Electric vs. Gas Maintenance Costs | What to Expect in the First 150,000 Miles

Electric vs. Gas Maintenance Costs | What to Expect in the First 150,000 Miles

Studies show that electric vehicles cost less to maintain than their gas-powered counterparts. That passes the “gut check” since there are oil changes or other costs associated with a gasoline-powered car. However, that doesn’t mean they’re as maintenance-free as your refrigerator, and there are some expenses that may surprise you. For example, did you know EVs are harder on their tires than a similarly sized gasoline-powered car? Importantly, when it comes to EV maintenance, there’s one major cost that isn’t shared with a gasoline car: the inevitable replacement of the EV battery. How much does that cost? And when do you need to do it? Desola Balogun has all the answers in this video comparing EV and gasoline vehicle maintenance costs.

Read our full article here: https://www.carmax.com/articles/electric-car-maintenance

Chapter Breaks:
00:00 Intro
00:42 Maintenance Costs: Electric vs Gas
01:46 0-50,000 Miles
03:01 50,000 – 100,000 Miles
03:55 100,000 – 150,000 Miles
04:43 A New Battery?
06:45 The Winner Is…

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#evmaintenance #evbatteryreplacement #evbatterydegredation

50 Comments

  1. @eastern2western on January 31, 2025 at 6:03 pm

    Hertz is dumping its teslas because the maintenance cost is too high.

  2. @jperkins1269 on January 31, 2025 at 6:04 pm

    The federal government who is trying to force us to get EV’s says it cheaper….right.

  3. @gibszololo3937 on January 31, 2025 at 6:04 pm

    You know that’s not how to pronounce your name Desola 😂

  4. @IKilledTheDodo on January 31, 2025 at 6:06 pm

    At the rate of improvement in the EV-space, I’d say it’s completely reasonable to replace your EV with a newer model after 10 years or less, no matter how good or bad the battery is holding up. It’s tech, just like your phone or computer, and at some point replacing parts (like the battery) becomes pointless. There are probably people who still swear by their iPhone 6, but I think most people would agree that it’s time to upgrade at this point.

  5. @SarahStuff-p5u on January 31, 2025 at 6:07 pm

    Hands down I can buy a Gas car and run it for almost half the cost of an EV to do the same for half the cost, I do own a cheaper used EV to toy with and for the fun of it, but bang for the buck it runs twice the cost of my Gas car.

  6. @javasoldier5926 on January 31, 2025 at 6:09 pm

    1000$ for tyre change are you nuts?)

  7. @fire_stick9124 on January 31, 2025 at 6:10 pm

    add the insurance difference and its probably costs the same lol

  8. @minkyway86 on January 31, 2025 at 6:11 pm

    EV tires does not wear as fast as the video shows. My model Y had still his factory tires on yellow at 65k. In 4 years. Moderate use.

  9. @alexchamberlain9317 on January 31, 2025 at 6:12 pm

    Surely we gotta consider the fuel saving in this calculation?

  10. @chrxx4327 on January 31, 2025 at 6:13 pm

    So omitting oil changes and brakes, and spark plugs. EV’s still have all the other maintenance items that can go wrong. AC/Heating issues, door locks, windows, Suspension components, axles, drive shafts, bearing, electrical issues, etc. There’s a lot more other reasons a car goes into get services other than engine,transmission, and brakes. I get that we are assuming nothing else goes wrong with either vehicles, but we also have to consider the manufacturers themselves. I wouldn’t exactly consider a Tesla as being built ultra reliable like a Toyota, so I do see more repairs on the commonly shared systems down the road.

  11. @ItsJustElectric on January 31, 2025 at 6:14 pm

    So including the battery costs for electric and major repairs for gas, which is more expensive?

  12. @modquad18 on January 31, 2025 at 6:14 pm

    GM Ultium battery is composed of several easy to replace, inexpensive modules. The entire battery would almost never need replacing, just a module or two. Also, most ICE engines would never see 150k miles if oil only changed every 10k.

  13. @markmiller8903 on January 31, 2025 at 6:15 pm

    My cousin has a tesla and I have a honda. We compare costs and the EV cost is much higher.

  14. @magallon643 on January 31, 2025 at 6:18 pm

    There’s people who swear that the battery lasts 500,000 miles or 20 years,whatever comes first.thats if you charge your car at home at 240V.

  15. @Pomdownuder on January 31, 2025 at 6:18 pm

    Insurance costs installing at home charger $2000:00, waiting time while charging turning an 8 hr journey into a 12 hr journey add another $400.00 each way per trip. Depreciation @ 40% p/a

  16. @SRH420ful on January 31, 2025 at 6:18 pm

    there are now refurbished battery packs for half the price

  17. @ttautogarages on January 31, 2025 at 6:18 pm

    The battery you will never win 😂😂😂

  18. @MatthewNelson12 on January 31, 2025 at 6:22 pm

    This is great!

