Interesting. I have thought for a long time that internal combustion engines equal freedom and EVs equal control. I never could quite put my finger on why exactly.
One of the arguments I have always used against EVs is the total cost of each usually favors ICE vehicles.
I asked grok, “Considering purchase, resale value, maintenance costs, etc. is an EV cheaper than a ICE vehicle?” This seems to be evening out as time goes by.
It depends on your driving habits, location, specific models, and ownership duration, but in many cases (especially for moderate-to-high mileage drivers who charge at home), EVs end up cheaper over 5–10 years due to big savings on fuel and maintenance. However, higher upfront purchase prices, steeper depreciation (in recent years), and potentially higher insurance can offset those gains for some buyers.
Here’s a balanced breakdown based on 2025–2026 data:
Purchase Price
• EVs typically cost more upfront. The gap has narrowed but still averages several thousand dollars (e.g., ~$6,500 in some analyses).
• Federal tax credits (up to $7,500) largely ended for purchases after Sept. 30, 2025. Some state/utility incentives may still apply, but check locally.
• Net: ICE often wins here unless incentives or deals close the gap.
Fuel/Energy Costs
• Big win for EVs. Home charging often costs 3–7¢ per mile vs. 12–18¢+ for gas (depending on efficiency, gas prices ~$3+/gal, and electricity ~17–18¢/kWh national average in 2026).
• Annual savings: Often $800–1,500+ for average drivers (more if you drive a lot or gas prices spike). Public fast-charging narrows this advantage significantly.
• Electricity prices are more stable than gas in many areas.
Maintenance and Repairs
• Strong EV advantage. EVs have far fewer moving parts (no oil changes, spark plugs, transmission service, etc.). Maintenance is typically 30–70% lower (e.g., ~$400–600/year for EV vs. $800–1,200 for ICE).
• Lifetime fuel + maintenance savings can reach 50–70% in some studies. Brakes last longer due to regenerative braking; tires may wear faster due to torque/weight.
• Battery replacements are rare/expensive within warranty (often 8–10 years), but overall repair costs are lower for most owners.
Resale Value / Depreciation
• Often a challenge for EVs. EVs have depreciated faster recently (e.g., ~55–60% over 5 years vs. ~45% for ICE), due to rapid tech improvements, battery concerns, and market saturation.
• Hybrids often hold value best. The gap is closing in some segments/markets as EVs mature, but used EV prices can be attractive for buyers.
• Net impact: Hurts TCO if you sell/trade in after 3–5 years; less so if you keep the vehicle longer.
Insurance
• EVs are typically more expensive to insure (often 20–40%+ higher, e.g., ~$3,100–3,200/year full coverage vs. ~$2,200 for ICE). Reasons: Higher repair/replacement costs (especially batteries), higher vehicle values, and specialized repair needs.
• Some models close the gap; shop around.
Other Factors
• Registration/taxes: Varies by state (some charge EV fees to offset lost gas tax revenue).
• Home charging setup: Adds upfront cost if you need a Level 2 charger/install (~$500–1,500+).
• Reliability/Downtime: EVs often have fewer breakdowns.
• Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) studies: Many (e.g., from Consumer Reports, Atlas, fleets) show EVs cheaper over time for popular models, especially after 3–5 years or with higher mileage. About 40–50% of EVs beat comparable ICE in 5-year TCO in recent analyses, though it varies. Pickup trucks and low-mileage scenarios often favor ICE more.
Bottom Line for Most Drivers (Especially in Oklahoma)
• Yes, often cheaper if you drive 12,000+ miles/year, charge at home (Starlink users with good home power setup might benefit), and keep the car 5–8+ years. Operating savings compound.
• Maybe not for low-mileage, short ownership, or if you prioritize resale/lower initial outlay.
• Best approach: Use tools like the IEA TCO calculator or Edmunds/KBB ownership estimators. Compare specific models (e.g., a Chevy Equinox EV vs. gas version). Factor your local electricity rates, gas prices, and driving patterns.
I spend less than $900 per year on full coverage auto insurance, and it goes down every year.
There are very few charging stations still. In my multi-county area, there are now five outlets. Two are at hotels. One is at the waterfront park. The original one is at a McDonald's and still has just one outlet. The local hotel has three outlets, but only one of them is currently working. So you might want to stay away from northeastern NC unless you already have a full charge. If you go to the Outer Banks, there are more chargers, as there are more rich people living there. The map I used is: https://chargehub.com/map/#/en/map
I can get a top of the line new car like my current car with all the bells and whistles cheaper than the cheapest new Tesla available in my area. I will be keeping my current car for a few more years. I don't spend much on service, just a standard oil change about once a year. After five years, I bought new tires, not because of tread wear, but because of age. I've had it almost six years, and it still looks brand new and drives like new. I may never need to buy another car, as I may not even be able to drive by the time this car hits 100,000 miles.
My current car doesn't have GPS, but does have Sirius-XM radio. Nothing in my car has "updated" in almost six years. I don't use a GPS, as I can still read maps. I don't want an electric car.
My situation is very similar to yours. At my age, I will not need to buy a car again. One has around 80,000 miles and is known for making it to 250,000.
My other is a beater Jeep. All paid for. And both have a Garmin GPS in them.
My interests in the EV is mostly curiosity. For the last few years, my opinion was that if I went away from the ICE, it would be a hybrid. But my opinion is changing to straight EV. If money were no object and everything else was equal, I think the EV would be the way to go so far as driving experience.
