With gas prices in New Jersey continuing to fluctuate, many drivers are asking the same question: Does it finally make financial sense to switch to an electric vehicle, or is sticking with a traditional gas-powered car still the smarter option?
At first glance, electric vehicles (EVs) appear to offer major savings. Charging an EV is generally much cheaper than filling up at the pump, especially for drivers who commute long distances each week. A typical gas-powered vehicle in New Jersey averaging 25 miles per gallon can easily cost thousands per year in fuel alone, depending on gas prices. By comparison, many EV owners report spending significantly less on electricity to travel the same distance — particularly if charging at home during off-peak hours.
But the real comparison goes beyond just gas versus electricity.
Maintenance is another major factor where electric vehicles often have an advantage. EVs have far fewer moving parts than traditional gas vehicles. There are no oil changes, no transmission fluid services, no spark plugs, and generally less wear on braking systems due to regenerative braking technology. Many EV owners say they visit mechanics far less often than they did with gas-powered vehicles.
On the other hand, electric cars are not without headaches.
Some drivers complain about limited charging infrastructure, especially during long trips. Charging times can also be inconvenient compared to the few minutes it takes to fill a gas tank. Battery replacement costs — while uncommon early on — remain a concern for many buyers once vehicles age. Insurance costs for EVs can also sometimes be higher.
In New Jersey specifically, the state’s relatively high electricity costs can reduce some of the savings compared to other parts of the country. Drivers who rely heavily on public fast chargers instead of home charging may also find that the savings are not as dramatic as advertised.
Meanwhile, traditional gas vehicles still offer advantages in convenience, range, upfront purchase price, and quick refueling. Mechanics are also far more familiar with repairing gas-powered vehicles, and parts are widely available.
Still, supporters of EVs argue that the lower maintenance costs and fuel savings often outweigh the negatives over time — especially for drivers who rack up many miles each year.
The debate has become even more relevant as more New Jersey residents consider making the switch, while others who already bought EVs are now sharing mixed experiences after living with them for several years.
TLS wants to hear from readers who own electric vehicles:
Do you actually feel like you’re saving money compared to owning a gas car? Has maintenance truly been easier? Or has owning an EV created more headaches than expected?
Share your experiences in the comments.
don’t forget can cost you aprox $800. to install the outlet at your home
I installed one for $250
This answer to this question mostly depends on how much you drive. I drive a Tesla Model 3 around 30,000 miles a year.
An average mile costs me ~5¢, with practically no maintenance. Brakes and rotors are practically never replaced. No trips to the gas station or the mechanic. I plug it in at night, just like my phone. Plus, it drives like a breeze, and can run circles around a gas car for every metric.
At around 30 miles/gallon and ~$4.50 a gallon of gas, the cost per mile, before maintenance and trips to the gas station, is 15¢.
That’s 3x more expensive. After maintenance, a gas car is ~4x more expensive.
If you drive 2 miles a day, it doesn’t matter.
150 miles a day, it does matter.
Somewhere in between, then the difference shrinks.
For me, it’s electric all the way!!
I couldn’t wait to get out of my EV!! Maybe the cost for charging is cheaper than gas BUT for most people, time is important!! If u are someone who uses a decent amount of miles (beyond just local errands and carpool. A road trip or out of state or even the tri-state area) charging is the worst to deal with!! If you find a public charger not too far off your path, there is always ( or almost always) at least 1-3 cars ahead of you. You need to patiently wait your turn, which can be sometimes 30 min to an hour PER CAR!! Or go find another one. There may be multiple chargers however most times they are broken and only 1 or work. Or only slower chargers are available. The super fast chargers break down all the time!! . And if u stay somewhere overnight like hotels with on site chargers, they are extremely slow charges and u cannot leave it charging endlessly. They limit it to 5 or 6 hrs. With the price of electricity these days, I’m not so sure the price is cheaper by much. The world is not ready for EVs!! Stick with gas!
Did you have a charger at your house?
Obviously you did not drive a Tesla. There charging network is much more reliable. Plus you really need to be able to charge at your home for most of the charging.
There are also additional registration fees in NJ for EVs. Also tires are more expensive and wear quicker than gas cars due to EV’s weight. And newer gas cars have relatively low repairs compared to years past unless you get get cars with bad reliability.
DMV adds on a $270 surcharge in addition to the registration fee. What incentive is that to encourage more drivers to buy an EV?
The reason the government adds surcharges to EV registrations is because there are taxes on gasoline which are intended to pay for roads and the like, and EV do not pay these taxes. But some of the cost of gasoline is these taxes. So you can’t look at the price of gasoline vs electricity and then at the surcharge on registrations as two unrelated matters. They’re just a matter of different vehicles paying the same tax in different forms.
