Not all EVs save drivers money—but these ones do

A new study reveals that the total cash one saves by opting for an EV over a gas-powered car all depends on the brand or the vehicle—painting an entirely different picture on what it costs to go electric.

The study—compiled by the data research company, Vincentric—also makes you wonder if there are still some sales associates relying solely on the pitch, “you’ll never have to go to a gas pump again,” as if that’s enough to flip a car buyer to an EV.

Big picture: According to Vincentric’s 2025 Electric Vehicle Cost of Ownership Analysis, less than half of EVs actually come out ahead on long-term costs. Out of 54 EV models analyzed, just 44% had a lower five-year total cost of ownership than their gas-powered counterparts.

The details: Vincentric’s report consisted of over 5,100 vehicle configurations, and revealed that the electric vehicle with the lowest total cost of ownership in the U.S. is the 2025 Nissan Leaf, with the 2025 Porsche Taycan racking up the most savings compared to its gas-powered alternative.

• A 2025 Nissan Leaf has a 5-year total ownership cost of $40,881—which includes factors, spanning depreciation and insurance costs to maintenance and repairs.

• The study found that a 2025 Porsche Taycan had $15,549 in cost savings compared to the 2025 Porsche Panamera.

• A comparison between a 2024 Audi A7 and 2024 Tesla Model S revealed that the EV saves owners a total of $11,365 compared to the gas-powered A7.

Why compare a gas-powered A7 with a Model S, you ask? Well, because any study assessing the costs of EVs is bound to reference Tesla, given how the brand has defined so many aspects of the market. Of the 54 EVs in the study, only five qualified for the federal rebate.

Between the lines: As far as companies overall, one clearly stands out more than any in the study when it comes to the long-term cash benefits of going all-electric.

• Of the top 10 vehicles with the lowest total cost to own, Hyundai Motor Company holds five spots on the list, the most of any other brand—followed by Nissan with two vehicles in the ranking.

• The list of Hyundai vehicles includes the Hyundai Kona Electric SE at the third spot, with a total ownership cost of $43,466, and the 2024 Hyundai Ioniq 5 SE Standard Range, with a total cost of $55,172.

• Hyundai Motor Company’s Kia brand earned two spots on the list, including the 2024 Kia Niro EV Wind and the 2024 Kia EV6 Light, with total ownership costs listed at $50,263 and $52,217, respectively. 

Bottom line: Providing buyers with a clearer understanding of the potential long-term savings of EVs compared to ICE (internal combustion engine) vehicles might win over more customers in limbo about the idea because of the (typically) higher upfront costs to purchase an electric vehicle.

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