Should You Buy A Petrol, CNG, Diesel, Hybrid, Or Electric Car? Find Out Which Has Lower Running Cost

Petrol Car (Maruti Swift): The Maruti Swift with petrol offers 25.75 kmpl. With petrol priced at Rs 96.65 per liter in Delhi, the cost calculation for 100 km is:

 

-- Fuel needed: 100 km / 25.75 kmpl = 3.88 liters -- Cost: 3.88 liters × Rs 96.65 = Rs 374.02 -- Running cost for 100 km: Rs 374.02

CNG Car (Maruti Swift): The CNG variant of the Maruti Swift delivers 32.85 km/kg. With CNG priced at Rs 75.09/kg, the cost is:

 

-- Fuel needed: 100 km / 32.85 km/kg = 3.04 kg -- Cost: 3.04 kg × Rs 75.09 = Rs 228.28 -- Running cost for 100 km: Rs 228.28

Diesel Car (Tata Nexon): The Tata Nexon diesel variant provides a mileage of 24.07 kmpl. Diesel in Delhi costs Rs 87.62 per liter:

 

-- Fuel needed: 100 km / 24.07 kmpl = 4.15 liters -- Cost: 4.15 liters × Rs 87.62 = Rs 363.63 -- Running cost for 100 km: Rs 363.63

Hybrid Car (Maruti Grand Vitara): The Maruti Grand Vitara (hybrid) offers 27.97 kmpl. Using the petrol price of Rs 96.65 per liter:

 

-- Fuel needed: 100 km / 27.97 kmpl = 3.57 liters -- Cost: 3.57 liters × Rs 96.65 = Rs 345.07 -- Running cost for 100 km: Rs 345.07

Electric Car (Tata Nexon Electric Long Range): The Tata Nexon Electric, with a 45 kWh battery, claims a range of 489 km per full charge. Charging at a DC fast charger costs Rs 22 per unit (approx), while at home, it is Rs 7 per unit (approx):

 

-- Electricity needed: 100 km / 489 km × 45 kWh = 9.2 kWh -- Cost at DC charger: 9.2 kWh × Rs 22 = Rs 202.40 -- Cost at home: 9.2 kWh × Rs 7 = Rs 64.40 -- Running cost for 100 km: Rs 202.40 (DC charger), Rs 64.40 (home charger)

Conclusion: This concludes that the electric car has the lowest running cost while charging at home and if charging outside at a DC fast charger the running cost gets closer to the CNG car. However, the upfront cost at the time of purchasing an electric car is higher than any of the others.