Electric MME vs. Gas: Mile for Mile, EVs Still Hold Edge, But Advantage Shrinks

[Snakebitten]

I have to first be honest enough to say that I would drive the Mach-E daily regardless of the mathematics in comparison.
Or put another way, the fuel co$t per mile of each of my vehicles is not the determing factor for which one gets pulled out of the barn each morning.

Having said that, if either fuel (gas/electricity) increased or decreased, I don't think the cost variance would be enough to offset the larger personal economics at play. (for me anyway)

Acquisition cost and depreciation cost are the elephant in my room for me. 100,000 miles of FREE fuel wouldn't cover those.

So the fact I'm smitten with the Mach-E isn't whether it cost me $25 more or $25 less in fuel per month than my other vehicles.

However, the subject is valid.
And I do believe my Mach-E in Texas saves me fuel dollars monthly. Probably enough to cover the cost of a Taco supper for me and my 9 grandkids?

Sponsored

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Gas will never be priced low enough for me to go back to driving an ICE.

 

[JDP That's Me in My MachE]

Our electric Mach-E remains a more economical choice on a per-mile basis compared to gasoline-powered cars,

I can soooo appreciate the amount of work you did getting data, crunching numbers and generally being pretty thorough.

 

[Jerrytball]

Our electric Mach-E remains a more economical choice on a per-mile basis compared to gasoline-powered cars, despite a narrowing of the cost gap. An EV like the MME has an average energy cost that's roughly 100% lower (twice as cheap) per mile driven when compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

However, this advantage has shrunk from a previous high of 150% due to a faster rise in average electricity rates compared to gasoline prices. This chart illustrates this fluctuation in cost advantage based on gas price movements.

The chart is based on detailed monthly data downloaded from the US Bureau of Labor website. I took the EPA usage of 26 MPG for a new ICE car and 2.8 miles/kWh for the electric MME. The data will not be much different for typical EVs.

Your individual mileage advantage varies depending on what you would pay for gas and are paying for electricity. My MME is only 50% cheaper because I live in Silicon Valley where our energy monopolist PG&E has jacked up prices dramatically. Currently, my household electric gate is a whopping $0.41/kWh, 137% more than the national average:

The inflated rates of PG&E significantly impact the overall cost savings.

When adjusted for inflation, national average electricity rates have remained relatively stable over the past twelve years, with the exception of Silicon Valley.

Conversely, gasoline prices have actually decreased compared to 2012, except for the Bay Area:

Despite the rise in electricity rates, EVs continue to be the more economical option in terms of energy cost. However, energy cost is just one smaller factor influencing total ownership costs. Depreciation dominates:

All I can say is, I’ve never owned an EV. I’ve always owned ICE vehicles. And the car I traded in for this was getting 33 miles to the gallon and cost me $185 a month for gas and right now. I think I probably cost me 20 bucks on my light bill, now on a trip maybe almost as much and a little more time-consuming but I don’t travel. This is way more economical.

 

[JDP That's Me in My MachE]

Absolutely well said!! Agreed (in San Antonio).

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

I’m on the PG&E EV plan for a long time already. It used to be 10c/kWh off-peak in 2012. Currently it is 37c/kWh off-peak in summer and indeed over 60c on peak.
At that peak rate it is cheaper to run a gas powered generator.

It is all relative, but the extreme increases are not really justifiable.

The closest we have to that was a program to allow you to have a separate meter just for EV charging. That could help prevent your usage from bumping into a higher rate category. You still paid whatever the base rate is though (formerly 31¢ per kWh plus taxes). They limited that program to 2000 customer in the entire state iirc.

 

[Tha_Ape]

When others claim my EV is just a coal burner, I point out that the vehicle actually doesn't care where it's electrical energy comes from; be it from hydro, nuclear, wind, solar, geothermal, whatever. The EV is ready to accept any of the above when the public utilities inevitably transition away from fossil fuels driven by economics of all sorts in the end. That is the promise of an EV future even if we aren't realizing this today in a large measure.

Even if your electricity comes exclusively from a coal plant, that coal plant is almost twice as efficient at converting fuel to electricity than a small engine. That's why you don't run your house on a generator except for emergencies. You'd burn through ridiculous amounts of fuel.

