#car
5 articles
10-Year TCO Scoreboard: With the $7,500 Federal Credit Gone, a $42K EV Beats a $30K Gas Car by $750
$42K EV vs $30K gas car, 150,000 miles, 10 years: purchase, fuel, maintenance, insurance, depreciation. The federal clean vehicle credit ended for EVs acquired after September 30, 2025, which turns an $8,250 EV win into a $750 coin flip.
10-Year Cost: $75K Buy vs $96K Lease vs $24K Transit
Same person, same city, same 10-year horizon. Buy: $75K total. Lease: $96K (highest because you never stop paying). Transit: $24K where it works. The path matters more than the brand.
Without the $7,500 Credit, EV Break-Even Is 11.2 Years at Average Rates. Mileage Can Cut It to 6.5
The federal EV credit ended for vehicles acquired after September 30, 2025, so a $42K EV now starts $12,000 above a $30K gas car. We reran five scenarios: break-even ranges from 6.5 years at 25,000 miles a year to more than 20 at 8,000.
$12K Used Car Real Cost Over 5 Years: ~$28K (New Runs ~$32K)
5-year-old used car at $12K: + $12K repairs + $1.8K financing premium + $2.5K fuel penalty = ~$28,300 total. Same car bought new at $30K runs ~$32,000 over the same 5 years. Used wins, but not by as much as the sticker suggests.
Your $400 Car Payment Is Really $850/Month (and $1M Over 30 Years)
The car payment is one line item out of six. Add depreciation, insurance, fuel, maintenance, and registration, and a $35K new car costs $850/month for five years. Compounded over 30 years, that's $1.02M not invested.