next update – let’s see how things shake out after a year on the road!
