With the move towards electric vehicles (EVs) gaining traction around the world and in India too, one of the foremost questions for prospective buyers in 2025 is how the EV charging costs stack up against fueling a gasoline car.
Understanding this cost is crucial not only for a prospective buyer’s wallet, for planning daily driving, assessing the overall cost of ownership, or determining the environmental impact.
In particular, this piece seeks to answer the burning question of EV charging versus gasoline expenses, exploring notable scenarios and essential factors influencing the calculation in 2025.
What Should Be Expected in 2025 Pricing for EV Charging?
Public and home charging stations each have different prices, and electricity prices in different regions also vary, so the estimation of EV charging expenses is not straight forward.
In this case, India’s electricity prices can be ranged to 6-10 for (kWh), which makes 10 for charging services too expensive, as EV users in India widely apply home charging stations. In India off-peak electricity is offered at a discount, which makes it attractive for prospective buyers, especially at the night rate. Hence, charging home stations come at a bargain.
To illustrate, a 40 kWh EV battery charging is done for 320 rupees in total at the 8 rate, which is 8.00 a unit. Taking into consideration that the mileage of 400 kilometers per charging session is the usual real world range of the EV, the cost per kilometer is approximately 0.80.
Comparing Costs: EV Charging vs Gasoline Fueling
Based on energy consumption and fuel economy, here’s a rough comparison for a typical mid-sized car:
| Vehicle Type | Energy/Fuel Cost Per 100 km | Cost Per km (₹) |
| Electric Vehicle (Home charging, ₹8/kWh) | ₹320 | ₹0.80 |
| Electric Vehicle (Public fast charging) | ₹720 | ₹1.80 |
| Petrol Car (₹100/litre, 15 km/l) | ₹666 | ₹6.66 |
| Hybrid Car (₹100/litre, 22 km/l) | ₹455 | ₹4.55 |
What Drives These Cost Differences?
Electric motors are far more effective at converting electricity into motion than combustion engines are at burning petrol. The price of electricity is typically more stable than fossil fuel prices which are affected by taxes and market volatility. Additionally, EV owners pay off-peak electricity rates during off-peak periods which is cheaper.
Charging at Home: Your Wallet’s Best Friend
Charging an EV at home overnight is the easiest and most cost effective option by far. Utilities and some Indian states have already begun implementing special tariffs during the night, further reducing costs. A home-based charger increases independence from public infrastructure and offers the user control over the how and when charging is done.
Public and Fast Charging: Convenience Comes at a Price
These are invaluable for those without the option of charging at home and are a necessity for long car rides. However, charging in such a manner is expensive. The convenience of fast charging is undeniable, however, regularly charging in such a manner will lead to an increase in cost per km for the user.
Total Cost of Ownership: More Than Just Fuel
As this blog explains the focus is on charging and fuel costs, do keep in mind that owning an EV eliminates many other expenses:
For EVs, there is no need to worry about exhaust systems, engine oil, and other moving parts which results in lesser broken parts to oil systems and engines. Further, the brakes are less likely to wear down due to regenerative braking.
- Compared to petrol cars, servicing costs are lower by ₹10,000–₹20,000 annually.
- Due to repair costs, insurance may be higher but often it is lower due to servicing and fuel.
- The government still reduces the upfront EV purchase cost, as well as, the cost of installing home chargers.
- The costs incurred in the future of battery replacement are less due to the warranties of 7 to 10 years that are common.
Practical example: An Urban EV Owner Savings in India
- Assuming you drive 15,000 km a year:
- EV energy cost at ₹0.80/km: EVs cost the driver ₹12,000 a year.
- EV petrol costs ₹6.66/km: EVs are charged ₹99,900 a year.
- Fuel costs 87,900 less than before.
EVs also gain from cost-servicing and maintenance further adds the total cost-of-ownership advantages.
When Might Gasoline Still Make Sense?
For rural users without access to reliable electricity or home chargers, or for those frequently undertaking long journeys without fast charging access, petrol cars or hybrids might remain practical. However, as public charging infrastructure expands rapidly (over 1.3 million public points added globally in 2024 alone), these constraints are shrinking.
FAQs
1. Is charging an EV always cheaper than refueling a petrol car?
In most cases, yes. Home charging is especially economical. Public fast charging can be pricier but usually remains less than petrol costs per km.
2. How much does a full EV charge cost at home in India?
Typically ₹250–₹400, depending on battery capacity and local electricity rates, with lower costs if you charge during off-peak hours.
3. Are fast chargers more expensive?
Yes, fast (DC) chargers often cost two to three times more per kWh than home charging but provide significant time savings.
4. Does battery degradation affect charging costs?
Not directly. Reduced battery capacity lowers range, so you might charge more often, but charging rates per kWh remain the same.
5. How do government incentives affect overall costs?
Incentives can reduce upfront purchase and installation costs, effectively lowering total cost of ownership.