If your daily running is 80–150 km (or more), fuel costs compound fast. Below I compare realistic per-km costs, ownership trade-offs, and what actual owners are saying, then wrap with clear recommendations.
What people are saying (owner & expert chatter)
- A long, active Team-BHP poll/thread (2025) shows many high-mileage users gravitating to hybrids & EVs for city use, quoting quiet operation and low running costs; diesel is still liked for highway torque/efficiency, while CNG is praised for value but dinged for boot space and station queues.
- On another Team-BHP discussion about EV repair costs, members note battery/motor repairs can be expensive out of warranty, underscoring the need to verify warranty and service track record.
- A Cardekho long-term EV vs CNG (Tiago) test finds EVs are far cheaper per km (home charging), but payback vs a cheaper CNG can be slow if your daily running isn’t very high. For heavy daily use, the math starts favoring EV sooner.
Today’s running-cost basics (India, Sept 2025)
- Electricity (home): ~₹6–₹10/kWh; public AC: ~₹10–₹14/kWh; public DC fast: ~₹18–₹22/kWh.
- CNG price (major cities): ~₹76–₹96/kg (Delhi ~₹76; Mumbai ~₹77; Bengaluru ~₹89; Hyderabad ~₹96).
- Diesel price (Delhi): ~₹87.65–₹87.67/litre (similar in other metros with minor variation).
Assumptions for fair comparisons
- Daily running: 80 km (base case) and 120 km (high case).
- EV efficiency: Real-world 8–11.5 km/kWh (city-heavy usage; Nexon LR claim is 11.5 km/kWh). I’ll calculate with 9.5 km/kWh mid-point and show ranges.
- CNG efficiency: 20–28 km/kg depending on body style & traffic; I’ll use 24 km/kg mid-point.
- Diesel efficiency: 18–22 km/l for modern compact-to-midsize diesel cars; I’ll use 20 km/l mid-point.
Per-km running cost (fuel/energy only)
| Fuel | Inputs | Cost / km (typical) | Range of outcomes |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV (home charging) | ₹8/kWh; 9.5 km/kWh | ~₹0.84/km | ~₹0.60–₹1.15/km (₹6–₹10/kWh; 8–11.5 km/kWh) |
| EV (public DC fast) | ₹20/kWh; 9.5 km/kWh | ~₹2.10/km | ~₹1.60–₹2.75/km (₹18–₹22/kWh) |
| CNG | ₹85/kg; 24 km/kg | ~₹3.54/km | ~₹2.7–₹4.8/km (₹76–₹96/kg; 20–28 km/kg) |
| Diesel | ₹87.7/l; 20 km/l | ~₹4.38/km | ~₹3.98–₹4.87/km (18–22 km/l; city vs highway) |
Takeaway: EV (home-charged) is the cheapest per km by a wide margin, followed by CNG, then diesel. If you rely mostly on public DC, EV cost rises but usually still under diesel.
Annual fuel/energy spend for 80 km/day
| Fuel | 80 km/day × 300 days = 24,000 km/yr | 120 km/day × 300 days = 36,000 km/yr |
|---|---|---|
| EV (home) | ₹20.2k/yr | ₹30.2k/yr |
| EV (mostly DC) | ₹50.4k/yr | ₹75.6k/yr |
| CNG | ₹85.0k/yr | ₹127.6k/yr |
| Diesel | ₹105.1k/yr | ₹157.6k/yr |
Beyond running cost: the hidden factors
Upfront price & payback
- EVs often cost ₹2–4 lakh more than comparable CNG/diesel trims. A Cardekho test found payback can take years if daily usage is low; at 80–120 km/day, payback accelerates, especially with home charging.
Energy/fuel availability & convenience
- EV: Home charging = unmatched convenience; reliance on public DC increases costs & requires planning. Public tariffs are higher than home.
- CNG: Great value if stations are nearby; queues and boot space loss (cylinder) are common owner pain points.
- Diesel: Ubiquitous fueling and strong highway efficiency.
Maintenance & reliability
- EV: Fewer moving parts; generally lower routine maintenance. But out-of-warranty battery/motor repairs can be pricey, so pick brands with long battery warranties and good service networks. Indicative battery replacements: ₹2–3 lakh (Nexon EV); ₹5 lakh+ (ZS EV)—figures vary widely.
- CNG: Additional periodic checks (leak tests, tank inspections) and potential valve wear; still cheap to run.
- Diesel: Robust for highways; higher service/consumable costs (injectors, DPF on BS6 cars) vs petrol/CNG.
Policy & resale
- Diesel faces age-based restrictions in NCR debates; the Supreme Court recently said “no coercive action” for the moment while review is sought—i.e., still uncertain. If you’re in NCR, factor policy risk.
Real-world owner snippets (short quotes)
“Hybrids are proving much better for me… high mileage, silent, no range anxiety.” — Team-BHP member (2025)
“The biggest advantages I see for an EV are ₹1/km running cost over ~₹3 for CNG, plus home charging.” — Team-BHP member (2024)
(Quotes shortened to stay within fair-use limits.)
Head-to-head: Which suits 80+ km/day best?
| Use case | Winner | Why |
|---|---|---|
| City-heavy 80–150 km/day, home parking with power | EV | Cheapest per km, silent, low maintenance; public DC only for trips. |
| City + short highway, CNG station nearby | CNG | Very economical, quick refuels; watch boot space & station queues. |
| Frequent highways, heavy loads, no home charging nor CNG nearby | Diesel | Best torque & efficiency at speed; widespread fueling; policy risk in NCR. |
| Apartment living + no personal charger + sparse public network | CNG or Diesel | Until charging access improves, EV savings may not materialize. |
Model-agnostic TCO pointers (for your spreadsheet)
- Ask your DISCOM about night EV tariffs or ToD plans; even a ₹2/kWh delta shifts thousands per year.
- Verify battery warranty (years + km) and degradation coverage. Replacement costs vary hugely by model.
- Map your nearest CNG pumps and usual queue times; five 10-minute waits weekly = ~40 hours/year.
- For NCR buyers eyeing diesel, track the ban-review status before purchase.
Conclusion (clear verdict)
- If you can home-charge: Buy an EV. At ₹0.6–₹1.2/km, it’s the hands-down running-cost winner for 80+ km/day. Your upfront premium is likely to pay back within ~3–5 years at this usage (sooner if power is cheap and petrol/diesel/CNG stay high).
- If you cannot home-charge but have strong CNG access: CNG makes the most economic sense, with predictable costs and quick refuels—just account for boot space loss and station availability.
- Choose diesel primarily if you drive long highways with loads or live where CNG/charging are impractical—but price in slightly higher maintenance and policy uncertainty in NCR.
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