💰 Running Cost Calculator
Calculate daily, monthly & yearly EV costs — 20 Indian cities
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Here’s a question every Indian EV buyer asks — but almost nobody gives a straight, honest answer to: “What is my EV’s actual running cost per km?” Not the brochure number. Not the ARAI lab figure. The real rupee amount that hits your electricity bill every month. In 2025, the EV Running Cost per km Calculator ranges from as low as ₹0.60/km for an electric two-wheeler charged at home to ₹2.20/km for a larger electric SUV using public fast charging. That’s still dramatically cheaper than petrol — but knowing your exact number helps you plan smarter.
Use the EV Running Cost per km Calculator above to get your personalised figure in under 60 seconds. While you’re here, you’ll also want to check our EV vs petrol cost comparison tool to see your total annual savings, and our EV charging cost calculator to break down your monthly electricity spend by charging type. Together, these three tools give you a complete picture of EV ownership costs in India — numbers you can actually trust.
All the data behind this tool and the guide below comes from real-world usage reports by EVCommunity.in members — EV owners driving daily in Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Pune, and Tier 2 cities across India. We cross-reference manufacturer specs with actual owner-reported efficiency figures to give you numbers that reflect Indian roads, Indian traffic, and Indian temperatures — not a European test lab.
How the EV Running Cost per km Calculator Works
The tool is simple to use but sophisticated under the hood. Enter your EV model, your primary charging type (home AC or public DC), your city’s electricity tariff, and your average daily distance. The calculator outputs your cost per km in ₹ — and also shows you monthly and annual totals so the savings feel real and tangible.
Here’s the key variable the calculator handles that most online guides ignore: real-world efficiency vs rated efficiency. Manufacturers quote a range figure under ideal conditions. In actual Indian usage — stop-go city traffic, AC running at full blast in May, hilly terrain on NH48 — your EV’s energy consumption per km is 15–25% higher than claimed. Our calculator applies a realistic efficiency correction factor based on your city and vehicle type, so you’re never caught off guard.
EV Running Cost per km — Real-World Data for Popular Indian EVs (2025)
This is the data that matters. Not what the manufacturer claims, but what Indian EV owners are actually experiencing on the road.
Electric Cars — Running Cost per km
| Vehicle | Battery | Rated Range | Real-World Range | Home Charging Cost/km | Public DC Cost/km |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tata Nexon EV (40.5 kWh) | 40.5 kWh | 465 km | 280–320 km | ₹1.10–₹1.40 | ₹2.80–₹3.60 |
| Tata Tiago EV (24 kWh) | 24 kWh | 315 km | 180–210 km | ₹0.95–₹1.25 | ₹2.50–₹3.20 |
| Hyundai Creta Electric | 51.4 kWh | 473 km | 320–360 km | ₹1.15–₹1.50 | ₹2.90–₹3.80 |
| MG Windsor EV | 38 kWh | 331 km | 230–270 km | ₹1.05–₹1.35 | ₹2.70–₹3.50 |
| Mahindra BE 6 | 59 kWh | 535 km | 370–420 km | ₹1.20–₹1.55 | ₹3.00–₹3.90 |
Electric Two-Wheelers — Running Cost per km
| Vehicle | Battery | Real-World Range | Home Charging Cost/km | Swap/Public Cost/km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ola S1 Pro (4 kWh) | 4 kWh | 100–120 km | ₹0.60–₹0.75 | ₹1.10–₹1.40 |
| Ather 450X (3.7 kWh) | 3.7 kWh | 85–105 km | ₹0.65–₹0.80 | ₹1.20–₹1.50 |
| TVS iQube ST (5.1 kWh) | 5.1 kWh | 130–150 km | ₹0.55–₹0.70 | ₹1.05–₹1.35 |
| Bajaj Chetak Premium | 3.0 kWh | 100–115 km | ₹0.60–₹0.72 | ₹1.10–₹1.40 |
| Hero Vida V1 Pro (3.94 kWh) | 3.94 kWh | 110–130 km | ₹0.58–₹0.72 | ₹1.08–₹1.38 |
Calculations based on home electricity rate of ₹6/unit and public DC rate of ₹20/unit. Adjust for your city using the calculator above.
EVCommunity Verdict: Home charging is non-negotiable if you want EV economics to genuinely work in your favour. The moment you shift to 50%+ public charging, your cost per km nearly triples — and the financial advantage over petrol shrinks significantly.
