Electric Vehicle Calculator India — FY 2025-26

Q: What is the PM E-DRIVE subsidy for electric vehicles?

PM E-DRIVE replaced the FAME II scheme in October 2024. For electric 2-wheelers, the subsidy is ₹2,500 per kWh of battery capacity, capped at 15% of ex-showroom price. There is currently no central government subsidy for private electric cars. Some states like Delhi, Gujarat, and Maharashtra offer additional state-level subsidies.

Q: How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home vs public charger?

Home charging costs ₹5-8 per kWh (about ₹0.80-1.20 per km for a car). Public fast chargers cost ₹15-20 per kWh (about ₹2.00-2.70 per km). Both are significantly cheaper than petrol at ₹6-7 per km. For maximum savings, charge at home overnight whenever possible.

Q: Do electric vehicles have lower resale value than petrol vehicles?

Currently EVs in India depreciate 20-30% more than equivalent ICE vehicles due to battery concerns and fast technology evolution. A 5-year-old EV might retain 35-45% of value vs 50-60% for petrol. This gap is narrowing as EV adoption increases and OEM battery warranties (8 years, 70% capacity) help preserve value.

Q: How long does an EV battery last and what is the replacement cost?

Most EV batteries are warrantied for 8 years or 1,60,000 km with 70% capacity retention. Batteries degrade about 10-15% over 8 years with normal use. Replacement cost is ₹30,000-60,000 for scooters and ₹5-8 lakh for cars, but actual replacement within warranty is rare.

Is an electric car or scooter actually cheaper than petrol? Compare the total cost of ownership over 5 years, calculate your monthly charging cost vs petrol, and find out exactly when the EV pays for itself. Includes PM E-DRIVE subsidy, home vs public charging rates, and Indian number formatting.

Compare total cost of ownership: electric vs petrol vehicle

Vehicle type

Defaults update for scooter or car

EV on-road price

₹

On-road price of the electric vehicle

Petrol vehicle on-road price

₹

On-road price of the petrol alternative

Monthly distance

Average monthly kilometres driven

Holding period

years

How long you plan to keep the vehicle

Electricity rate

₹/kWh

Home electricity cost per kWh (₹5-8 typical)

Petrol price

₹/L

Current petrol price per litre

EV efficiency

Wh/km

Energy consumed per km (scooter ~30, car ~150)

Petrol mileage

km/L

Fuel efficiency of petrol vehicle

EV annual maintenance

₹

Annual service and maintenance cost

Petrol annual maintenance

₹

Annual service, oil change, etc.

EV annual insurance

₹

EV insurance premiums are 15-20% higher

Petrol annual insurance

₹

Annual insurance premium

Include PM E-DRIVE subsidy

₹2,500/kWh for 2-wheelers, capped at 15%. No subsidy for private cars.

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How to Use This Calculator

EV vs Petrol TCO tab

Select your vehicle type (scooter or car), enter the on-road prices of both EV and petrol options, your monthly distance, and holding period. The calculator computes the total cost of ownership including purchase price, fuel/charging, maintenance, insurance, and resale value. Use "More options" to fine-tune electricity rates, petrol mileage, and PM E-DRIVE subsidy.

Charging Cost tab

Enter your daily commute distance, EV efficiency (Wh/km), and electricity rate. The calculator shows your monthly EV charging cost vs petrol cost side by side. You can also specify what percentage of charging happens at public fast chargers (which cost more) vs home charging.

Break-Even Point tab

Enter the EV price premium (how much more the EV costs compared to the petrol option) and your monthly fuel saving. The calculator shows exactly how many months it takes for fuel savings to pay back the extra cost of going electric, with a year-by-year savings timeline.

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The Formula

Total Cost of Ownership is calculated by summing all costs over the holding period:

Total Cost of Ownership (TCO):
TCO = Purchase Price + Fuel Cost + Maintenance + Insurance − Resale Value

EV Charging Cost:
Monthly cost = (Daily km × 26 days × Wh/km / 1000) × &rupee;/kWh

Petrol Fuel Cost:
Monthly cost = (Daily km × 26 days / km per litre) × &rupee;/litre

Break-Even (months):
Break-even = EV Price Premium / Monthly Fuel Saving

Where:
Wh/km = EV energy consumption (scooter ~30, car ~150)
26 days = approximate working days per month
Resale value accounts for higher depreciation of EVs (20-30% more than ICE)

The TCO calculation is a simplified model. Real-world costs vary based on driving patterns, electricity slab rates, actual fuel efficiency, and battery degradation over time. Road tax exemptions available in some states are not included.

