Buy an electric car or a petrol car? Learn how the cost calculations change once you hit the road EV vs Petrol Car: Should you buy an electric car or a petrol car? Clear all your confusions with this math after driving 50,000 kilometers

In today’s time, whenever someone decides to buy a new car, the biggest dilemma he faces is whether to go for a traditional petrol car or choose the increasingly popular Electric Vehicle (EV). This question is also very practical in view of rising fuel prices and pollution levels in cities.

At first glance, the electric cars inside the showroom look much more expensive than their petrol variants, which makes the budget waver a bit. But the real economic mathematics of the car becomes clear when it comes out of the showroom and starts running on the road. If you are forward thinking, you will be surprised to know that after traveling just 50,000 kilometers, there is a huge difference in the cost of both the vehicles. Let us understand which deal will be best for your pocket through very simple mathematics of running cost, maintenance and daily usage.

1. Buying Cost Comparison

There is no doubt that there is a big difference in the upfront cost of petrol and electric cars. If you compare models in the same segment, brand and with almost similar features, the EV variant is almost cheaper than the petrol variant. 3 to 5 lakh expensive Sits.

• Advantages of petrol car: Its initial price is low, due to which you have to pay less down payment while buying the car and your bank loan monthly installment (EMI) also remains in the budget.

• Aspect of Electric Car: Although its ex-showroom price is higher, but due to subsidies given by the Central and many state governments, exemption in green tax, and minimum road tax and registration fees, this difference reduces a bit when it comes on-road.

2. Running cost: direct calculation per kilometer

The expense of buying a car is one-time, but the expense of running it daily has a constant impact on your pocket. While petrol prices have consistently remained around or above ₹100, domestic or commercial electricity rates are quite affordable in comparison.

• Petrol Car Expenses: Let us assume that your petrol car gives an average mileage of 15 km/litre including city and highway. If the price of petrol is ₹100 per litre, it will cost you approximately Rs. ₹6.66 Will cost Rs.

• Electric car expense: Fully charging a normal EV at home or at a station consumes about 30 to 40 units of electricity (which comes to a total cost of about ₹300 to ₹400). Once fully charged, the car easily runs up to 300 kilometers. In this sense, only the cost of running an EV ₹1 to ₹1.50 per kilometer Comes between.

3. Mathematics of total savings after 50,000 kilometers

Now let us put the actual expenditure on fuel and charging of both the cars on a scale of 50,000 km, which will give a completely clear picture:

conclusion: EV is close to you only on the fuel front. ₹2,73,000 Saves. This savings offsets a large part of the additional amount you paid when purchasing the car.

4. Big difference in maintenance and servicing

There is also a big difference in the maintenance of a vehicle with an engine and a vehicle without an engine, which further increases your savings in the long run.

• Petrol Car Maintenance: There are hundreds of moving parts in a petrol engine. Every 10,000 kilometers you have to change things like engine oil, oil filter, spark plug, air filter and gearbox oil. Because of this, the minimum cost of each servicing comes to ₹ 5,000 to ₹ 8,000. By the time you reach 50,000 kms, you have already spent around ₹30,000 to ₹40,000 on servicing.

• Electric Car Maintenance: EV does not have a traditional engine, rather a battery and electric motor work in it. There is no need to change Mobil oil, nor is there any fear of a complex gearbox malfunctioning. All you need to do is tire rotation, brake pad check and AC filter change. Its maintenance cost for a journey of 50,000 kilometers is less than half that of a petrol vehicle.

Final Verdict: Which car will be real value for money for you?

After adding up all the figures, it is clear that once the EV crosses the 50,000 kilometer mark, the EV fully recovers its increased initial price and every kilometer after that adds profit to your pocket.

You should choose an electric car (EV) if:

• Your daily commute is 50 to 60 kilometers or more.

• You plan to keep this new car for at least 5 to 7 years.

• You have safe and regular access to overnight charging of your car at home or parking area.

You should choose a petrol car if:

• Your monthly running is very low (run less than 400-500 kilometers a month).

• Your initial budget for buying a car is quite limited and you do not want to be burdened with heavy EMIs.

• You often travel long distances on remote or rural routes where the network of fast charging stations (charging infrastructure) is not good.