Update: the 2013 MPGe rating for the Leaf is actually 116 (not 99), so the calculations below are actually heavily biased in favor of the Juke. Feel free to play around with the spreadsheet to see more accurate comparisons.

About a month ago, I asked readers which gasoline-powered cars were most similar to some popular EVs on the market. I’m finally using that feedback and updated 2013 EV numbers to run new cost comparisons between these EVs and their gasoline-powered cousins. To start with, in this first post, I’m going to run down a few cost comparison scenarios for the Nissan Leaf and Nissan Juke. The next post will do the same for the Nissan Leaf and Nissan Rogue. And I will eventually publish more articles comparing other EVs to their closest gasmobiles.

As always, what matters in a cost comparison is what you actually compare (which factors you choose to include), and what assumptions you make. I’m going to be very conservative in my calculations (as in, lean in favor of gasmobiles). I’m doing so for a few reasons:

I think anyone who really cares about human health and the environment is already going to be biking, using mass transit, or at least driving an EV. I’m obviously in favor of EVs, in general, so I don’t want to be (or come across as) biased towards EVs in my comparisons. For simplicity’s sake. Adding in the extra costs I’m going to note below would be more challenging and time consuming. (Of course, if you’re really comparing the costs of these cars in an OCD cost-benefit analysis way, you can add in more variables.)

Now, real quickly, here are some of the factors that are not being included in the cost comparisons below:

Pros

The benefits to your health, and public health as a whole, from not emitting the pollution that comes from burning gas. (That’s a huge cost, and if you were to add that in, EVs would be the hands-down winner in almost all comparisons.)

Same thing for the climate. (Again, if you add climate costs in, EVs would be the clear winners.)

The benefits that come from greater comfort. (EVs are nearly silent and offer a smoother ride.)

The benefit of not having to stress about gas price swings.

The benefit of not being as affected by inflation.

If you have solar panels, being even more protected again inflation and increases in “fuel” prices.

The time savings from not going to the gas station, not getting oil changes, and bringing your car in for maintenance less often.

The benefits of reducing our country’s dependence on foreign oil, and thus improving national security.

Of course, the good feeling that comes with all the benefits above is a benefit in itself.

Cons

If financing, more likely with an EV since the sticker price is higher, you pay more to the bank/financer.

If driving a long distance, you have to plan intelligently and take more breaks (or rent a car, if the company you bought your EV from doesn’t offer that for free).

Anything to add? Drop a note in the comments.

On to the fun:

vs

After taking the $7,500 federal tax credit, below are 5 hypothetical cost comparisons between the Nissan Leaf and the Nissan Juke (feel free to conduct your own experiments / change the assumptions using this spreadsheet). Maintenance costs per mile and battery replacement costs are kept constant in my 5 comparisons — see the spreadsheet for assumptions.

Comparison #1 Assumptions:

Don’t live in California. (Californians can get an extra $2,500 tax credit.)

$4.00/gallon of gas. (Average over the course of ownership, but used from Day 1.)

12¢/kWh of electricity. (Currently, the nationwide average, but can vary greatly from region to region and based on time of day. Also, some utilities actually offer extremely low or $0/kWh EV-charging electricity rates.)

13,476 miles driven per year. (The nationwide average based on the DOT’s last count.)

Leaf: 99 MPGe / Juke: 29 MPG.

Result:

Nissan Leaf is cheaper after just over 1 year of ownership. Save almost $7,000 after 5 years of ownership.

Comparison #2 Assumptions:

Live in California.

$4.00/gallon of gas.

12¢/kWh of electricity.

13,476 miles driven per year.

Leaf: 99 MPGe / Juke: 29 MPG.

Result:

Nissan Leaf is cheaper within 1st year of ownership (and ever after). Save almost $10,000 after 5 years of ownership.

Comparison #3 Assumptions:

Live in California.

$4.50/gallon of gas.

12¢/kWh of electricity.

13,476 miles driven per year.

Leaf: 99 MPGe / Juke: 29 MPG.

Result:

Nissan Leaf is much cheaper within 1st year of ownership (and ever after). Save over $10,000 after 5 years of ownership.

Comparison #4 Assumptions:

Don’t live in California.

$3.50/gallon of gas.

12¢/kWh of electricity.

17,000 miles driven per year.

Leaf: 99 MPGe / Juke: 29 MPG.

Result:

Nissan Leaf is cheaper within 1st year of ownership (and ever after). Save over $7,000 after 5 years of ownership.

Comparison #5 Assumptions:

Don’t live in California.

$4.00/gallon of gas.

12¢/kWh of electricity.

10,000 miles driven per year.

Leaf: 99 MPGe / Juke: 29 MPG.

Result:

Nissan Leaf is cheaper within 1st year of ownership (and ever after). Save nearly $5,000 after 5 years of ownership.

Previous comparisons can be viewed here: