[katsura]

I made some back-of-the-napkin calculations, and based on the electric range and outside charging prices it didn't seem like electric cars are really that much cheaper. The only time they clearly come out on top is when you can charge them at home at off peak hours, at least around here. PHEVs are in an even worse situation because even though they have a small battery, they need to be charged for quite some time, so outside charging is kind of off the table.

[NovemberWhiskey]

Your back-of-napkin calculations must assume values for the price of gas and the price of electricity.

If, like in CA, gas is $5.46/gallon (ref. https://gasprices.aaa.com/) and electricity is $0.19/kWh (ref. https://www.electricchoice.com/electricity-prices-by-state/) then the equation looks very different from if gas is $4.74/gallon and electricity is $0.33/kWh like HI.

[ac29]

Those electricity prices are way off for California. PGE, which serves most of the state, charges over $0.30/kwh even off peak with a EV focused rate plan. Peak rates on any plan are much, much higher.

[NovemberWhiskey]

My basic point is that "is a PHEV/EV good value?" is a very local question since the economics of electric power and gasoline are local as well.

[lorax]

DC Fast charging prices are usually quite high (45-50 c/kwh and may well be near the cost of gas, but not all PHEV's support that. Level 2 charging is usually much cheaper (20-30 c/kwh) though slower. So if you can charge at one of those (such as at work) it also works out to be cheaper than gas.