Drop in gas prices gave cost advantage back to ICE-powered vehicles for the first time since the second quarter of 2021
East Lansing, Mich.—2022’s final quarter brought relief at the pump for drivers of traditional Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles as the cost to drive 100 miles dropped by more than $2, according to a report by Anderson Economic Group (AEG). With the cost for electricity also trending upward during the year, mid-priced ICE cars became more economical to fuel than their Electric Vehicle (EV) counterparts for the first time in 18 months.
In Q4 2022, typical mid-priced ICE car drivers paid about $11.29 to fuel their vehicles for 100 miles of driving. That cost was around $0.31 cheaper than the amount paid by mid-priced EV drivers charging mostly at home, and over $3 less than the cost borne by comparable EV drivers charging commercially.
Drivers of luxury EVs continued to a fueling cost advantage, regardless of charging method.
Findings by Vehicle Type
- Mid-priced vehicles — In this market segment, fueling ICE vehicles was more economical than comparable EVs in the 4th quarter, regardless of charging primarily at home or commercially.
- Luxury cars — Drivers of high-end electric vehicles still enjoyed a significant fueling cost advantage, but the gap narrowed in Q4. Assuming mostly home charging, the cost benefit to fuel a luxury EV vs. a luxury ICE car dropped from $11.20 per 100 miles to $7.56.
- Pickup trucks, entry-priced cars — ICE vehicles are still the only widely available options in these two segments.
Cost Comparison Over Time
Cost of Fueling Electric and Internal Combustion Engine Vehicles
Direct Monetary Costs per 100 Miles, 2022 Q4
Anderson Economic Group calculates all four categories of costs for fueling EVs and ICE vehicles across benchmarks representing real-world U.S. driving conditions, including:
- The cost of underlying energy (gas, diesel, electric).
- State excise taxes charged for road maintenance.
- The cost to operate a pump or charger.
- The cost to drive to a fueling station (deadhead miles).
All use cases reflect 12,000 miles/year, with the cost of residential charging equipment amortized over five years. Calculations are based on energy prices and taxes in the state of Michigan. Benchmarks for ICE vehicle drivers assume the use of commercial gas stations. For EV drivers, AEG considers both drivers who routinely charge at home and those who rely primarily on commercial chargers.
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