Why EV Sticker Prices Don’t Reflect True Costs
EV makers trumpet an average transaction price of $59,255 in April 2025, yet that “deal” hides an 11.6 percent incentive discount before you even charge the battery. Add the $1,500 for home-charger installation, and you’re already $10,000 beyond a comparable gas SUV, incentives aside.
GMC
Electric Fuel Isn’t Always Cheaper Than Gas
EV proponents love to tout “fuel savings,” but grid electricity now averages 16.13 ¢/kWh across the U.S. At 30 kWh per 100 miles, that’s $4.84 in juice, or about a third of gasoline’s $14 for 100 miles at $3.50/gal and 25 mpg. Nice, right? Yet the devil lurks in the details: public fast-charging premiums, demand surcharges and urban “idle” fees can double that rate in a heartbeat. Maintenance feels breezy at $0.04/mile versus $0.08/mile for an ICE (saving roughly $3,000 over five years), but cheap brake pads can’t cover body-shop bills when a battery swap runs $12,000 out of warranty.
Depreciation Hits EVs Harder Than Gas Cars
An early-adopter premium evaporates faster than electrons at the charging station. When it comes to depreciation, EVs lose an average 58.8 percent of their value over five years, versus 45.6 percent for gas cars. On a $60,000 EV, that’s a $35,300 hit; a similar ICE drops “only” $27,300.
Kyle Edward
EV Insurance Rates Are Significantly Higher
Expect to shell out about 20 percent more in insurance. On average, you’re looking at $337 monthly for EVs versus $281 for gas cars, thanks to pricier parts and repair times. That’s roughly $3,000 extra over five years.
What Total EV Ownership Costs Look Like Over 5 Years
• Upfront Premium: $6,879 in incentives subtracted from MSRP doesn’t offset the $10,000 charger & dealer markup.
• Depreciation Gap: EV owners bleed an extra $8,000 in resale losses over five years.
• Insurance Levies: EVs tack on $3,000 more in premiums.
• Infrastructure Fees: City curb-side charging, demand surcharges, and road-usage taxes lurk in 2025’s policy playbook.
Chevrolet
Why Buyers Should Demand Full Cost Transparency
Your next EV purchase should come with a spreadsheet, not just an excited thumb-twitch to “order now.” Demand transparent TCO projections from dealers. Insist on five-year cost estimates that include charger installation, insurance, depreciation, and all the “voltage-supply chain” fees they’d rather bury in small print. If automakers want EW (electrification wow) to catch on, they need to own these costs as boldly as they tout eco-credentials. Otherwise, consumers will unplug from sticker hype and power down to real-world numbers.
