Phoenix Mechanic Weighs Cost and Climate Benefits of Switching from Gas Car to Electric Vehicle

PHOENIX – Rising gasoline prices have some Americans thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle, a significant financial decision complicated by the Republican-led termination of federal subsidies worth up to $7,500 last year. Guadalupe Higuera, 30, of Phoenix, Arizona, bought his Chevrolet Equinox electric vehicle before that incentive ended but continues to question whether the choice was financially prudent. Higuera, who grew up around auto repair, responded to NPR’s request for questions about reducing climate impact and saving money.

Higuera asked: “At what point does it make sense to ditch a gas car for an electric vehicle? Does it make sense to replace it at a certain age or mileage? Or do we just drive it until the wheels fall off?” He says his question is motivated by both saving money and reducing his contribution to the greenhouse gases that are warming the climate. After investigating his question, the answer regarding climate pollution is clear: it makes sense to switch to an electric vehicle now. On saving money, the answer is more complicated, but Higuera concludes that switching to an electric vehicle was a good financial choice, too.

One reason Higuera questioned his decision was that nothing was wrong with his previous car, a 2016 Jeep Wrangler. His family has owned an auto repair shop north of downtown Phoenix since before he was born, so he grew up with the idea that it is wasteful to get rid of a car that still runs fine. “I remember having that conversation with my parents [and] my older brother, before I got my current car,” Higuera says. “And they’re like, ‘your car — we can keep fixing it. It’s still good. There’s nothing wrong with it.’”

Americans are keeping their vehicles longer. According to the U.S. Bureau of Transportation Statistics, the average age of cars and light trucks on the road increased to 12.8 years. Often, a big factor in deciding whether to get a new car is repair costs, according to AAA. Not everyone has the benefit of getting the family discount for repairs, as Higuera does. There are lessons for everyone considering an electric vehicle in answering Higuera’s question. The analysis compared the costs of keeping his Jeep with buying his electric vehicle, using a tool that calculated typical repair costs rather than his family discount, so the comparison can be useful to others.

Comparing the cost of a 10-year-old Jeep to a year-old Chevy electric vehicle gets complicated and involves more than just the cost of fuel. For example, while maintenance is cheaper for a newer electric vehicle, insurance costs are higher because they include parts, such as batteries, that are expensive to replace. Some websites to figure out costs for new cars include Consumer Reports and Edmunds. Helpful calculators with specific information also exist, such as the fuel-savings calculator that Andrew Krulewitz, an Oakland, California resident, developed for a car dealership that sells many electric vehicles. It allows adjustment of the number of miles driven each year, electricity costs, gas prices and vehicle efficiency.

To compare a more complete list of the costs for Higuera’s 2016 Jeep and his 2025 Chevy electric vehicle, NPR Cars and Energy Correspondent Camila Domonoske chose a federal Energy Department calculator. It includes fuel, tires, maintenance, registration, license, insurance and a loan payment. Working with Higuera, she started with a $0 cost for his Jeep, since he already owned it. For the electric vehicle, she entered $23,000, calculated as the $45,500 purchase price minus the $7,500 tax credit and $15,000 from selling the Jeep. The calculator figured his electricity cost based on the state where he lives, Arizona. Then Higuera and Domonoske entered the gas price.

This analysis mirrors other recent comparisons between internal combustion engine vehicles and electric vehicles, such as a 2025 study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology that found electric vehicle ownership costs vary significantly by state due to electricity rates and gasoline taxes. Similarly, a 2024 report from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory highlighted that total cost of ownership for electric vehicles can be up to 15% lower than comparable gasoline vehicles over a 15-year lifespan, though upfront purchase price remains a barrier for many consumers.