Guide

EV vs gasoline vs diesel: the real running-cost maths

Three fuels, one honest comparison. Here's what each costs to drive 50 km a day in the Philippines — and why electricity comes out ahead even against the cheapest pump.

Updated 2026 · Reading time ~4 minutes

Sticker prices grab attention, but running cost is where the money quietly leaks — or stays in your pocket — every single day. Let's compare the three drivetrains on the same 50 km daily commute, using realistic Philippine prices.

The formula

Every comparison reduces to two simple sums:

• Fuel car: (distance ÷ km per litre) × price per litre.
• Electric car: (kWh per 100 km ÷ 100) × distance × price per kWh.

50 km a day, compared

Using ~₱76/L gasoline, ~₱90/L diesel and a ₱14/kWh electricity rate:

The electric car costs roughly a third of what the petrol or diesel car costs to run. A hybrid lands in between — better than pure petrol, but it still buys fuel every week.

Why diesel being "cheaper" doesn't save it

Diesel engines are efficient, but the fuel itself has been priced close to — sometimes above — gasoline in the Philippines in recent years. Better economy narrows the gap versus petrol, yet neither comes close to electricity's cost per kilometre. Even at the cheapest pump in town, the pump loses.

What this comparison leaves out

Running cost is only one column of the ledger. It does not include the EV's usually higher purchase price, battery longevity, resale value, or the convenience of public fast-charging on long trips. What it does show is the recurring, unavoidable cost of simply moving the car each day — and that number strongly favours electric.

Make it your own numbers

Your commute isn't 50 km, your car isn't exactly 12 km/L, and your electricity rate isn't ours. The calculator lets you set all three and compare instantly against every EV sold in the Philippines.