How much a US Tesla driver spends over five years vs Toyota Sienna gas costs and the contrast is striking

Here’s how much a US Tesla driver spends over five years compared with the cost of owning a gas-powered Toyota Sienna.

The debate over how much an EV costs versus a gas car continues to rage, with many still not convinced that going electric is the way forward.

However, GOBankingRates has worked out the monthly costs of each and the difference is clear to see.

The results are interesting, with a lot of it coming down to what part of the United States you live in.

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Toyota Sienna gas costs

According to Toyota, the Sienna will get at least 36MPG combined.

That gives us some idea as to what the costs actually are.

According to AAA, the national average price of gasoline is $3.20 per gallon.

If you needed enough gasoline for 1,100 miles per month, that is roughly 30.5 gallons.

Doing the maths allows you to work out that it could cost $98 a month.

But that depends on where you live.

In California, gas averages at around $4.50, so the price rises to $137.

In Mississippi, though, gas is cheaper, and the cost can drop to around $85.

So it is easy to see why location can be such a big factor in the monthly costs of running a car.

Tesla electricity prices

Tesla driver costs work out dramatically different.

If you want to go the same 1,100 miles as in the Sienna, you will need around 250kWh of electricity.

The national average stands at $0.17 per kWh according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

That is roughly $42 a month, a huge saving versus the Toyota.

Rates can change, with the $0.12kWh in Louisiana meaning the same month would cost you around $30.

It jumps up hugely in Hawaii, with the $0.42kWh price equating to around $105 a month.

The five-year costs are also worth paying attention to.

Savings over five years

Using the national averages, Tesla drivers save around $56 per month.

That is around $672 each year compared to Sienna drivers.

Over five years, that equates to roughly $3,360 in fuel savings.

For Americans, it looks like electricity is the cheaper option.

With EV prices expected to come down in the next few years, electric cars may be even more irresistible.

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