What's the real cost of buying vs. leasing an electric vehicle?
TL;DR: EVs typically have much lower fuel and maintenance costs than petrol/diesel cars, but battery degradation and resale-value uncertainty are real factors that can favor leasing more than they would for a conventional car, especially for a newer or less-established EV model.
Where EVs genuinely cost less
- Charging cost is generally lower than equivalent fuel cost per distance driven
- Fewer moving parts typically means lower routine maintenance
Where the buy-vs-lease calculus shifts
- Battery degradation over time affects resale value in ways still being priced in by used-car markets
- Rapidly improving EV technology can make a 3-year-old EV feel more dated than a 3-year-old petrol car
- Government incentives, where available, may apply differently to a lease vs. a purchase
Model your specific numbers
Our True Cost of Ownership calculator lets you plug in your actual purchase price, financing terms, running costs, and expected resale percentage — set a lower resale assumption to reflect EV-specific depreciation uncertainty if you're evaluating a purchase.
Frequently asked questions
Do EVs really have a lower total cost of ownership than petrol cars?
Often yes over a multi-year holding period, mainly from fuel and maintenance savings — but this depends heavily on your local electricity vs. fuel prices and how the specific EV's resale value holds up, so it's worth checking your own numbers rather than assuming a universal answer.
Should I worry about battery replacement cost?
It's worth checking the manufacturer's battery warranty length and any known degradation data for the specific model — a strong warranty meaningfully reduces this risk during your ownership period.