Electric car vs gas car: which costs less to own?
Equinox comes out cheaper in 13 of 20 ways the next 8 years could go — by about $20 a month. That’s at US average prices and 12,000 miles a year, as of Sep 7, 2026.
Each mark is one way the next 8 years could go.
Where you charge changes it
Futures out of 20 where the Equinox EV costs less:
Live source
Weekly retail gasoline prices by state and region
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Data as of Sep 7, 2026.
Weekly average for the state where EIA reports one, otherwise for its region.
Live source
Average residential electricity price by state (year to date)
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.B
Data as of Jun 2026.
Average residential price so far this year.
Research source
2026 Chevrolet Equinox starting price
iSeeCars
Checked Sep 14, 2026.
LT, $28,800 plus $1,495 destination. Dealers may charge more or less; type your own price for a better answer.
Research source
2026 Chevrolet Equinox starting price
TrueCar
Checked Sep 14, 2026.
Equinox EV LT 1, $34,995 plus $1,495 destination. Dealers may charge more or less; type your own price for a better answer.
Cars you’re comparing
2027 Chevrolet Equinox
25 city / 29 hwy mpg
Buy new for about $30,300 · maker’s starting price
2027 Chevrolet Equinox EV
33 kWh per 100 mi · 307 mi range
Buy new for about $36,500 · maker’s starting price
Three questions
What would change the answer
- If you drive over 14,000 miles a year, Equinox EV comes out ahead.
- If you can get Equinox EV for under $35,000, it comes out ahead.
Why it comes out this way
Typical amounts over 8 years. Everything counts: the car losing value, gas or charging, insurance, repairs, taxes, and loan interest.
Pay now, then every month
| Car | Up front | A month, all-in | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox | $32,923 | $791 | $75,890 |
| Equinox EV | $41,347 | $812 | $77,917 |
“A month, all-in” spreads every cost, including the value the car loses, over the months you keep it.
Where the money goes
The biggest difference is gas & charging: Equinox costs about $9,061 more there.
Gas & charging
Equinox: $17,768Equinox EV: $8,707Value lost
Equinox: $20,603Equinox EV: $28,399Upkeep & repairs
Equinox: $14,124Equinox EV: $11,146Home charger
Equinox: $0Equinox EV: $2,204Taxes & fees
Equinox: $4,787Equinox EV: $6,337Insurance
Equinox: $13,357Equinox EV: $14,581Loan interest
Equinox: $5,682Equinox EV: $6,844
Show as a table
| Cost | Equinox | Equinox EV |
|---|---|---|
| Gas & charging | $17,768 | $8,707 |
| Value lost | $20,603 | $28,399 |
| Upkeep & repairs | $14,124 | $11,146 |
| Home charger | $0 | $2,204 |
| Taxes & fees | $4,787 | $6,337 |
| Insurance | $13,357 | $14,581 |
| Loan interest | $5,682 | $6,844 |
Year by year
Equinox EV earns back its extra up-front cost by year 7 in 7 of 20 futures.
Big repair risk, out of 100
About how many owners in 100 pay for a new battery within 8 years.
Fewer than 1 in 100: Equinox EV needs a new battery
What we assumed, and where it came from
- Gas, regular
- $4.16 a gallon
Live source
Weekly retail gasoline prices by state and region
U.S. Energy Information Administration
Data as of Sep 7, 2026.
Weekly average for the state where EIA reports one, otherwise for its region.
- Premium and diesel
- $5.17 and $5.97
Live source
National average fuel prices
U.S. Department of Energy (fueleconomy.gov)
Data as of Sep 14, 2026.
Premium and diesel are priced from how they compare with regular nationally.
- Electricity at home
- 18.2¢ per kWh
Live source
Average residential electricity price by state (year to date)
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Electric Power Monthly table 5.6.B
Data as of Jun 2026.
Average residential price so far this year.
