What Does It Really Cost to Drive Electric in Arizona?
At our community events and EV Ride & Drive days, one topic comes up again and again: cost. People are curious, skeptical, and often surprised by what it actually costs to own and drive an electric vehicle in Arizona. The short answer is simple: if you charge at home, an EV is dramatically cheaper to “fuel” than a gasoline car—and the savings show up every month.
Before diving in, one important clarification: the comparisons below focus only on fuel or energy costs—what you pay for gasoline versus electricity to drive the same distance. They don’t include vehicle purchase price, financing, registration, insurance, or maintenance (we’ll touch on those later).
Gasoline: Familiar, but Expensive—and Unpredictable
A commonly used benchmark for an “average” gasoline passenger car is about 24.4 miles per gallon (U.S. Department of Energy fuel‑economy data, https://afdc.energy.gov/data/10310)
Gas prices, however, are anything but stable. As of February 25, 2026, AAA lists Arizona’s statewide average price for regular gasoline at about $3.27 per gallon.
At roughly 24.4 mpg, that works out to about $13 in fuel cost per 100 miles driven. And when gas prices rise—as they often do—that number climbs quickly.
The bigger issue is volatility. Gasoline prices are tied to global oil markets, refinery outages, and seasonal demand. Drivers have very little control over what they’ll pay from one week to the next.
Electric Vehicles: Home Charging Changes the Math
Most EV owners do the majority of their charging at home, where electricity is both cheaper and far more predictable than gasoline.
In Arizona, utilities such as APS, SRP, and TEP offer time‑of‑use (TOU) plans that make electricity least expensive during specific hours—often overnight. Under these plans, off‑peak (or super off‑peak) electricity commonly falls in the 5–8¢ per kWh range, depending on the plan, season, and time of day.
This is where EV costs can look complicated on paper—but powerful in real life. When you charge matters. Most EVs allow you to schedule charging so it happens automatically during the cheapest hours. You don’t need perfect optimization—just a routine that reliably meets your daily driving needs while hitting low‑cost hours most of the time.
The Simple Comparison: Cost per 100 Miles
A typical EV travels about 3–4 miles per kilowatt‑hour (kWh). At common Arizona off‑peak home rates, many drivers see fuel costs in the range of:
EV (typical off‑peak home charging): ~$3–$5 per 100 miles
EV (best off‑peak strategy): ~$1–$2 per 100 miles
Compared to gasoline at roughly $13 per 100 miles, home‑charged EV driving is commonly two to five times cheaper on fuel alone.
What That Looks Like Over a Year
For a driver covering 12,000 miles per year, fuel costs often look roughly like this:
Gasoline: about $1,500 per year
EV (home charging): about $360–$720 per year
EV (best off‑peak strategy): about $120–$240 per year
For many Arizona drivers, that’s hundreds to more than a thousand dollars saved every year—without driving less or changing where they go.
Beyond Fuel: Maintenance and Insurance
Fuel savings make the strongest and simplest EV argument in Arizona—but they aren’t the whole ownership story.
Maintenance: EVs Usually Win
EVs eliminate entire categories of routine service: no oil changes, spark plugs, or many engine‑related wear items. They also use regenerative braking, which slows the vehicle by turning motion back into electricity. In practice, this often means less brake wear and fewer brake jobs over time.
Consumer Reports estimates that EV owners spend about 50% less on maintenance and repairs than owners of gasoline vehicles, and the NRDC finds EV maintenance costs are roughly 40% lower per mile on average.
Insurance: The Variable
Insurance costs vary the most. Some EVs can cost more to insure, often due to higher repair costs, specialized parts, or advanced sensors. But this isn’t universal—it depends heavily on the specific make, model, and insurer.
The most practical advice is simple: get quotes on the exact vehicles you’re considering. There is no single “EV insurance cost.”
The Practical Takeaway
If you charge at home, the fuel‑cost advantage of an EV in Arizona is usually large enough to matter on its own. Add in typically lower maintenance costs—especially fewer brake services—and many drivers come out ahead even if insurance is somewhat higher.
Fuel savings are predictable. Maintenance savings are common. Insurance is the variable.