EV charging cost per km vs petrol: the real comparison

The EV side of the sum

Assume 7 km per kWh of battery energy and 12 percent losses: each kilometre needs about 0.16 units from the wall.

• At Rs 7 per unit, about Rs 1.12 per km
• At Rs 9 per unit, about Rs 1.44 per km
• A heavier SUV at 5.5 km per kWh comes to about Rs 1.43 per km at Rs 7

The petrol side of the sum

With petrol at roughly Rs 100 to Rs 107 per litre, which varies by state, and real-world mileage of 14 to 17 km per litre, fuel alone costs about Rs 6 to Rs 7.5 per km.

At 1,000 km a month that is roughly Rs 5,500 to Rs 6,000 saved by charging at home. Check your own local fuel price rather than using this range as gospel.

Public DC charging narrows the gap a lot

At about Rs 19.47 per kWh, the same compact EV costs roughly Rs 2.8 to Rs 3 per km. At Rs 25 or more per kWh from private operators it approaches Rs 4.

That is still cheaper than petrol, but no longer dramatic. Owners who will depend mainly on public DC should run these numbers honestly before buying.

Add the charger to the comparison

A home charger plus installation costs roughly Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000 depending on model and cable run. Spread over five years, that is a few hundred rupees a month — small next to fuel savings for a regular driver, and significant for someone driving 400 km a month.

The portable cable that came with the car costs nothing extra, if your wiring can genuinely carry it safely.

Per-km cost is not the whole ownership picture

EVs usually cost more upfront, so the payback depends on how many kilometres you actually drive. Someone covering 400 km a month saves perhaps Rs 2,000 a month on energy, which takes a long time to recover a price difference.

High-mileage drivers see the benefit fastest. That is the single variable that decides whether the sums work for you.

The RIOD chargers this applies to

Frequently asked questions

Is an EV really five times cheaper to run than petrol?

On home charging, roughly yes on energy alone: about Rs 1.12 per km against Rs 6 to 7.5. On public DC charging the ratio falls to about two to one.

What is the cost per km of an EV in India?

About Rs 1 to Rs 1.5 per km charging at home for a compact EV, and roughly Rs 3 to Rs 4 per km relying on public DC charging.

Should I include the charger cost in the comparison?

Yes. A charger plus installation at Rs 30,000 to Rs 70,000 spread over five years adds a few hundred rupees a month, which matters if you drive short distances.

Fuel prices and efficiency figures vary by state, vehicle and driving conditions. Public DC rates quoted are figures reported in May 2025 and are not current quotations.