Electric Car vs Gasoline: A Real Cost-per-km Comparison
The short answer
Charging at home, an electric car costs up to 78% less per kilometer than running on gasoline; even using only public DC charging stations, the savings are still around 42%. Adding cheaper maintenance (no oil changes, fewer moving parts) and the full IPVA exemption for electrics in Paraná, the total cost of ownership over 5 years also favors the electric.
Is an electric car really cheaper to run? We did the full math comparing two real use profiles in Paraná: urban and highway. The numbers may surprise you.
The fair comparison: same category, real use
For the comparison to make sense, we'll compare vehicles of the same size and use bracket. Our candidates:
- Electric car: BYD Dolphin (44.9 kWh battery, range ~340 km PBEV)
- Gasoline car: popular compact hatchback (average consumption 12.5 km/l in the city)
- Flex car (ethanol): the same hatchback, running on ethanol (8.5 km/l)
All figures are based on average prices in Paraná in April 2026.
Energy cost vs. fuel cost
Let's start with the most obvious cost: what you spend to move the car.
| Fuel | Unit price | Consumption | Cost per km |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | R$ 6.20/liter | 12.5 km/l | R$ 0.50 |
| Ethanol | R$ 4.30/liter | 8.5 km/l | R$ 0.51 |
| Electric (home) | R$ 0.85/kWh | 7.5 km/kWh | R$ 0.11 |
| Electric (public DC) | R$ 2.20/kWh | 7.5 km/kWh | R$ 0.29 |
Charging at home, the electric costs 78% less per km than gasoline. Even using DC charging stations exclusively (the most expensive scenario), the electric still comes out 42% cheaper.
The most realistic scenario
Most electric car owners charge 80% at home and 20% at public charging stations. In that mix, the cost per km is around R$ 0.15 — almost 70% less than gasoline.
Maintenance cost: where the electric pulls ahead
If fuel is already cheaper, maintenance is where the electric car really shines. An electric motor has about 20 moving parts. A combustion engine has more than 2,000.
| Item | Gasoline (annual) | Electric (annual) |
|---|---|---|
| Oil change | R$ 400-600 | None |
| Filters (oil, air, fuel) | R$ 200-350 | Air only |
| Timing belt | R$ 600-1,200 (every 60,000 km) | None |
| Brake pads | R$ 300-500 | R$ 150-300 (last 2-3x longer) |
| Spark plugs and coils | R$ 200-400 | None |
| Clutch | R$ 800-1,500 (when needed) | None |
| General service | R$ 800-1,200 | R$ 300-500 |
In practice, electric car owners report maintenance spending 50 to 70% lower than equivalent combustion vehicles. The regenerative braking system, for example, drastically reduces brake pad wear.
IPVA and incentives in Paraná
Paraná offers one of the best incentive scenarios for electric cars in Brazil. Fully electric vehicles have a full IPVA exemption in the state — a benefit that can mean savings of R$ 3,000 to R$ 8,000 a year, depending on the car's value.
For plug-in hybrid vehicles, there is a reduced rate. This state incentive, combined with the savings on fuel and maintenance, makes the electric's TCO (total cost of ownership) increasingly competitive.
TCO over 5 years: the math that matters
The electric car's purchase price is still higher, but the TCO tells a different story. Let's simulate 5 years at 15,000 km/year:
| Item (5 years) | Gasoline | Electric |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/energy | R$ 37,500 | R$ 11,250 |
| Maintenance | R$ 12,000 | R$ 4,500 |
| IPVA (5 years) | R$ 10,000 | R$ 0 |
| Insurance (estimate) | R$ 15,000 | R$ 17,500 |
| Operating total | R$ 74,500 | R$ 33,250 |
The difference of R$ 41,250 over 5 years in operating cost offsets much (or all) of the difference in purchase price between an electric car and a combustion car of a similar category.
An electric car is not more expensive — it is more expensive to buy. To run, it is significantly cheaper. What matters is how much you spend in total, not just at the dealership.
And depreciation?
Historically, electric cars had steeper depreciation. In 2026, that has changed. With the popularization of BYD and GWM models in Brazil, the used electric market has gained liquidity. Depreciation in the first three years is converging toward levels similar to combustion cars.
Models with good range and an established service network (like the BYD Dolphin and Volvo EX30) tend to hold value better than models from less well-known brands.
Highway scenario: long trips
On trips, the picture changes a bit because you rely more on public charging stations. But the math still favors the electric:
- Curitiba to Florianópolis (~300 km): one DC charging stop. Total energy cost: ~R$ 60. Gasoline: ~R$ 150.
- Curitiba to Londrina (~380 km): one to two charging stops. Cost: ~R$ 75. Gasoline: ~R$ 188.
The savings are smaller on a trip (because you use more public DC), but still significant. And the charging time, with planning, becomes rest time — lunch, coffee, stretching your legs.
Conclusion: when the electric pays off most
The electric car is financially advantageous in practically every regular-use scenario in Paraná. It pays for itself faster when:
- You drive more than 1,000 km a month (the more you drive, the more you save)
- You can charge at home (the cost per km plummets)
- You live in PR (the IPVA exemption makes a huge difference)
- You plan to keep the car for 3+ years (the TCO offsets the purchase difference)
Make the switch with infrastructure
Elektro Charge in Pinhais offers DC Fast Charging 60 kW, 24h. Your charging stop in the Curitiba metropolitan region.
View on Google Maps →
