We will be looking at three main areas: cost of fuel/charging, fees such as tax and insurance, and physical maintenance.
Cost of fuel vs. charging a car
For reference, a Nissan Leaf has a 40kWh battery, taking 11 hours to charge on a 3.7kW charger and 6 hours on a 7kW charger. Let’s see how it stacks up:
Nissan Leaf:
3700W x 11 hours = 40,700 / 1000 = 40.70 40.70 x 0.19 kWh = £7.73 per charge on a 3.7kW charger
7000W x 6 hours = 42,000 / 1000 = 42 42 x 0.19 kWh = £7.98 per charge on a 7kW charger
5000W x 1 hours = 5000 / 1000 = 5 5 x 0.19kWh = £0.95 per charge on a 50kW charger
140 miles on full charge, average 10,000 miles a year = 72 full charges per year 72 x £7.98 = £574.56 yearly cost of charging Nissan Leaf on a 7kW charger
Therefore, with a 7kW charger, a Nissan Leaf will cost £574.56 per year respectively.
In comparison, the average cost of filling a petrol car is £1272 and diesel is £1683. That could mean a yearly saving of between £697.44-1108.44 for a Nissan Leaf.
Tax and insurance costs
Electric vehicles win hands-down when it comes to road tax. Since they are emission-free, you pay no tax each year.
On the other hand, a new Vauxhall Corsa 1.2 litre SE 75PS will cost you £165 per year in road tax.
An Audi A3 Saloon 3 TDI S Line 150PS could set you back up to £190 per year.
In terms of insurance, let’s compare the cost to insure a Kia Niro versus a Kia e-Niro.
A 1.6-litre Kia Niro 2 would cost a 45-year-old driver around £610. A Kia e-Niro would cost approximately £682.62 for the same driver. Although this is only a difference of £72.62, it is still notable.
Physical maintenance
A service for a petrol or diesel car costs anywhere from £36 to £230. An electric car costs upwards of £80. However, because they have fewer physical moving parts and no need for oil, electric cars generally have less need for maintenance and repairs compared to cars with an internal combustion engine.
Major issues with electric cars arise when the battery runs completely flat, in which case you will need a jump start from your secondary 12V battery or you need to call breakdown assistance.
Also, the battery of an electric vehicle is not cheap. The Kia e-Niro’s battery is worth around £5637.60, so you certainly need to take care of your EV. However, the average lifespan of a battery is 15-20 years, so you may never have to worry about that.
Overall, the long-term costs of an EV are far less than a petrol or diesel vehicle, plus it means you are doing your bit for the environment! If you have recently bought an electric car or you are thinking about it, speak to one of our friendly team who can install your perfect EV charger at work.