The EV versus petrol debate usually gets framed as a green choice, but the pragmatic question for most Indian buyers is whether the higher upfront cost of an electric vehicle gets paid back through lower running and maintenance over the years they actually keep the car.
About this calculator
The EV versus petrol debate usually gets framed as a green choice, but the pragmatic question for most Indian buyers is whether the higher upfront cost of an electric vehicle gets paid back through lower running and maintenance over the years they actually keep the car. This calculator answers that with explicit numbers for purchase price, energy consumption per kilometre, service costs, and residual value at the end of the ownership horizon.
The result depends heavily on annual kilometres. Under 10,000 km a year, the energy saving is modest and the higher EV purchase price rarely breaks even. Above 18,000 km a year, EVs win comfortably across most segments because the 1.20 rupee per kilometre running cost beats petrol at 6-7 rupees per kilometre. The service cost gap is large too: EVs have no engine oil, no fuel filter, no timing belt, no spark plugs, and far fewer moving parts, so annual service usually costs 2,000-4,000 rupees versus 10,000-15,000 for a comparable ICE car.
Three numbers deserve close attention. One, electricity rate: home charging at 8 rupees per kilowatt-hour produces a very different answer from public fast charging at 18-22. Two, EV resale value: this is where EVs still underperform because the market is young and battery degradation is a real concern. Factor in 40-50% of on-road price at year five, not the 55-60% an ICE retains. Three, the EV consumption figure: manufacturer claims of 0.12 kWh per km are optimistic; real-world consumption on Indian traffic is closer to 0.15-0.18. See [[fuel-cost]] for a pure running-cost view and [[emi]] for financing the purchase.
Common uses
- Comparing Tata Nexon EV against Nexon petrol over 5 years at 15,000 km per year
- Evaluating MG ZS EV versus Skoda Kushaq for a 18,000 km/year commute
- Checking if a Mahindra XUV400 EV makes sense at 12,000 km per year usage
- Break-even analysis for switching from an old petrol car to a new EV
- Comparing city EV at 0.13 kWh/km against highway mileage ICE
Frequently asked questions
Is EV cheaper than petrol in India?
Per kilometre, yes. Home charging costs about 1.2 rupees per km for a typical sedan EV, compared to 6-7 rupees per km for a petrol car at 100 rupees a litre. Over 5 years and 75,000 km that is roughly 4 lakh in energy savings, which is usually enough to justify the 5-8 lakh price premium.
How long does an EV battery last?
Most manufacturers offer an 8-year or 160,000 km battery warranty with a guarantee of 70% capacity retention. Real-world degradation on LFP batteries is 2-3% per year, so expect usable range to drop from 400 km new to about 320 km at year 8. Battery replacement typically costs 5-8 lakh for a 40-50 kWh pack.
Is EV resale value good in India?
Lower than ICE at the moment. The used-EV market is still developing and buyers worry about battery health. A 5-year-old EV typically resells for 40-50% of on-road price, compared to 55-65% for a comparable ICE. Newer battery-warranty assignment schemes may narrow this gap.
How does electricity rate affect the calculation?
Hugely. Home charging at 7-8 rupees per kWh keeps EV running cost near 1.2 rupees per km. Public fast charging at 20 rupees per kWh triples that to 3 rupees per km, narrowing the lead over petrol significantly. If you cannot install a home charger, the EV case weakens.
What about EV subsidies and road tax?
Most states offer road-tax exemption on EVs and central FAME incentives where still applicable. This effectively reduces the on-road price by 50,000 to 2 lakh depending on vehicle. Enter the post-subsidy on-road price in the EV price field to model this correctly.