  19. @sgomez8194 on January 31, 2025 at 6:22 pm

    I’ve been researching cost of ownership between ICE and EVs, and with the help of AI I did a rough estimate from info found online between a Honda Accord(gas & hybrid) and a Tesla Model 3. Assuming that I pay 30k for either vehicle, I found that the Hybrid is slightly cheaper to own than the gas version over the 15 years. It is the cost of insurance and battery replacement that unfortunately kills it for the EVs at the moment.
    The gas ends up being around 29-30k cheaper than the Tesla
    The Hybrid ends up being around $3k-4k cheaper than the gas

  20. @alastairhatt360 on January 31, 2025 at 6:22 pm

    Weighing more? A Tesla model 3 weighs the same as BMW M3. So not all are heavier so cannot use that as a general guide.

  21. @Fedwerter on January 31, 2025 at 6:26 pm

    10 yrs bsttery lifespan is a very good deal.

  22. @BioniqBob on January 31, 2025 at 6:26 pm

    It is like you made this video in 2000. That in ev advancement is an ICE age ago.

  23. @dera6347 on January 31, 2025 at 6:26 pm

    Do this same thing, but have the numbers reflect a person who does their own car work, in their own driveway. It depends on exactly what ICE car you get, as to when the transmission will need to be replaced, and so on. My Toyota, is over 170,000 miles, with no transmission issues, and the only mechanical parts replaced being the alternator.

  24. @DidierIREKE on January 31, 2025 at 6:27 pm

    In Africa we don’t buy tires for 2000$ at most 4 sets might cost you 100$ so ev still wins for me here

  25. @BioniqBob on January 31, 2025 at 6:27 pm

    Never mentioned the thousands saved in pollution Free fuel.
    You bring meaning to "young and foolish"
    95% of batteries can be recycled.How do you recycle gas?

  26. @johngoard8272 on January 31, 2025 at 6:28 pm

    Wake up mate my 2011 Mazda 6 has never had to have the brake pads renewed the tyres last for over 60,000kms and the filters well minimal replacement items. Two new batteries $450 insurance costs – NOT mentioned in your video EV’s are so expensive to insure – WHEN you can find an insurance company to take you on – my Mazda is around $1000 per year. After owning my car since 2011 and 167,000kms still going strong on it’s second set of tyres and I am no slouch!! Oh yes and I have no problems finding a mechanic to do my car’s servicing.

  27. @chrisfifield8583 on January 31, 2025 at 6:31 pm

    Less than 1% of evs have needed a high voltage battery replacement. I expect over time that number will go up . But they either fail very early , or they last a really long time .

  28. @parps002 on January 31, 2025 at 6:33 pm

    too much non-sense in the video – remember people have limited time – currently at 2min time and u guys have been just playing around with silly toy cars

  29. @greenmarcosu on January 31, 2025 at 6:33 pm

    Another factor is that the cost of batteries keeps coming down overtime as production ramps up and technology continues to improve. It is possible that in the future you could get more range for lower cost (adjusted for inflation) as you can today.

  30. @cliffearle3156 on January 31, 2025 at 6:34 pm

    To make a more appropriate comparison you needed to include total cost of fuel in this. The battery replacement might not look so bad once you have factored that in.

  31. @crushit9576 on January 31, 2025 at 6:35 pm

    Not to mention that the EV’s are basically just starting. It will get better I am sure of it. Like the first gas car I am sure wasn’t perfect.

  32. @Cosmopotamian on January 31, 2025 at 6:38 pm

    Sodium ion batteries are coming soon with really high energy (mileage) and higher number of charge cycles and safety with a significantly lower price tag. Future is clearly for EV. Given the electrical power infrastructure is established enough to keep up. Also EVs keep going down in cost. Thanks for the great video team!❤

  33. @harveypaxton1232 on January 31, 2025 at 6:40 pm

    I find that a lot of Tesla owners are like ICE drivers that never change their oil. (I drive a Tesla)

  34. @ThanksForTheLaugh on January 31, 2025 at 6:43 pm

    The EV pain really hits at trade in time. Wipes out any savings plus more.

  35. @Na0uta on January 31, 2025 at 6:44 pm

    If you consider an oil change is most all you’ll need to get done that isn’t part of an ev. For close to the first 5 years. Some anti freeze as well but many ev do use it too. Other then that, there isn’t a ton of things.

  36. @deenjayz80 on January 31, 2025 at 6:44 pm

    When the battery goes then trade it in idk why it’s a big deal. There’s a little percentage of people that keep their car longer than three years anyways.

  37. @jorgehernandez208 on January 31, 2025 at 6:44 pm

    Now…you need to check the cost of electricity vs gasoline. I’m pretty sure ICE car will loose widely.

  38. @chipmcg7766 on January 31, 2025 at 6:47 pm

    Well, sense none have been on the road 10 years yet it is just speculation right.