EV vs Petrol — Running Cost per km Compared Honestly
Let’s put the numbers side by side, because this is what makes the case for EVs in India in 2025 so compelling — and also where we want to be upfront about the limits.
The Honest Comparison
A petrol car achieving 15 km/l in city conditions, with petrol at ₹103/litre in Bengaluru, costs approximately ₹6.87/km just in fuel. A diesel equivalent at 18 km/l and diesel at ₹90/litre works out to ₹5.00/km. Compare that to the Tata Nexon EV at ₹1.10–₹1.40/km on home charging — and you’re looking at 75–80% savings per kilometre.
Even if you factor in the higher purchase price of most EVs, the math favours electrics within 3–4 years for most Indian buyers who drive 40–60 km daily. Our community members in Delhi and Bengaluru who switched from petrol hatchbacks to Tiago EVs report recovering the price premium in under 3 years purely through fuel savings.
Where the Advantage Narrows
However, be honest with yourself about one thing: if you live in an apartment without dedicated parking and will rely on public DC charging for 70%+ of your needs, your effective running cost jumps to ₹2.50–₹3.80/km. That’s still cheaper than petrol, but the advantage is far thinner. Use our EV subsidy calculator to factor in government subsidies, which can significantly change this equation.
5 Factors That Change Your EV Running Cost per km in India
Your running cost per km isn’t a fixed number — it shifts based on five real-world variables that Indian EV owners learn quickly after their first month of ownership.
1. Your City’s Electricity Tariff
Delhi EV owners on low-consumption slabs pay as little as ₹3/unit, giving them some of the lowest running costs in the country — often below ₹0.75/km for two-wheelers. In contrast, Mumbai consumers on MSEDCL’s higher slabs can pay ₹8–₹10/unit, pushing running costs noticeably higher. The calculator adjusts for this automatically.
2. Air Conditioning Usage
Running AC in peak Indian summer — and in cities like Chennai, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad, that’s 8 months of the year — increases energy consumption by 15–25%. A Nexon EV that does 300 km in pleasant Bengaluru weather might deliver only 250–265 km with AC on in Delhi’s May heat. Consequently, your cost per km rises by roughly ₹0.15–₹0.25 in extreme heat conditions.
3. Driving Style & Traffic Conditions
Regenerative braking is one of EVs’ biggest advantages in Indian city traffic — and stop-go Mumbai or Bengaluru conditions actually help EVs recover energy rather than waste it. EV owners in heavy-traffic cities often report better real-world efficiency than those doing highway runs, where speeds above 100 km/h reduce range significantly.
4. Tyre Pressure & Vehicle Maintenance
Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance, directly increasing energy consumption per km. EVCommunity members who track their efficiency meticulously report a measurable improvement of 4–7% in energy consumption simply by maintaining recommended tyre pressure — which in Indian conditions, where roads and temperatures change rapidly, means checking monthly.
5. Battery Age & State of Health
A 5-year-old EV battery at 85% State of Health (SoH) delivers fewer kilometres per charge than a new one — effectively increasing your cost per km even though your electricity rate hasn’t changed. Most Indian EVs warrant 70% SoH for 8 years, but proactive charging habits (keeping SoC between 20–80%, limiting DC fast charging) keep this curve gentle.
What the EV Community Is Saying in 2025
EV owners across our community consistently highlight one insight that surprises new buyers: the running cost per km is actually even lower than they expected in the first few months, because they discover how to use regenerative braking and scheduled charging effectively.
A community member from Bengaluru driving a Tata Nexon EV on a 55 km daily IT commute shared that his effective running cost works out to ₹1.08/km — well below even our conservative estimates — because he charges overnight at the BESCOM domestic slab rate and drives primarily on ORR where traffic flow allows smooth regeneration. Another member in Jaipur with an Ather 450X reports ₹0.62/km on home charging, adding that his biggest monthly EV expense is now his parking subscription, not fuel.
A recurring concern in our forums is from owners in Tier 2 cities like Nagpur, Coimbatore, and Bhubaneswar who worry about public charging reliability affecting their cost calculations. Our guidance is consistent: if you can guarantee home charging even 80% of the time, the running cost economics work strongly in your favour. Join the conversation at EVCommunity.in — thousands of EV owners are sharing real mileage logs, electricity bills, and city-specific tips every week.
