EV vs Petrol Car Cost Calculator — Multi-Year TCO India
Reviewed by Finin2min Editorial Desk · Last reviewed 6 September 2026
2-minute answer
EV vs Petrol Car Cost Calculator — Multi-Year TCO India is a decision-support tool. Use exact inputs, review the assumptions and applicable legal/rate framework, and keep the underlying documents before relying on the output.
What this page answers
- Page content
- ⚡ EV vs Petrol / Diesel Calculator
- 📊 Cumulative TCO Over Time
- 💰 TCO Breakdown — EV vs ICE
- 🌱 Environmental Impact (operational / tank-to-wheel)
Practical checklist
- Enter facts from source documents, not estimates where exact figures are available.
- Review the assumptions/rate framework before relying on the result.
- Test edge cases such as thresholds, dates, ownership shares or special-status cases.
- Use the output as a working computation and retain the supporting evidence.
Official sources
Page content
⚡ EV vs Petrol / Diesel Calculator
📊 Cumulative TCO Over Time
💰 TCO Breakdown — EV vs ICE
| Cost Component | ⚡ EV | ⛽ ICE | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase Price (net of subsidy) | — | — | — |
| Total Fuel / Energy Cost | — | — | — |
| Total Maintenance | — | — | — |
| Insurance (total) | — | — | — |
| Battery Replacement | — | ₹0 | — |
| Resale Value (credit) | — | — | — |
| TOTAL TCO (net) | — | — | — |
🌱 Environmental Impact (operational / tank-to-wheel)
How to Use the EV vs Petrol Calculator
Enter the on-road price of the EV and its petrol/CNG equivalent, your expected annual driving distance, electricity tariff (or public charging cost) and fuel price. Add your expected ownership period and resale value assumptions. The calculator computes the running cost per km for each option, projects total cost of ownership over your holding period — including the EV price premium and fuel/energy savings — and shows the break-even distance at which the EV becomes cheaper overall.
TCO Formula
Petrol Total Cost = On-Road Price + (Annual km × Fuel Cost/km × Years) − Resale Value
Break-even Distance = EV Price Premium ÷ (Petrol Cost/km − EV Cost/km)
EVs typically break even within 2-4 years of average usage (12,000-15,000 km/year) due to the large running-cost gap shown below. The verdict is most sensitive to annual distance driven and home charging access. See our EV vs Petrol TCO guide for detailed scenarios.
EV vs Petrol: Running Cost Comparison (India 2025)
| Vehicle Type | Energy Cost/km | Annual Cost (15K km) | 5-Year Fuel Saving vs Petrol |
|---|---|---|---|
| ⚡ EV (Home charging) | ₹1.05–1.35 | ₹16K–20K | ~₹5–6L |
| ⚡ EV (Public fast charge) | ₹2.10–2.70 | ₹32K–40K | ~₹3–4L |
| ⛽ Petrol (₹105/L, 18km/L) | ₹5.83 | ₹87,500 | — |
| ⛽ CNG (₹95/kg, 25km/kg) | ₹3.80 | ₹57,000 | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Related Calculators
Methodology, assumptions and sources
Scope: Compares the multi-year total cost of ownership of an electric vehicle against a comparable petrol/diesel vehicle, covering purchase price, running (fuel/electricity) cost, maintenance and resale value.
Calculation logic
- Compute on-road purchase cost for both vehicles including the entered on-road price and any applicable state EV subsidy/road-tax concession.
- Project running cost using entered fuel price (₹/litre) and mileage for the petrol vehicle, versus electricity tariff (₹/unit) and consumption (units/km) for the EV.
- Add maintenance cost per year (typically lower for EVs due to fewer moving parts) and subtract the estimated resale value at the end of the horizon for each vehicle.
- Sum all components over the selected number of years to compare total cost of ownership.
Inputs and assumptions
- Electricity tariff, fuel price and annual distance driven are user-entered and assumed constant unless an escalation rate is provided.
- Battery degradation and potential replacement cost are only included if explicitly entered by the user.
Exclusions and edge cases
- State-specific EV subsidies and road-tax exemptions vary and must be verified against the applicable state policy at the time of purchase — this calculator uses the figure entered by the user, not an auto-fetched value.
- Charging infrastructure installation cost is not included unless entered separately.
Sources
No external regulatory source applies — this is a general financial formula, not a statutory computation.
Review status: reviewed and approved by CA Nikhil Gupta on 3 June 2026.