Source:
https://www.realclearpublicaffairs.com/public_affairs/2021/11/03/comparison_real_world_cost_of_fueling_evs_and_ice_vehicles_801901.html
Bottom Line:
There is a growing climate change goal to displace internal combustion engine vehicles (ICE, i.e., those running on oil-based gasoline) with ones that are powered by electric batteries (EVs).
It is routinely claimed that this will not just reduce greenhouse gas emissions to help fight climate change but will also ultimately be cheaper for the consuming public.
The present study thus conducts a rigorous analysis of the real-world costs to fuel both types of vehicles.
Importantly, the study examines all categories of costs, including several that are commonly omitted in other EV studies.
The primary conclusion here is that EVs can be more expensive to fuel than their ICE counterparts.
The automobile industry is on the cusp of the biggest transition in fundamental technology since the earliest days of the industry.
Back around 1910, gasoline-powered vehicles won the technology race against competitors, namely electric vehicles (EVs), steam-powered, and even horse-powered carriages.
For example, the internal combustion engine (ICE) running on gasoline now accounts for around 98% of the passenger vehicles driven in the U.S.
So this huge transition from the ICE to EVs poses obvious risks and uncertainties.
Perhaps the primary question for Americans is cost: are EVs really cheaper to own than ICE cars?
If customers find the true cost of EVs to be lower than for ICE vehicles, we can expect more rapid adoption.
In contrast, if EVs cost more to drive and to own, the vehicle transition is likely to be much slower.
The cost to fuel a vehicle, ICE or electric, is a major part of the total cost of ownership.
Up until now, most ICE vs. EV studies have just simply ignored the question of fueling costs.
Thus, a realistic examination of these costs is a critical question for consumers who are considering the move to EVs.
EVs are often presumed to be less expensive to fuel than their ICE counterparts.
There is a rationale in physics for this: due to greater thermal efficiency, electric motors convert energy more efficiently than combustion engines.
Yet, this is just one of five costs that must be considered.
For a more complete picture, this study looks at all costs:
Commercial and residential electric power/fuel costs
Registration taxes
Equipment (e.g., chargers) and installation costs
Deadhead miles incurred driving to a charger or fueling station
The cost of time spent refueling
When all of these costs are factored in, the final conclusion is that EVs can be more expensive to fuel than ICE cars.
Read the full study here:
https://www.andersoneconomicgroup.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/EVtransition_FuelingCostStudy_10-21-21.pdf
Findings:
Fueling comparisons between EVs and ICE vehicles must account for all costs, of which there are at least five different categories.
The direct monetary costs of fueling EVs is often higher than for comparable ICE vehicles.
Fueling costs vary much more for EVs than for ICE vehicles.
Finding reliable commercial fast chargers, and waiting for EVs to charge, impose significant time costs on drivers."