Fuel vs electric: Why the Tesla Model 3 saves drivers over $900 annualy

Drivers eyeing the switch to electric could save the price of a city break each year, according to new research that compares a Tesla Model 3 with a petrol-powered Honda Civic.

Energy analyst Joseph Nagle of Pando Electric assumed 1,000 miles of driving a month. On average across the United States, charging a Model 3 costs $37.50, while filling a Civic’s 33-mpg tank costs $113.63. That is a saving of $76.13 every month, almost $914, or roughly £670, a year.

Even in California, where electricity is dear and petrol dearer, the Tesla spends less. At 33 ¢ per kWh, Model 3 drivers pay $82.50 a month, versus $144.08 for petrol at $4.78 a gallon, a £62 monthly gap. Florida flips the pricing script, yet the result is identical; $40 to charge, $93.32 for fuel, saving $53 a month.

“Regardless of location, driving electric consistently costs significantly less than fuelling a petrol car,” Nagle said in a report. Scaled over a decade, those monthly savings could top $9,000 before inflation – money many households now spend on insurance or loan payments.

The calculations focus purely on energy. Installation of a home charger, peak-rate tariffs and Supercharger fees can nudge totals up or down, while Civic owners still pay for oil changes. But the headline is hard to ignore: in every state tested, electrons beat unleaded.

Read more on Tesla’s Robotaxi launch in Austin raises serious safety questions on day one