EV vs Petrol Calculator India: True Cost of Ownership Comparison
Compare the real 5-year cost of an electric car versus a petrol car in India — fuel savings, maintenance and the break-even year when the EV pulls ahead. Free and private.
Last updated: June 2026
⚡ Electric car
⛽ Petrol car
5-year comparison
- Break-even point
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- Annual fuel saving (EV vs petrol)
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- 5-year total cost — EV
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- 5-year total cost — Petrol
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- 5-year saving with EV
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- Monthly saving
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Cumulative cost by year (EV vs Petrol)
⚠️ Fuel prices change frequently. Enter your current local petrol price and your actual state electricity tariff for accurate results.
When does the EV actually pay off?
An electric car costs more to buy but far less to run, so the real question is when the savings catch up with the higher price. This EV vs petrol calculator answers it for India. Enter both cars' prices, how far you drive and your fuel and electricity costs, and it tracks the total spend on each over five years to find the break-even year.
The maths is simple but the gap is large. Petrol at around ₹95 a litre in a car doing 16 km a litre costs roughly ₹6 a kilometre. The same distance in an EV doing 6 km a unit at ₹7 a unit costs barely ₹1.20 a kilometre. Over 15,000 km a year that difference adds up fast, and EVs also tend to need less servicing. The calculator escalates petrol and electricity prices separately each year so the projection stays realistic.
For a high-mileage driver, an EV often breaks even within a few years and saves steadily after that. For someone who barely drives, the higher purchase price may never be recovered on fuel alone. Enter your own numbers to see which side you fall on. Planning the purchase? Check what you can borrow with the loan eligibility calculator, estimate charging cost with the electricity bill calculator, and fit it into your monthly budget.
Disclaimer: This calculator gives an estimate of 5-year running cost based on the figures you enter. Fuel prices, electricity tariffs and subsidies change frequently and vary by location. It excludes charger installation, battery replacement, insurance and resale value. Verify current prices locally. Full disclaimer.
How it works
Three quick steps — no account, nothing uploaded to a server.
Enter both cars
Add the price, efficiency and maintenance for the EV and the petrol car.
Set your driving
Enter your annual distance and your local fuel and electricity costs.
See the break-even
Get the 5-year cost of each and the year the EV becomes cheaper.
Fuel price data on this page can be verified against the Petroleum Planning & Analysis Cell (Government of India). Last checked July 2026.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is an EV cheaper than a petrol car in India?
On running cost, almost always yes. Charging an electric car at home costs a fraction of filling a petrol tank, because electricity at ₹6-10 a unit moves a car far more cheaply than petrol at around ₹95 a litre. The catch is the higher upfront price of most EVs. This calculator weighs the lower running and maintenance costs against that higher sticker price to find the year your EV becomes cheaper overall, the break-even point.
How is the break-even point calculated?
The calculator tracks the total money spent on each car year by year. The EV starts higher because of its purchase price minus any subsidy, but adds only cheap charging and low maintenance each year. The petrol car starts lower but adds expensive fuel and higher servicing. The break-even year is the first year the running total for the EV drops to or below the running total for the petrol car. After that, the EV keeps saving you money.
What petrol price and electricity rate should I use?
Use your real local figures for an accurate result. Petrol prices vary by city and change frequently, around ₹95 a litre in Delhi but higher in Mumbai and Bangalore. Home electricity tariffs vary by state and slab, typically ₹6-10 a unit. The defaults here are reasonable national averages, but the more accurate your inputs, the more trustworthy the break-even year. Always enter your current local petrol price and your actual electricity tariff.
Does this include charging infrastructure and battery life?
No, it focuses on the core running-cost comparison: purchase price, fuel or electricity, and maintenance over five years. It does not model home charger installation, public fast-charging premiums, battery replacement after many years, insurance differences or resale value. These can shift the picture in either direction, so treat the result as a strong directional guide to running cost rather than a complete cost-of-ownership audit.
Are EV subsidies still available in India?
Central and state EV incentives change over time and vary by state and vehicle. Some states offer road-tax waivers, registration discounts or direct subsidies, while central schemes have evolved through different phases. Enter any subsidy or incentive you actually qualify for in the subsidy field, and the calculator will reduce the EV's effective price accordingly. Check your state transport department for the current offers before you buy.