Electric Cars Vs. Gas Cars (And Why One Might Be Better)

If you're even remotely a part of the car world, you've likely heard of the largest debate around which is the better one: electric vs. gas cars. As broad of a question, that is, if you were just to ask, "Are EVs[1] better than ICE-powered cars?", there isn't one correct answer. Take it as someone asking you which painting you like more: the Mona Lisa or the Starry Night.

Well, it comes down to personal preferences and opinions. It's actually a great comparison because both paintings aren't even in the same category. One is a portrait painting from the Renaissance, whereas the other is a Post-Impressionist Landscape that originated 400 years later.

Okay, you're not here for a history lesson[2], or maybe you are, but you can't simply answer which one is better between electric vs gas cars[3]. What you can do is bring in categories such as pricing, efficiency, range, ownership costs, and all that good stuff and see which one does better. Rather than trying to put a crown on one, just take it as a discussion of which one best suits you.

By the end of this, you'll know whether a gas-powered or electric car suits your needs, wishes, wants, and preferences.

In order to give you the most up-to-date and accurate information possible, the data used to compile this article was sourced from various manufacturer websites and other authoritative sources, including the EPA, AAA, ConsumerReports, CarAndDriver, and CarEdge.

Related

How Electric Cars Stack Up Against Gas- And Hydrogen-Powered Cars[4]

Conventional fuel sources don't quite match up to pure electrification.

Fuel Economies And Range

Tesla 

Starting out with one of the hottest categories when throwing EVs and ICE vehicles in the same mix is fuel economy and range. Ironically, when it comes to efficiency, these two types of vehicles are terrible comparisons. Another minor history lesson, but most people are familiar with the term MPG, which means Miles-Per-Gallon.

Electric vehicles don't really run on the same system; in fact, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) started to develop a similar formula for an electric vehicle's efficiency in the 1990s, and in 2010, the EPA introduced "MPGe". The additional "e" at the end stands for "Equivalent" because it's not a definite comparison to a gas-powered car, but it's close. This formula has a long history, taking years to perfect, but it's an interesting part of the car world: "What does MPGe mean, and how is it calculated[5]?".

Fuel Costs And Savings

William Clavey | TopSpeed

While it's not the most optimal area to compare, and some would describe it as comparing apples to oranges, it doesn't hurt to dive into efficiencies, ranges, and fuel costs.

To try and provide the most unbiased and ideal comparisons, you'll see three EVs that will be compared to their closest counterparts. This isn't that hard because many brands offer models that come in both ICE and electric with the same body. The non-electric Hyundai Kona[6] and Kona EV[7] are the first pair, with the non-electric Chevrolet Equinox[8] and Equinox EV[9] being the second pair.

To spice it up, since not every EV has a non-electric counterpart, the Tesla Model 3[10] and BMW 3 Series[11] are a great comparison in pricing, luxury, popularity, and more.

Electric Cars vs. Gas Cars Pros And Cons: Fuel Economy, Ranges, And Costs

	Hyudnai Kona Vs Kona EV	Chevrolet Equinox Vs Equinox EV	BMW 3 Series Vs Tesla Model 3
Fuel Economy (Combined)	EV - 103-118 MPGe; ICE - 27-31 MPG	EV - 96-109 MPGe ICE - 26-27 MPG	EV - 128-137 MPGe ICE - 29-31 MPG
Range	EV- 200-261 Miles; ICE - 335-384 Miles	EV - 307-319 Miles ICE - 400-406 Miles	EV - 346-363 Miles ICE - 452-484 Miles
5-Year Fuel Cost (Save Or Spend)	EV - 'Save' £4,750-£5,000 ICE - 'Save' £750 or Spend £250	EV - 'Save' £4,250-£4,750 ICE - 'Spend' £250-£500	EV - 'Save' £5,250-£5,500 ICE - 'Spend' £1,500-£2,000
Annual Fuel Cost	EV - £650-£700 ICE - £1,500-£1,700	EV - £700-£750 ICE - £1,700-£1,750	EV - £550-£600 ICE - £1,950-£2,050
Cost To Drive 25 Miles	EV - £1.07-£1.16 ICE - £2.48-£2.84	EV - £1.17-£1.32 ICE - £2.84-£2.95	EV - £0.92-£0.99 ICE - £3.23-£3.46

There's a lot to dive into this category since it is the one that is typically touched on the most. You can skip efficiency; all the data is there, but it's not the easiest to understand, and EVs, 9 times out of 10, will always be more efficient than their gas-counter parts[12].