  39. @BioniqBob on January 31, 2025 at 6:48 pm

    Let’s talk about giving your car up for the day for those oil changes 1 or more times a year. Enjoy the bus.

  40. @strengthandgaming on January 31, 2025 at 6:48 pm

    EVs are very capable of outlasting the warranty and EV batteries and electric motors come with a longer warranty than ICE engines and transmissions to begin with. Keep in mind this video is just talking about maintenance. When you add fuel or electricity costs the EV will win hands down.

  41. @mackcummy4976 on January 31, 2025 at 6:54 pm

    Well, I do my own maintenance and you can stretch brake pad life on an ICE car.

  42. @ken_le on January 31, 2025 at 6:55 pm

    EV have problem with resale value due to next owner have to worry about battery replacement cost.

  43. @MrChaddly02 on January 31, 2025 at 6:55 pm

    “The difference is you know that the at EV battery is gonna need replaced…” What?? No you don’t. Stupid misinformation like this is part of why there’s such resistance to what is objectively better technology. The video even acknowledges that an EV is still useful with 70% of its range and it may not have to have the battery replaced. There are many EV’s that are getting well into the 6 digit range with original batteries as battery technology gets better and better. Also, even if it were true that you can count on having to replace the HV battery in every EV before 150k miles, you may be just as likely replacing the engine or major engine components in many gas vehicles by that point as well, easily costing as much or more than that EV battery swap and MUCH more complicated and likely to result in the vehicle just being dumped in a junk lot. Stop being so stupid and ignorant. This is called propaganda, people. The oil and gas industries stand to lose a lot of money and government influence if we move away from dependence on them, so they’re pulling the same crap the tobacco industry did (both are also bad for our lungs, not just the environment).

  44. @markmiller8903 on January 31, 2025 at 6:56 pm

    Agree i shop around for a mechanic. Most maintenance on ICE I do myself. I have lifetime brake pads from Autozone so I replace them in 1/2 hour. Oil changes cost $50 at jiffylube. EVS can be carostrophic to have repaired. You cant shop around for EV repairs because you go thru tesla or the warranty is gone.

  45. @chrismaxny4066 on January 31, 2025 at 6:56 pm

    A friend has a Tesla with 150,000 miles and yes range is less at 265 miles on a 2017 Model S. It stills looks and drives like the day he bought it. I’ve replaced batteries on several products that were meant to go to the trash heap when the battery failed. Those things are still going strong so I’m thinking what if I replace the battery in my electric car. It’s cheaper than a new car and prevents it from ending up in a landfill and saves on the carbon footprint.

  46. @jockey12022011 on January 31, 2025 at 6:56 pm

    The conclusion is fairly poor. Go in to depth on how often transmission, engine, turbos etc last and replacement cost. Then take into account probability of failure and cost and give us a risk based approach. Not a cheap one liner ‘combustion can have problems or their own’. We’re trying to make informed decisions here. That ending was useless.

  47. @CarMax on January 31, 2025 at 6:59 pm

    EVs have a reputation for being easier to maintain than a gas-powered car. But is that the truth? We check it out. Read our full article here: https://www.carmax.com/articles/electric-car-maintenance

  48. @eastern2western on January 31, 2025 at 7:00 pm

    Hertz dumped its teslas because they are expensive to maintain.

  49. @sjsjr86 on January 31, 2025 at 7:01 pm

    I know maybe 1 dozen people who keep a car past 10 years, 150k. They are the exception, not the rule.

    by the time my EVs need a battery, they would have cost me less than half to run as a gasoline car. Maintenance is essentially putting back into the car what you get out of it.

    Also the ev’s will make great first time cars for my nephews in a few years.

    20 year old gas cars MAYBE will pull $4k. no difference IMO and as they said, they have a high propensity for engine/transmission failures

    LOOKING AT YOU, HYUNDAI

  50. @someinternetdude4159 on January 31, 2025 at 7:01 pm

    I don’t know. Most of my cars have lasted way beyond 10 years. Of course I tend to buy cars that can last for a very long time. Anyway, I’ve had Hondas that went for 20+ years easy and they still weren’t broken when I sold them on. I have a 65 mustang that drives fine that I bought ages ago for $1,500 and has appreciated really well. I have a honda sitting on my driveway right now that is 10 years old and haven’t had any issues with. I had a 72 Datsun that went forever and ever that I eventually sold for more than I bought it for. I had a 92′ Nissan mini truck that I drove for ages then sold it and it’s still driving around where I live. I see it once in awhile going down the road; whoever owns it now. I can’t see me paying 60k or whatever for a car that in 10 or 12 year will need a $15k battery replacement (remember inflation… what is 10k today will be 15k by then easy). Maybe when the batteries go solid state and get a lot lighter and cheaper. My next car will probably be a Toyota hybrid or something similar… although I do like my 90’s Broncos… of which I had one that I drove way past 150k miles no issues, and it was bad a$$ offroad.

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