Here’s What It Costs To Charge a Tesla Monthly vs. Using Gas for a Chevrolet Trax
Written by
Rebekah Evans
Edited by
Zuri Anderson
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We are all trying to find ways to save some extra money, particularly when it comes to transportation. If you are in the market for a new car, you could be looking at some electric vehicles in hopes of cutting down the amount of money you spend on gas, but don’t rule out traditional fuel cars either because that actually might be the more financially sound ride.
GOBankingRates puts two of these automobiles up against each other to find out which one will actually save you money when it comes to filling up their respective batteries and tanks. With the help of Chris Pyle, a JustAnswer auto expert, here’s the breakdown of what it costs to charge a Tesla every month compared to using gas to power a Chevrolet Trax in the same amount of time.
Milage
On average, Americans drive 12,000 miles a year, according to Pyle, who estimated that puts drivers at around 1,000 miles a month.
“A Tesla averages 330 miles on a full charge,” Pyle went on to describe. “Factors are the road condition, speed, your driving style, and the ambient air temperature. Basically, a Tesla needs three full charges to drive for a month. The Chevy Trax gets around 30 miles a gallon. So you will need 33.3 gallons to drive for a month.”
Traditional Gas
In Tennessee, where Pyle lives, a gallon of 87 octane is $2.64, which is slightly lower than the national average of $3.04 per gallon as of Oct. 29 based on calculations from AAA Fuel Prices. Pyle added up that the fuel cost in the Chevy Trax will be roughly $88 each month.
“This number will fluctuate throughout the year as gas prices go up [or] down, and in different locations where gas prices are much higher per gallon,” Pyle said.
Electric Charging
Pyle noted that the Tesla can be charged at home or at a charging station, as well as that electricity rates also vary based on the hour of the day and where you live.
“It is cheaper to charge at home if you have a charging station,” Pyle highlighted. “The average home electricity rate is $0.17 per kWh. So at home, a full charge is about $18 [to] $22. That would be $60 a month. At a charging station, the average fee is $0.25 per kWh. So that would be around $38 [to] $42 for a full charge. That would be $120 a month.”
Conclusion
Assuming the Tesla is charged some at home and some at superchargers, Pyle’s math showed that it would cost a driver $90 to drive 1000 miles in the Tesla, while the Chevrolet Trax will cost about $88, calling them “basically identical expenses.”
That said, if you want to save any amount of money, even if it is only $2 a month, sticking with a traditional fuel-based car like the Trax would be your go-to choice.
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