You're not skipping over it because EVs one-upped gas; instead, as shown with MPG and MPGe, they aren't really comparable, nor do you get anything out of comparing 31 MPG to 118 MPGe. Range, on the other hand, you'll see that each gas-powered vehicle offers more range than its electric counterpart. This isn't a huge surprise, but it doesn't mean that there aren't cases where EVs provide more range than gas cars[13].

When it comes to spending or saving on fuel costs, every electric vehicle on the table will save you on fuel costs after five years. This isn't the case for the ICE models, with some saving you a couple of hundred dollars or possibly making you spend a couple of hundred dollars. Lastly, the annual fuel costs are much higher on ICE models, whereas the EVs show their low charging costs.

Related

How Much Gas Money You'll Save Over 5 Years With The Tesla Model Y[14]

The Tesla Model Y is a great option to consider if you want to reduce your monthly fuel bill.

Technology

Mercedes-Benz

The next area is a bit more dialed back than the discussion of range and fuel costs.

Technology is one of the main centre points in the automotive world, and like most things, it's constantly evolving. You've likely seen various electric cars where they look like they came from the future or another world[15]. Whether you're looking at Mercedes, Lucid, Rivian, Tesla, Volvo, you name it, almost all car brands that dabble in the electric automotive industry focus on technology.

There are some reasons behind this that may clear up the questions over which platform has the better technology.

Gas Vs. EV Technology

For starters, it's a no-brainer that EVs likely offer the best technology, and it's not the reason you would think. The large infotainment screens or shiny interior lights aren't why EVs do it better[16]; it's because EVs run entirely on technology.

Yes, gasoline-powered cars aren't ancient anymore. They also run on technology and various systems, but not as much as EVs. There are still cars out today that can get away with being jumped and not running on systems, whereas if EVs have no operating system, you're not going anywhere.

But if you were just to look at the technology in the interior[17], it's likely that EVs still offer better features. This is a bit of a "cop-out" answer, but there are many reasons for that. The main one is that many high-end luxury car brands have shifted their focus onto EVs[18], which sheds more light on their innovative technology.

Electric vehicle powerhouses are significantly simpler than gas-powered cars, allowing brands to focus on other areas, such as technology. It's a whole rabbit hole, but it should be noted that each side has cars that demonstrate the same level of tech; it's just who has more of it.

Related

GM Patenting Technology That Allows EVs To Charge Other EVs While Charging[19]

This system would allow you to daisy-chain multiple electric vehicles together.

Maintenance Costs

Hyundai Newsroom

As you've noticed, it's not as simple if you're trying to answer, "Why are gas cars better than electric?" or vice versa. Maintenance is another area that can guide you in the right direction when discussing electric cars vs gas cars.

Similar to efficiency and range, both types of vehicles aren't similar due to their gas-powered engines or electric motors. Due to the differences, you'll see that each performs worse or better regarding maintenance costs.

The Difference Between Electric Motors And Internal Combustion Engines

Chevrolet

Without going into another history lesson, there is a lot to note when comparing gasoline-powered engines to electric motors. Most are familiar with the general idea or understanding of internal combustion engines but may be unfamiliar with EV batteries.

As stated above, EVs are mechanically simpler than ICE vehicles[20]. This is due to fewer moving parts and fewer liquids, which plays a crucial part in maintenance costs for electric vehicles.

Electric Cars Vs Gas Cars Pros And Cons: Maintenance Costs

	Hyudnai Kona Vs Kona EV	Chevrolet Equinox Vs Equinox EV	BMW 3 Series Vs Tesla Model 3
1-Year MaintenanceAnd Repairs	EV - £1,060 ICE - £1,365	EV - £1,998 ICE - £2,220	EV - £1,461 ICE - £1,487
5-Year Maintenance And Repairs	EV - £5,302 ICE - £6,827	EV - £9,993 ICE - £11,104	EV - £7,305 ICE - £7,439

Bringing back the earlier models and their counterparts, you'll see that the EVs do better regarding maintenance costs. For the Hyundai Konas, the non-electric model is still cost-effective but still has higher costs compared to its EV counterpart.