Example

Rahul — Pune IT professional, comparing Ather 450X vs Honda Activa

Rahul commutes 25 km daily (round trip) in Pune. He is deciding between an Ather 450X (EV scooter, &rupee;1,40,000 on-road) and a Honda Activa (petrol, &rupee;85,000 on-road). He plans to keep the scooter for 5 years.

Step 1: Monthly fuel cost comparison

Daily commute25 km

Monthly distance (26 days)650 km

Ather efficiency30 Wh/km

Activa mileage50 km/L

Step 2: Monthly costs

EV charging (home, &rupee;6/kWh)&rupee;117/month

Petrol cost (&rupee;105/L)&rupee;1,365/month

Monthly fuel saving&rupee;1,248/month

Step 3: 5-year TCO

Ather TCO (5 years)&rupee;1,76,520

Activa TCO (5 years)&rupee;1,70,400

Difference&rupee;6,120 (Activa slightly cheaper)

Step 4: Break-even

EV price premium&rupee;55,000

Monthly fuel saving&rupee;1,248

Break-even in44 months (3.7 years)

For Rahul's usage, the EV scooter breaks even in under 4 years on fuel savings alone. Including lower maintenance costs, the EV becomes cheaper overall by year 5. For higher daily commutes (40+ km), EVs become clearly cheaper within 2-3 years.

FAQ

Is an electric scooter cheaper than a petrol scooter in India? ▼

For most daily commuters (20+ km/day), an electric scooter is cheaper over 4-5 years despite the higher purchase price. The running cost of an EV scooter is &rupee;0.15-0.25/km (home charging) vs &rupee;2.50-3.50/km for petrol. This translates to saving &rupee;1,000-2,000/month on fuel. Maintenance is also lower (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements). The break-even typically happens in 2-4 years depending on daily distance. For very low usage (<10 km/day), the petrol scooter may remain cheaper due to the price premium.

What is the PM E-DRIVE subsidy for electric vehicles? ▼

PM E-DRIVE (Electric Drive Revolution in Innovative Vehicle Enhancement) replaced the FAME II scheme in October 2024. For electric 2-wheelers, the subsidy is &rupee;2,500 per kWh of battery capacity, capped at 15% of the ex-showroom price. This subsidy is expected to halve from April 2025. Important: There is currently no central government subsidy for private electric cars under PM E-DRIVE — it covers only e-buses and commercial vehicles. Some states like Delhi, Gujarat, and Maharashtra offer additional state-level subsidies (road tax exemption, registration fee waiver).

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home vs public charger? ▼

Home charging: &rupee;5-8 per kWh depending on your state's domestic electricity tariff and consumption slab. A typical EV car with 40 kWh battery costs &rupee;200-320 for a full charge, giving 250-300 km range. That is about &rupee;0.80-1.20 per km. Public fast chargers (Tata Power, Ather Grid, BPCL): &rupee;15-20 per kWh, making a full charge &rupee;600-800. The same car costs &rupee;2.00-2.70 per km with public charging — still cheaper than petrol (&rupee;6-7/km) but significantly more than home charging. For maximum savings, charge at home overnight whenever possible.

Do electric vehicles have lower resale value than petrol vehicles? ▼

Currently, yes. EVs in India typically depreciate 20-30% more than equivalent ICE vehicles. This is due to battery degradation concerns, fast technology evolution (newer models with better range make older ones less desirable), and a still-developing used EV market. A 5-year-old EV might retain 35-45% of its value vs 50-60% for a petrol vehicle. However, this gap is narrowing as EV adoption increases. OEM battery warranties (typically 8 years, 70% capacity) help preserve resale value. Tesla and Tata Nexon EV have shown improving resale trends as buyer confidence grows.

How long does an EV battery last and what is the replacement cost? ▼

Most EV batteries are warrantied for 8 years or 1,60,000 km, whichever comes first, with a guarantee of at least 70% capacity retention. In practice, batteries degrade about 10-15% over 8 years with normal use. Battery replacement cost is the biggest concern: a scooter battery costs &rupee;30,000-60,000, while a car battery costs &rupee;5-8 lakh. However, actual replacement is rare within the warranty period. Factors that accelerate degradation: frequent fast charging, extreme heat, deep discharges. For optimal battery life, keep charge between 20-80%, prefer slow home charging, and avoid leaving the vehicle in direct sunlight for extended periods.

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