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electric truck ownership costs

Used Electric Truck vs. Gas Truck: Which Is Cheaper to Own?

A used electric pickup may save on energy and routine maintenance, but purchase price, depreciation, charging access, insurance and towing can change the result. Here’s how to compare real trucks.

By CarCody Team 6 min read
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A used electric truck can cost less to run than a comparable gas truck, but it is not automatically cheaper to own. The answer depends on the actual purchase price, resale value, local energy costs, charging access, insurance and repair exposure—and on whether you tow or drive long distances. Compare specific trucks over the same ownership period rather than deciding from fuel bills alone.

What determines which truck costs less?

Compare total ownership cost over the same number of years and miles. Include what you pay to buy and finance the truck, its likely resale value, energy, insurance, maintenance and repairs, taxes and fees, and any charging equipment or installation you need. A lower electricity bill does not settle the comparison if the electric truck costs more upfront or depreciates faster.

Use candidates that are as closely matched as possible: model year, trim, condition, mileage, equipment and location. A used electric pickup compared with a much older or higher-mileage gas truck is not a meaningful like-for-like test.

How to compare two specific used trucks

  1. Set the same ownership horizon and mileage. Choose how long you expect to keep each truck and estimate annual miles. Use the same assumptions for both.
  2. Start with the actual deal. Use the negotiated price, then add financing costs and local taxes and fees. Do not substitute a national headline price for the listings you can actually buy.
  3. Estimate resale value. Subtract expected sale or trade-in value at the end of your ownership period from the purchase cost. Published estimates can help orient you, but they are not promises; condition, mileage, market and location matter.
  4. Calculate energy cost from your use. For a gas truck, estimate fuel from expected miles, fuel economy and local gasoline prices. For an electric truck, use its energy consumption and your local electricity rates, accounting for the share of charging at home versus public stations.
  5. Get insurance quotes and estimate upkeep. Quote each exact vehicle and include likely maintenance and repairs rather than assuming either drivetrain is repair-free.
  6. Add charging setup if needed. Include the equipment and installation cost if your home or other regular charging location does not already support the charging you need. Requirements and cost vary by property and electrical service.
  7. Check incentives only if you qualify. Confirm current buyer, vehicle and transaction eligibility before counting a tax credit or other incentive; do not assume one applies.

For each truck, add the costs over the chosen period and subtract the expected resale value. Then compare the totals and note which assumptions could change the result most, especially resale value, mileage, energy prices and charging mix.

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Why an electric truck’s energy advantage varies

Electricity and gasoline prices differ by location, and charging behavior matters. A buyer who can charge mostly at home may face a different energy cost from someone who depends on public charging. The Environmental Defense Fund’s comparison methodology models a mix of home and public charging and state-varying electricity and gasoline costs; its assumptions are a useful reminder that one national fuel-savings figure cannot represent every driver. Environmental Defense Fund vehicle cost methodology.

If you need to install a home charger, treat that as an upfront ownership cost rather than hiding it in the electricity rate. Some comparisons include Level 2 charger installation, and a Vermont fleet study lists EVSE purchase, installation and operation as separate lines. Those studies do not establish that every used-truck buyer needs the same charger or installation. Before buying equipment, confirm connector compatibility, amperage, your electrical service and the vehicle’s charging requirements with a qualified installer.

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Why asking price and depreciation can decide the result

Used-truck prices and resale values can shift the comparison more than routine energy savings. Kelley Blue Book’s location-specific page for a 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Pro showed a Fair Purchase Price of $42,620 for the displayed ZIP code, with estimated private-party values of $37,920–$42,020 and trade-in values of $36,020–$39,920. Those displayed values were valid through September 24, 2026; they are not nationwide averages or a current quote for every buyer. The page also reported estimated depreciation of $11,875, or 22%, over the prior year and cautioned that this estimate is not a guarantee. Kelley Blue Book’s 2025 Lightning Pro valuation page.

Use a valuation tool as one input, then compare local listings and likely resale values for the specific trim and condition. A large expected loss in value can outweigh lower energy costs; a favorable used purchase price can improve the electric truck’s case.

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What published ownership estimates can—and cannot—tell you

Published studies help identify cost categories and illustrate possible outcomes, but none of the available figures below is a direct, matched comparison of used electric and gas pickups for your location.

Example What it covers How to use it
Edmunds: $71,495 Five-year True Cost to Own estimate for a selected new 2025 Ford F-150 Lightning Flash configuration, assuming 15,000 miles per year. The displayed estimate itemizes $31,017 depreciation, $5,919 fuel, $5,727 insurance, $989 repairs and $4,553 maintenance, plus financing and taxes/fees. Federal EV tax credits are not included in the displayed ownership totals. Use it to see the kinds of costs a TCO estimate may include, not as the expected cost of a used truck or every owner’s result. Edmunds estimate and assumptions.
Vermont study: $52,098 gasoline pickup versus $47,424 electric pickup A modeled light-duty truck comparison by Vermont Energy Investment Corporation and Drive Electric Vermont, allocating purchase price, fuel or energy, maintenance, EVSE purchase, installation and operation, and an incentive. The table labels lifetime mileage at 6,533 miles; the excerpt does not establish the study year. Do not read this as an ordinary five-year ownership result. Its mileage basis and modeled scope differ from a typical personal-truck comparison. Vermont fleet electrification study.
Clean Energy Canada: $77,721 electric versus $117,867 gasoline 2024 comparison of new Canadian F-150 trims, using Canadian 2023 retail gasoline and electricity prices and 20,000 km of annual driving. This is an example of an EV advantage under Canadian new-vehicle assumptions, not a direct answer for a used U.S. truck buyer. Clean Energy Canada report and methodology.

Does towing change the calculation?

It can. Towing increases the work an electric truck must do and can reduce range, which may mean more frequent or longer charging stops as well as higher energy use. In an Edmunds test reported by the Associated Press in 2023, towing a trailer increased electricity use and reduced maximum range by 27%. That is one test example, not a universal range penalty or a cost multiplier for every trailer, route or truck. Associated Press report on the towing test.

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If towing is part of your regular work, base the electric truck’s energy estimate on comparable loaded trips and consider whether charging is available along your routes. A calculation based only on unloaded commuting can overstate savings and understate the practical cost of charging time and detours.

Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Support on Ko-Fi

When a used electric truck is more likely to save money

  • You can buy it for a competitive price compared with a similarly capable gas truck.
  • You can charge at home or another low-cost, reliable location for much of your driving.
  • You drive enough miles for lower energy and routine maintenance expenses to matter over your ownership period.
  • Your insurance, financing and expected resale numbers do not erase those savings.
  • Your regular work fits the truck’s usable range and charging access, including when loaded or towing.

When a gas truck may be cheaper or more practical

  • The comparable electric truck costs substantially more to buy or has a less favorable expected resale value.
  • You rely on relatively expensive public charging or would need costly electrical work to charge at home.
  • You drive modest annual mileage, leaving less time for lower energy costs to offset a purchase-price difference.
  • Your towing, payload or long-distance routine makes charging time and access a significant operating constraint.
  • The electric truck’s insurance, financing or repair costs are higher for your particular quotes and condition.

So, is a used electric truck worth it?

It can be, particularly for a buyer who finds a well-priced truck, has convenient low-cost charging and drives enough miles to benefit from lower energy costs. A gas truck can still win when its purchase and resale economics are better, charging is inconvenient or the truck’s regular work demands make electric operation costly or impractical. The decisive comparison is the total cost of the two specific trucks over the same period—not the drivetrain label.

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