- Insurance, state average
- $1,704 a year
Research source
Auto Insurance Database Report (2023 data)
National Association of Insurance Commissioners
Checked Jan 1, 2023.
2023 state averages brought to today with the BLS insurance price index (×1.18).
- Sales tax
- 7.00%
Research source
State and local sales tax rates, midyear 2026
Tax Foundation
Checked Jul 2026.
Combined state and average local rate; some states tax cars at a different rate.
- Extra yearly fee for electric cars
- $130
Research source
Extra registration fees for electric, plug-in hybrid, and hybrid cars
State motor vehicle and revenue departments
Checked Sep 14, 2026.
- Loan rate
- 8.1%; 5 years and 15% down are our typical terms
Live source
Average 60-month new car loan rate at commercial banks
Federal Reserve Board, via FRED
Data as of May 2026.
Average 60-month new car loan rate at banks, plus 1 point for a typical borrower.
- Weather, for battery range in cold and heat
- Monthly averages
Live source
Statewide monthly temperatures and heating/cooling degree days
NOAA National Centers for Environmental Information
Data as of Dec 2025.
Average temperature for each month over the last 10 years.
- Car prices you didn’t type
- Segment averages
Our estimate
Average transaction prices by segment, August 2026
Kelley Blue Book / Cox Automotive
Checked Aug 2026.
Average price paid for cars in the same segment, adjusted by powertrain. Type your own price for a better answer.
No federal clean vehicle credit is counted: it ended for cars bought after September 30, 2025. Internal Revenue Service, checked Sep 14, 2026. State and utility rebates vary; add one where the tool asks.
Every number the model uses, with its source, is on the math page.
For the curious: all the numbers
We play out 1,000 futures. Each draws its own gas and electricity prices, miles, repair bills, insurance, and resale prices, and every car lives through the same ones. The 20 dots on the answer card are evenly spaced picks from those futures.
| Option | A good case | Typical | A bad case | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equinox | $67,935 | $75,890 | $85,318 | $0.79 |
| Equinox EV | $71,441 | $77,917 | $85,538 | $0.81 |
What moves the gap most
The unknowns whose ups and downs most change which option comes out ahead. A good or bad case is 1 future in 10 at that end.
- Future gas pricessome
- How much you actually drivesome
- Used EV prices when you sellsome
- Repair prices near youa little
- Used-car prices when you sella little
Try other assumptions
Each change replays every future. Watch which coins move.
What goes into it
| Cost | Equinox | Equinox EV |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $30,300 | $36,500 |
| Value lost | $20,603 | $28,399 |
| Gas & charging | $17,768 | $8,707 |
| Insurance | $13,357 | $14,581 |
| Upkeep & repairs | $14,124 | $11,146 |
| Taxes & fees | $4,787 | $6,337 |
| Loan interest | $5,682 | $6,844 |
| All-in, each month | $791 | $812 |
Questions people ask
Which costs more up front, the Equinox or the Equinox EV?
The Equinox starts at about $30,000 and the Equinox EV at about $37,000 before tax and fees. Equinox costs $8,400 less up front, once tax, fees, and financing are in.
How long does the Equinox EV take to pay for itself?
Equinox EV earns back its extra up-front cost by year 7 in 7 of 20 futures.
Does it matter where you charge the Equinox EV?
Yes. The Equinox EV comes out cheaper than the Equinox in 7 of 20 futures if you charge at home, 3 of 20 if you sometimes can, and 0 of 20 on public chargers only.
What would change the answer?
If you drive over 14,000 miles a year, Equinox EV comes out ahead. If you can get Equinox EV for under $35,000, it comes out ahead.
How sure is this?
We ran 1,000 possible futures of prices, repairs, and resale over 8 years. In 8 of 10, the result falls between Equinox EV $3,300 cheaper and Equinox $7,400 cheaper. In the middle one, Equinox comes out $2,000 cheaper.