Calculator
Tesla vs ICE: total cost of ownership calculator (2026)
What it really costs to own a Tesla vs petrol / diesel / LPG / hybrid over 100-200k km. Counts both real Tesla 10-year costs (heat pump, suspension arms, Autopilot windshield, pads+discs) and the big ICE services after 100k (timing belt, clutch, CV joints, DPF). Numbers reflect owner experience, not marketing.
Inputs
Total over the period: 160,000 km — past this point ICE big-ticket services start to bite.
Results
Tesla (electric)$21,989
- Fuel/electricity:
- $11,469
- Base maintenance:
- $1,920
- Big services:
- $6,200
- Tires:
- $2,400
5 big services in this period
- • Brake fluid + coolant + reducer oil cycle (100,000 km) — $1,000
- • Brake discs + pads (120,000 km) — $1,200
- • Front control arms / bushings (130,000 km) — $1,200
- • Heat pump reserve (~50% failure rate by 10y) (150,000 km) — $1,700
- • Rear arms / links / bushings (160,000 km) — $1,100
Petrol ICE$31,510(+$9,521 vs Tesla)
- Fuel/electricity:
- $21,480
- Base maintenance:
- $2,880
- Big services:
- $5,950
- Tires:
- $1,200
7 big services in this period
- • Spark plugs (60,000 km) — $250
- • Timing belt + rollers (100,000 km) — $800
- • Brake discs + pads (120,000 km) — $800
- • CV joints / drive shafts (130,000 km) — $500
- • A/C compressor repair (130,000 km) — $600
- • Transmission service / clutch (150,000 km) — $1,500
- • Suspension control arms (150,000 km) — $1,500
Diesel ICE$32,630(+$10,641 vs Tesla)
- Fuel/electricity:
- $20,280
- Base maintenance:
- $3,200
- Big services:
- $7,950
- Tires:
- $1,200
8 big services in this period
- • DPF / EGR cleaning (80,000 km) — $400
- • Timing belt + rollers (100,000 km) — $850
- • Brake discs + pads (120,000 km) — $800
- • CV joints / drive shafts (130,000 km) — $500
- • A/C compressor repair (130,000 km) — $600
- • Turbo wear-out risk (150,000 km) — $1,500
- • Transmission service / clutch (150,000 km) — $1,800
- • Suspension control arms (150,000 km) — $1,500
LPG ICE$25,942(+$3,953 vs Tesla)
- Fuel/electricity:
- $15,352
- Base maintenance:
- $3,040
- Big services:
- $6,350
- Tires:
- $1,200
8 big services in this period
- • Spark plugs (60,000 km) — $250
- • LPG valves / injectors clean (80,000 km) — $400
- • Timing belt + rollers (100,000 km) — $800
- • Brake discs + pads (120,000 km) — $800
- • CV joints / drive shafts (130,000 km) — $500
- • A/C compressor repair (130,000 km) — $600
- • Transmission service / clutch (150,000 km) — $1,500
- • Suspension control arms (150,000 km) — $1,500
Hybrid$23,280(+$1,291 vs Tesla)
- Fuel/electricity:
- $14,320
- Base maintenance:
- $2,560
- Big services:
- $5,200
- Tires:
- $1,200
6 big services in this period
- • Timing belt + rollers (100,000 km) — $800
- • Brake discs + pads (120,000 km) — $500
- • CV joints / drive shafts (130,000 km) — $500
- • A/C compressor repair (130,000 km) — $600
- • Transmission service / clutch (150,000 km) — $1,300
- • Suspension control arms (150,000 km) — $1,500
What's NOT included
- — Vehicle purchase price — moves with the market, not tied to ownership TCO.
- — Insurance — varies wildly by region and owner history.
- — Crashes, scams, insurance edge cases — unpredictable line item.
- — Tesla battery degradation — covered only as an optional reserve; the real story depends on chemistry (see our NCA/LFP/4680 guide).