EVs cost about half as much to maintain as gas vehicles
Fewer moving parts means fewer things to break. No oil changes, no timing belts, no transmission service. Here's what the numbers look like over time.
~$550
avg. EV maintenance/year
~$1,200
avg. gas car maintenance/year
$6,500+
typical savings over 10 years
Cumulative maintenance costs over time
Select a time period. Based on 15,000 miles/year with typical service schedules.
⚡
Tesla Model 3
Mostly tires, wipers, cabin filter
EV
$2,750
⛽
Toyota Camry
Oil changes, spark plugs, belts add up
Gas
$6,400
⛽
Ford F-150
Trucks have higher service costs
Gas
$8,300
🔋
Toyota RAV4 Hybrid
Less than gas, more than full EV
Hybrid
$4,900
Sources: AAA Your Driving Costs 2023, Consumer Reports owner surveys, manufacturer service schedules.
What you're actually paying for — year by year
A breakdown of typical services for an EV vs. a gas vehicle at each major milestone.
Year 1
⚡ EV
Tire rotation (×2)
Wiper blades
Cabin filter
$550 total
⛽ Gas
Oil changes (×2–3)
Tire rotation (×2)
Air filter
Wiper blades
$900 total
EV saves$350
Year 3
⚡ EV
Tire rotation (×6)
Cabin filter (×1)
Wiper blades (×3)
Brake fluid flush
$1,650 total
⛽ Gas
Oil changes (×8)
Spark plugs
Air filter (×2)
Transmission check
Brake fluid
Wiper blades
$3,100 total
EV saves$1,450
Year 5
⚡ EV
Everything above
First set of brake pads (likely)
Tire replacement
$2,750 total
⛽ Gas
Everything above
Brake pads
Coolant flush
Serpentine belt check
Tire replacement
$6,400 total
EV saves$3,650
Year 10
⚡ EV
All prior items ×2
Battery health check
12V battery replacement
$5,500 total
⛽ Gas
All prior items ×2
Timing belt
Spark plugs (×3)
Full brake job
Oxygen sensors
$13,800 total
EV saves$8,300
What EVs skip entirely
Every one of these is a routine gas-car expense that EV owners never pay.
Service
Frequency
Gas cost
EV cost
Oil & filter changes
Every 5,000–7,500 mi
$150/yr
$0
Spark plugs
Every 30,000–100,000 mi
$150–300
$0
Transmission service
Every 30,000–60,000 mi
$100–250
$0
Engine air filter
Every 15,000–30,000 mi
$25–60
$0
Timing belt replacement
Every 60,000–100,000 mi
$500–1,200
$0
Coolant / antifreeze flush
Every 30,000–50,000 mi
$100–150
$0
Serpentine belt
Every 60,000–100,000 mi
$75–200
$0
Oxygen sensors
Every 60,000–90,000 mi
$150–300
$0
What both vehicles still need
EVs aren't maintenance-free — but the list is much shorter and cheaper.
Service
Frequency
Est. cost
Notes
Tire rotation & balancing
Every 5,000–7,500 mi
$80–120/yr
Same for both
Wiper blades
Every 12 months
$20–40/yr
Same for both
Cabin air filter
Every 15,000–25,000 mi
$20–50
Same for both
Brake fluid flush
Every 2–3 years
$80–130
Same for both
Brake pads & rotors
Every 25,000–65,000 mi
$300–600/axle
EVs last 2–3× longer — regenerative braking reduces wear
Battery coolant (EV)
Every 5 years
$50–100
EV-only — the thermal management loop, not a 12V battery
Important caveat
The one wildcard: battery replacement
Most EV batteries last well beyond their warranty period. But if a pack does fail outside of warranty, replacement is expensive. Battery prices are dropping fast — but factor this in for long-term ownership.
Replacement cost
$5,000–$20,000
Varies widely by model. New packs are cheaper every year as production scales.
Real-world lifespan
200,000–300,000 mi
Based on Tesla fleet telemetry and Recurrent's 20,000+ EV owner dataset.
Federal warranty
8 yr / 100,000 mi
All EVs sold in the US must warranty the battery for at least 8 years by law.
See your full cost of ownership
Maintenance is one piece. Add fuel costs to see the complete picture for your vehicles and location.
Maintenance cost estimates are based on AAA Your Driving Costs 2023 report, Consumer Reports Annual Auto Survey, and manufacturer-published service schedules. Individual costs vary by region, labor rates, and driving habits. Battery lifespan data from Recurrent Auto (2023) and Tesla vehicle fleet statistics.