Frequently Asked Questions — EV Running Cost per km India
Q: What is the average EV running cost per km in India in 2025? For home-charged electric cars in India, the average running cost is ₹1.00–₹1.55 per km depending on battery size and city electricity tariff. Electric two-wheelers are even cheaper at ₹0.55–₹0.80/km on home charging. Public DC fast charging pushes both categories to 2.5–3x higher. Overall, EVs are 70–80% cheaper per km than comparable petrol vehicles in India.
Q: How does EV running cost per km compare to petrol in India? A petrol car averaging 15 km/l costs around ₹6.50–₹7.50/km in fuel alone at current petrol prices (₹98–₹107/litre across Indian cities in 2025). A comparable EV on home charging costs ₹1.00–₹1.55/km. That’s a saving of ₹5–₹6 per km — which translates to ₹4,500–₹5,400 saved every month for a driver covering 900 km monthly.
Q: Which EV has the lowest running cost per km in India? Among electric two-wheelers, the TVS iQube ST and Hero Vida V1 Pro offer some of the best efficiency, with home charging costs around ₹0.55–₹0.70/km. Among cars, the Tata Tiago EV consistently delivers low running costs at ₹0.95–₹1.25/km on home charging, thanks to its efficient powertrain and smaller battery.
Q: Does EV running cost per km increase in summer in India? Yes — meaningfully so. In cities like Hyderabad, Chennai, and Jaipur where summer temperatures regularly cross 40°C, AC usage increases energy consumption by 15–25%, raising your effective cost per km by ₹0.15–₹0.30. Additionally, battery thermal management systems work harder in extreme heat, consuming additional energy. Factor this into your annual cost estimates.
Q: Is EV running cost per km lower in cities with cheaper electricity? Absolutely. Delhi’s low domestic tariff structure — as low as ₹3/unit for the first 200 units — gives Delhi EV owners a significant advantage. A Tiago EV owner in Delhi can achieve running costs as low as ₹0.65–₹0.85/km, compared to ₹1.10–₹1.40/km for a Mumbai owner on a higher MSEDCL slab. Our calculator automatically adjusts for your city’s tariff.
Q: Does driving on highways increase EV running cost per km? Yes — highway driving at speeds above 90–100 km/h increases aerodynamic drag significantly, reducing range and increasing cost per km. EV owners typically find that highway running costs are 20–30% higher per km than city driving, which is the opposite of petrol vehicles. Plan your long trips with charging stops to avoid running the battery below 20%.
Q: How much does EV running cost per km increase with battery aging? A battery at 80% State of Health delivers 20% fewer kilometres per charge than a new battery, effectively increasing your cost per km by approximately 20% — assuming the same electricity rate. This typically occurs after 8–10 years with good charging habits, or earlier with frequent DC fast charging abuse. Our calculator includes an optional battery age adjustment for older EVs.
Q: What is the EV running cost per km for fleet operators in India? Fleet operators using EVs for cab aggregation or delivery services typically achieve ₹1.20–₹1.80/km on a mix of home-base AC charging and occasional DC fast charging. Several Ola and Uber driver-partners in our community report saving ₹8,000–₹12,000/month versus CNG vehicles — making EVs highly attractive for commercial light-duty use in Indian metros.
Calculate Your Number — Then Drive with Confidence
You now have everything you need to understand exactly what your EV costs per kilometre on Indian roads in 2025. We’ve covered real-world efficiency data for 10 popular EVs, city-wise cost breakdowns, the honest EV vs petrol comparison, and every factor that shifts your number up or down.
Your next step is simple: plug your details into the EV Running Cost per km Calculator above and get your personalised ₹/km figure. Then share it — with a friend still driving petrol, a family member considering an EV, or a colleague who thinks EVs are “too expensive.” The real numbers tell a story that brochures never do.
Bring your actual running cost figures — monthly bills, efficiency readings, charging logs — to EVCommunity.in. Our community of thousands of Indian EV owners thrives on real data, and your experience might be exactly what helps someone else make the switch.
Every kilometre driven on electricity is a rupee not spent on petrol — and a step toward an India that breathes a little easier.
Data last updated: May 2025 | Sources: EVCommunity member efficiency reports, DISCOM tariff schedules, OEM specification sheets, VAHAN EV dashboard. Real-world range figures represent community-average across 500+ owner reports.