 

[stealthytolkien]

Our electric Mach-E remains a more economical choice on a per-mile basis compared to gasoline-powered cars, despite a narrowing of the cost gap. An EV like the MME has an average energy cost that's roughly 100% lower (twice as cheap) per mile driven when compared to traditional internal combustion engine vehicles.

However, this advantage has shrunk from a previous high of 150% due to a faster rise in average electricity rates compared to gasoline prices. This chart illustrates this fluctuation in cost advantage based on gas price movements.

The chart is based on detailed monthly data downloaded from the US Bureau of Labor website. I took the EPA usage of 26 MPG for a new ICE car and 2.8 miles/kWh for the electric MME. The data will not be much different for typical EVs.

Your individual mileage advantage varies depending on what you would pay for gas and are paying for electricity. My MME is only 50% cheaper because I live in Silicon Valley where our energy monopolist PG&E has jacked up prices dramatically. Currently, my household electric gate is a whopping $0.41/kWh, 137% more than the national average:

The inflated rates of PG&E significantly impact the overall cost savings.

When adjusted for inflation, national average electricity rates have remained relatively stable over the past twelve years, with the exception of Silicon Valley.

Conversely, gasoline prices have actually decreased compared to 2012, except for the Bay Area:

Despite the rise in electricity rates, EVs continue to be the more economical option in terms of energy cost. However, energy cost is just one smaller factor influencing total ownership costs. Depreciation dominates:

Since we don’t have gasoline at home on tap, the real comparison should be between national gasoline price average compared to national DC fast charging averages.

 

[Kamuelaflyer]

Since we don’t have gasoline at home on tap, the real comparison should be between national gasoline price average compared to national DC fast charging averages.

Why? Only a small percentage of BEV drivers routinely use DCFC. An even smaller percentage frequently DCFC. The vast majority of us charge at home. Use the national average kWh home rate.

 

[Socalsp3]

Get solar

 

[Guss-E 2021]

At least with the MME, there is always the potential to get free, clean fuel at home (i.e. solar). That will never be the case with ICEVs. These past few months, I've spent nearly $70 less per month to "fuel" my MME than I used to spend on my Acura. But my Acura was paid off and now I have a car payment. I didn't get this car because I expected to save money. I wanted to improve my automotive experience. Mission accomplished.

 

[Mirak]

Your individual mileage advantage varies depending on what you would pay for gas and are paying for electricity. My MME is only 50% cheaper because I live in Silicon Valley where our energy monopolist PG&E has jacked up prices dramatically. Currently, my household electric gate is a whopping $0.41/kWh, 137% more than the national average

I feel ya. My rate rate has jumped from 7 cents per kWh to 8 cents.

 

[Teslaeata]

2.8m/kwh seems low to me. I’m usually at about 3.5

Over 85,000 miles, I find 2.8m/kWh is about bang on though I do carry half a Tonne of tools everywhere and don’t exactly use e-heater or drive generally as economical as I could. However, life’s for living, Stangy’s for driving

 

[Mirak]

The savings are shrinking ignoring the GIANT MASSIVE pile of externalities? So is burning all your trash and not paying to have it taken away.

Even if you are a believer, you’re not saving the planet driving your “green” 5,000 pound vehicle. There are many smaller options, or even better, public transit. You’ve chosen a certain level of personal comfort and taste over your proclaimed desire to save the planet, which kinda gives away the game.

Also, I for one would pay to have my trash hauled away even if I could burn it for free. Because I don’t want to smell like burnt trash.

 

[CTZ]

Even if you are a believer, you’re not saving the planet driving your “green” 5,000 pound vehicle. There are many smaller options, or even better, public transit. You’ve chosen a certain level of personal comfort and taste over your proclaimed desire to save the planet, which kinda gives away the game.

Also, I for one would pay to have my trash hauled away even if I could burn it for free. Because I don’t want to smell like burnt trash.

There's always a better alternative. Everyone could be a vegan as well to lower emissions. However, if it's a choice between an ICE SUV and an equivalent BEV SUV, the BEV SUV is still the greener choice. It's just a much more efficient vehicle.

It all depends on the level of sacrifice and personal choice an individual is willing to accept.

Sponsored