This is the same for the Equinox models, reflecting the same outcome seen on the Konas. Surprisingly, Tesla is the number one brand when it comes to low maintenance costs[21], but the BMW 3 Series stays within the same ballpark, only being almost a hundred dollars in the same range.

Related

Why Electric Cars Are So Reliable[22]

The myth of EVs being unreliable has been debunked, and here's all you need to know.

Performance

BMW

Another area worth mentioning when tackling the debate about "electric vs gas cars" is performance. It's a talking point that isn't always the best to venture down, but since it's always a conversation in the car world, you'll look at the Kona models and luxury sedans. Hyundai offers both Konas at an affordable price[23], which will soon be discussed, and both performances are lackluster for both platforms.

With its single electric motor, the Kona EV delivers 201 horsepower and 188 pound-feet of torque. For the non-electric Kona, it runs on a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine, making 147 horsepower and 132 pound-feet of torque. The EV is quicker in a 0-60 mile-per-hour sprint, managing a 6.4-6.8 second run time, whereas the non-electric Kona finishes in the mid-sevens[24].

Electric Cars Vs Gas Cars Pros And Cons: Performance

	Kona EV	Kona	Tesla Model 3	BMW 3-Series
Powertrain/Motor Setup	Single-Electric Motor	2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder Engine	Single- Or- Dual Electric Motors	2.0-Liter Four-Cylinder Engine Or- 3.0-Liter Inline Six-Cylinder Engine
Horsepower	201 HP	147 HP	286-510 HP	255-386 HP
Torque	188 LB-FT	132 LB-FT	322-554 LB-FT	295-369 LB-FT
0-60 MPH	6.4-6.8 Sec. (TopSpeed Est.)	7.3-7.5 Sec. (Car & Driver Est.)	2.9-4.9 Sec.	4.1-5.6 Sec.

This is where things can get a bit dicey, because Tesla offers the Model 3 in three setups[25], all under the "same model".

BMW, on the other hand, has a powertrain on the 330i but offers a more powerful system on the M340i. Both are technically a 3-series, but also different models. However, since Tesla swapped a single electric motor out for a dual motor between trims, it could be argued that this is the same case with BMW switching motors.

The Model 3 provides 286 to 510 horsepower and 322 to 554 pound-feet of torque[26], completing a 2.9 to 4.9-second 0-60 sprint. The BMW 3 Series can either house a 2.0-liter four-cylinder on the 330i or a 3.0-liter inline six-cylinder on the M340i. This luxury sedan offers 255 to 386 horsepower, with its torque in the same range.

For its 0-60 time, the 3-Series runs 4.1 to 5.6 seconds.

Sustainability; Lower Emissions, Environmental Impact, And Noise

Chevrolet

Briefly touching onto a subcategory of performance, or more importantly, the power systems these vehicles run on, is sustainability and environmental impact[27]. Yes, you've probably heard of this, but it is worth mentioning that this is one hundred percent correct: EVs produce lower emissions and are less harmful to the planet. There are a lot of myths about EVs, such as all charging stations run on generators/gas, or that the production of EVs is just as harmful, but these have been debunked[28].

As shown below, every EV you've seen today receives a 10/10, meaning it doesn't produce any emissions, unlike its counterparts, which do emit carbon emissions.

Electric Cars Vs Gas Cars Pros And Cons: Emissions

	Hyudnai Kona Vs Kona EV	Chevrolet Equinox Vs Equinox EV	BMW 3 Series Vs Tesla Model 3
Emissions	EV - 10/10 ICE - 5-6/10	EV - 10/10 ICE - 5/10	EV - 10/10 ICE - 6/10

Related

Volkswagen Braces For £1.5 Billion Emissions Fine[29]

Volkswagen isn't hitting EU emissions targets, and now it's paying for it.