[FWIW, it’s widely accepted that EVs cause much more wear-and-tear on the roads than ICE vehicles, due to their much heavier weight (which is also why they are much more costly on tires). But I’m not sure whether and to what extent this might be reflected in the registration fees.]
I drive a Tesla Model Y for 2 years. For my driving needs, I wouldn’t go back to an ICE car. If you can’t or won’t put in a charger at your house, absolutely do not get it. If you drive more than 275 miles a day often, don’t get it. In the 2 years that I have my car, I used a public charger about 10 times. In those 10 times, I never had to wait for a charger.
I have a plug- hybrid and I feel I have the best of both worlds. I get ~130 miles per gallon when I plug it in every night. A full charge gives me about 30 miles in just electric which is perfect for a day of driving locally. The gas tank is also very small so it costs me $30-$40 to fill up. When I fill up my gas and I have a full charge, I have about 520 miles. I know I paid a little bit more for the car, but I think in the long run it’s worth it. I did have a problem with my 12V battery and it was a few hundred dollars, but not covered by the warranty since it’s not the hybrid battery. Another downside is that I feel like most local mechanics don’t know how to deal with hybrid and they send you straight to the dealer. Hopefully this will get better as most cars become hybrid.
Just wanted to add that the charger comes with the car and does not need to be installed- it goes into regular outlet. The tires are also regular tires. The DMV also doesn’t charge the extra EV charge since it also uses gas
the only disadvantage for gas cars is well gas prices and let’s say maintenance… oil etc.
however the disadvantages of ev cars that no one talk about are very important to note.
put all these together and how much money are u actually saving?
My 2021 Tesla 3 now has 98,200 miles.
It is much cheaper to run than a combustion vehicle.
Insurance is not much more as EV’s are loaded with standard safety features & during an accident or at a sharp curve they will not flip over as they are very heavy and they grip the road.
Unlike a gas vehicle EV’s drive beautifully through high flood waters with no damage.
Every 20,000 miles I DIY replace the 2 cabin filters $15, The 2 windshield wiper blades $17, 1 gallon of washer fluid $3 = $35, and at 70,000 miles I replaced the 4 tires with Michelin original equipment tires total $1,100. ( I have the base model with 18 inch wheels). Most Tesla’s will never need brakes as they slow down to a stop while easing off of the accelerator.
EV’s are about the same price as a comparable gas vehicle; but besides price even base models the comfort, the silent smooth powerful acceleration & all the technology in them they are no comparison to a gas vehicle.
i also have a 2024 gas suv for big trips or to pick up merchandise which only has 11,400 miles on it as I use the Tesla 90% of the time, the performance & everything there is nothing like it.
My Pros for having a Tesla.
Everyone pointed out already low maintenance, gas vs electric, less usage of brakes.
The buying process is seamless.
No dealerships and sales people trying to rip you off.
Safety in these cars are amazing. Cameras all around. Chas Vshlom in an accident it may save your life.
It is super unusual for a Tesla to go on fire no matter what the media tell you.
Feature vs $$ value is very good.
Great Commuter car.
Car can pay for itself.
You can schedule the car to charge, pre-condition (when cold or hot outside).
Control your car from your phone.
Ride is very comfortable with a Tesla.
Purchasing a used Tesla is a better risk vs a used gas car.
Self driving (FSD) is $107 a month after tax.
Still very useful for those with disabilities, those who do not like to drive long distance and for those who simply want an “assistant” to drive them. It is crazy how well it works.
Fact is Model 3 and Model Y are priced very similar to it’s gas counterparts.
No keys. A keycard or your smartphone is your key.
Grok/AI built into the car. Useful to get info while driving.
Backup camera is top notch. Not an issue when driving backwards even at night.
Do NOT buy a Tesla if you…
Do not have a level 2 outlet at your home to charge it overnight. Do not drive that much.
If you are not comfortable with tech do not buy. You will not be happy with the car.
Like to bring your car often to a mechanic.
If you do not have a smartphone or wifi at your home. Car needs to connect to wifi for updates.
You do not like trying new tech.
Cons:
It is true that tires may need to be changed more often BUT tire manufactures now make EV tires where tread does last longer for EV’s.
Some say insurance more. It is but not crazy more to my knowledge. Talk to your insurance advisor first to see price difference.
It is true VERY long trips (4+ hours of highway driving) will take longer.
No mini van option YET. Seven passenger Model Y only works for small children in the back seats.
As of late electric has gone up in price so the savings driving a Tesla has been cut due to this.
Installing a EV charger will cost $$ but in the long run it will be worth the cost.
Educate yourself before buying. Tons of online videos available.