Studies have been performed by University of Michigan's Transportation Research Institute in 2018 and Consumer Reports in 2020. Both determined the cost to operate a Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) was lower than gas powered vehicles by between 50 to 60%. That was based on gasoline and electricity costs.
University of Michigan studied the different costs of fuel and electricity by state. The national average cost to operate a BEV was $485 per year compared to $1,117 per year to operate a gasoline-powered vehicle in 2018. Even in the worst state, Hawaii, where gas cost $1,509 per year, the electric vehicle still had lower cost at $1,106 per year for electricity consumption. The state with the minimum gasoline costs was Alabama with $993 per year. Still, the electric vehicle costs were lower at $481.Â
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