Pricing

William Clavey | TopSpeed

The last area for the discussion on "gas vs electric cars" is pricing. It's general knowledge in the car world that EVs generally pull in higher price tags than gas-powered cars. This is true, and according to CarEdge, the average price of a new car is £48,641[30], whereas the average cost for an electric vehicle[31] is £55,273.

This isn't all too bad, but with how many affordable gas-powered cars are on the market, it makes EVs look a lot more expensive than they actually are. You can't really compare 1000 gas-powered cars to 100 EVs. There are more gas-powered cars on the market and options, but each platform has affordable options, as well as expensive ones.

Gas Versus EV Starting Prices

2025 Hyundai Kona	£24,550
2025 Hyundai Kona EV	£41,150
2025 Chevrolet Equinox	£28,600
2025 Chevrolet Equinox EV	£41,900
2025 BMW 3 Series	£45,950
2025 Tesla Model 3	£42,490

EV Incentives: Taxes, Rebates, And Free Charging

Tesla Charging via X

One area that might make it complicated to answer "Why are gas cars better than electric?", is all the incentives that are tied to EVs.

Depending on the amount you spent, what model you bought, and where you live, there's a high chance that you could qualify for incentives[32] such as taxes and rebates or free charging. The rebates can go as high as £7,500, and many companies, like Tesla, offer five years of free gas. In the gas-powered industry, you won't be finding any deals like that.

The great aspect about discussing gas vs electric cars is that it isn't limited to five categories, such as the ones you just read about.

There's plenty more, and in the end, it comes down to personal preference.

Whether you opt for one or the other, who cares about answering "Why are gas cars better than electric" or "Why are electric cars better than gas", you likely already know what platform suits you best.

References

1. ^ EVs (www.topspeed.com)
2. ^ history lesson (www.topspeed.com)
3. ^ which one is better between electric vs gas cars (www.topspeed.com)
4. ^ How Electric Cars Stack Up Against Gas- And Hydrogen-Powered Cars (www.topspeed.com)
5. ^ What does MPGe mean, and how is it calculated (www.topspeed.com)
6. ^ non-electric Hyundai Kona (www.topspeed.com)
7. ^ Kona EV (www.topspeed.com)
8. ^ non-electric Chevrolet Equinox (www.topspeed.com)
9. ^ Equinox EV (www.topspeed.com)
10. ^ Tesla Model 3 (www.topspeed.com)
11. ^ BMW 3 Series (www.topspeed.com)
12. ^ always be more efficient than their gas-counter parts (www.topspeed.com)
13. ^ it doesn't mean that there aren't cases where EVs provide more range than gas cars (www.topspeed.com)
14. ^ How Much Gas Money You'll Save Over 5 Years With The Tesla Model Y (www.topspeed.com)
15. ^ they look like they came from the future or another world (www.topspeed.com)
16. ^ large infotainment screens or shiny interior lights aren't why EVs do it better (www.topspeed.com)
17. ^ look at the technology in the interior (www.topspeed.com)
18. ^ many high-end luxury car brands have shifted their focus onto EVs (www.topspeed.com)
19. ^ GM Patenting Technology That Allows EVs To Charge Other EVs While Charging (www.topspeed.com)
20. ^ EVs are mechanically simpler than ICE vehicles (www.topspeed.com)
21. ^ number one brand when it comes to low maintenance costs (www.consumerreports.org)
22. ^ Why Electric Cars Are So Reliable (www.topspeed.com)
23. ^ Hyundai offers both Konas at an affordable price (www.topspeed.com)
24. ^ non-electric Kona finishes in the mid-sevens (www.caranddriver.com)
25. ^ Tesla offers the Model 3 in three setups (www.topspeed.com)
26. ^ Model 3 provides 286 to 510 horsepower and 322 to 554 pound-feet of torque (www.topspeed.com)
27. ^ sustainability and environmental impact (www.topspeed.com)
28. ^ these have been debunked (www.topspeed.com)
29. ^ Volkswagen Braces For £1.5 Billion Emissions Fine (www.topspeed.com)
30. ^ average price of a new car is £48,641 (caredge.com)
31. ^ average cost for an electric vehicle (caredge.com)
32. ^ there's a high chance that you could qualify for incentives (www.topspeed.com)