Three-way comparison of total cost of ownership across drivetrains

How Drivetrain Economics Compare

Electric, hybrid, and petrol cars differ on two axes: purchase price and running cost per mile. Electric is typically most expensive upfront but cheapest per mile. Petrol is cheapest upfront but most expensive per mile. Hybrid sits in the middle on both. The winning drivetrain depends on annual mileage and ownership length. High-mileage drivers and long holders see electric pay back its premium. Low-mileage short-hold drivers often find petrol wins on pure cost.

Realistic Purchase Price Ranges

Comparable electric cars cost 25,000-45,000 for mainstream models. Hybrids cost 20,000-38,000. Petrol equivalents cost 18,000-32,000. Per-mile costs vary dramatically: electric at home charging 0.03-0.07 per mile, public fast charging 0.10-0.18 per mile. Hybrid 0.08-0.12 per mile. Petrol 0.12-0.20 per mile depending on fuel price and efficiency. These ranges matter — using optimistic electric numbers against pessimistic petrol numbers biases the comparison.

Worked Example for Average Driver

Annual miles 10,000. Electric purchase 35,000, hybrid 30,000, petrol 25,000. Per-mile electric 0.05, hybrid 0.10, petrol 0.15. Years 10. Electric total 40,000. Hybrid total 40,000. Petrol total 40,000. All three tie exactly at this mileage. Real-world: electric wins for higher mileage drivers (15,000+ annually), petrol wins for low mileage (under 6,000), hybrid rarely wins outright but offers good middle-ground compromise. Every household should run their own numbers.

What the Calculator Does Not Model

Depreciation — new electric cars often depreciate faster than equivalent petrol in the first 3 years, then stabilize. Insurance cost differences — electric often costs 10-20% more to insure. Servicing — electric needs much less servicing than hybrid or petrol. Battery replacement risk at 10+ years for early EV models. Used market differences. Home charger install cost (500-1,500 typical). Government incentives that can shift the math significantly.

Common TCO Comparison Mistakes

Using home-charging rates for someone who has no driveway. Using public fast-charging rates for someone who charges overnight at home. Ignoring that petrol prices have risen historically at 3-5% annually while electricity varies. Assuming equivalent cars exist — some segments (large SUVs, sports cars) have limited electric options at equivalent spec. The calculator gives a clean three-way comparison; real purchase decisions involve many qualitative factors beyond cost.