I have a wealthy cousin who owns two Tesla Plaids and a Cybertruck. He says the Plaids can beat anything he owns for acceleration. He has a huge collection of Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, muscle cars, and older cars he's just interested in.
Why? I have no GPS in my car. My town is too cheap to have "traffic cameras" all over the place. They have them at a couple of major intersections, and I don't have to go through any of those to get anywhere I need to go. The station might have surveillance inside, but I could always wear "something."
Perhaps we should go back to the old days of self-serve gas where there was no building at all, and the pumps would accept currency.
I don't use a cellphone. I do have a machine with no SIMS card or plan just so I can take photos (no GPS), play games, and have hundreds of books I can read wherever I happen to be. Wi-fi is turned off all the time. I have a 1TB card in it so I can carry thousands of songs, books, and other files. It's just handy. Also, without a plan means that I don't get bombarded with ads while I play a game I got for free.
I am free to go as I please. I didn't stay home during the fake virus. I also didn't wear a mask ever, get shots, or even walk down the store aisles following the arrows.
The original post article (not referencing the one I linked) makes some good points, I just think a bit naïve in terms of capabilities that are already are in place. It kind of bugged me when it compared buying gas with cash VS using a EV, ignoring a large host of other mass-surveillance.
Interesting. I have thought for a long time that internal combustion engines equal freedom and EVs equal control. I never could quite put my finger on why exactly.
One of the arguments I have always used against EVs is the total cost of each usually favors ICE vehicles.
I asked grok, “Considering purchase, resale value, maintenance costs, etc. is an EV cheaper than a ICE vehicle?” This seems to be evening out as time goes by.
It depends on your driving habits, location, specific models, and ownership duration, but in many cases (especially for moderate-to-high mileage drivers who charge at home), EVs end up cheaper over 5–10 years due to big savings on fuel and maintenance. However, higher upfront purchase prices, steeper depreciation (in recent years), and potentially higher insurance can offset those gains for some buyers. Here’s a balanced breakdown based on 2025–2026 data:
I spend less than $900 per year on full coverage auto insurance, and it goes down every year.
There are very few charging stations still. In my multi-county area, there are now five outlets. Two are at hotels. One is at the waterfront park. The original one is at a McDonald's and still has just one outlet. The local hotel has three outlets, but only one of them is currently working. So you might want to stay away from northeastern NC unless you already have a full charge. If you go to the Outer Banks, there are more chargers, as there are more rich people living there. The map I used is: https://chargehub.com/map/#/en/map
I can get a top of the line new car like my current car with all the bells and whistles cheaper than the cheapest new Tesla available in my area. I will be keeping my current car for a few more years. I don't spend much on service, just a standard oil change about once a year. After five years, I bought new tires, not because of tread wear, but because of age. I've had it almost six years, and it still looks brand new and drives like new. I may never need to buy another car, as I may not even be able to drive by the time this car hits 100,000 miles.
My current car doesn't have GPS, but does have Sirius-XM radio. Nothing in my car has "updated" in almost six years. I don't use a GPS, as I can still read maps. I don't want an electric car.
My situation is very similar to yours. At my age, I will not need to buy a car again. One has around 80,000 miles and is known for making it to 250,000. My other is a beater Jeep. All paid for. And both have a Garmin GPS in them.
My interests in the EV is mostly curiosity. For the last few years, my opinion was that if I went away from the ICE, it would be a hybrid. But my opinion is changing to straight EV. If money were no object and everything else was equal, I think the EV would be the way to go so far as driving experience.
I have a wealthy cousin who owns two Tesla Plaids and a Cybertruck. He says the Plaids can beat anything he owns for acceleration. He has a huge collection of Ferraris, Rolls-Royces, muscle cars, and older cars he's just interested in.
Interesting article however, if the author thinks ‘purchasing gas with cash’ is somehow protecting anonymity, I think he’s fooling himself a bit.
Why? I have no GPS in my car. My town is too cheap to have "traffic cameras" all over the place. They have them at a couple of major intersections, and I don't have to go through any of those to get anywhere I need to go. The station might have surveillance inside, but I could always wear "something."
Perhaps we should go back to the old days of self-serve gas where there was no building at all, and the pumps would accept currency.
Do you put your phone in a Faraday bag while traveling?
You are definitely in the minority. Are all those precautions ‘freedom’?
I don't use a cellphone. I do have a machine with no SIMS card or plan just so I can take photos (no GPS), play games, and have hundreds of books I can read wherever I happen to be. Wi-fi is turned off all the time. I have a 1TB card in it so I can carry thousands of songs, books, and other files. It's just handy. Also, without a plan means that I don't get bombarded with ads while I play a game I got for free.
I am free to go as I please. I didn't stay home during the fake virus. I also didn't wear a mask ever, get shots, or even walk down the store aisles following the arrows.
You are Definitely in the minority :).
Wifi at home:
https://www.digitaltrends.com/cool-tech/wi-fi-radiation-transparent-walls/
The original post article (not referencing the one I linked) makes some good points, I just think a bit naïve in terms of capabilities that are already are in place. It kind of bugged me when it compared buying gas with cash VS using a EV, ignoring a large host of other mass-surveillance.
Scream it til you're blue in the face.
Then scream it some more
Scream it til you're blue in the face.''
u/#howl
Im glad none of my vehicles are web connected. But, those $80k trucks are sure pretty. They will make great yard ornaments.
They will make great yard ornaments.''
...at least the government will know where they are parked...
We need to start baking some 2026 Bakers