Table of Contents
How a Tennessee mom saved $15k by going electric – without sacrificing convenience.
Sarah’s Profile
📍 Location: Nashville, Tennessee
🚙 Previous Ride: 2017 Honda Civic EX (34 MPG)
⚡ New Ride: 2020 Nissan Leaf SV Plus (40 kWh battery)
📆 Ownership Period: 7 years (2020–2027)
📏 Mileage: 12,000 miles/year
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The Money Breakdown
(All costs adjusted for 2024 USD)
| Expense Category | Honda Civic (7 yrs) | Nissan Leaf (7 yrs) | Sarah’s Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel/Energy | $14,700 | $2,520 | +$12,180 |
|
Civic: 84k miles ÷ 34 MPG = 2,470 gal × $5.90/gal Leaf: 84k miles × 0.30 kWh/mile = 25,200 kWh × $0.10/kWh (off-peak) |
|||
| Maintenance | $5,950 | $1,960 | +$3,990 |
|
Civic: 14 oil changes, brakes ×2, tires ×2, timing belt Leaf: Tire rotations, cabin filters, brake fluid |
|||
| Taxes & Fees | $3,220 | $1,680 | +$1,540 |
|
Civic: Sales tax + registration + emissions testing Leaf: $0 sales tax (TN EV discount) + reduced registration |
|||
| Depreciation | $9,100 | $11,200 | -$2,100 |
|
Civic: $23,500 → $14,400 Leaf: $35,000 → $23,800 |
|||
| Incentives | $0 | -$7,500 | +$7,500 |
| Federal tax credit + TVA charging rebate | |||
| TOTAL (7 Years) | $32,970 | $17,860 | $15,110 |
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Sarah’s Net Savings: $15,110
(Even after slightly higher depreciation!)
Math
Total Savings = (Fuel + Maintenance + Tax Savings + Incentives) – Higher Depreciation
= ($12,180 + $3,990 + $1,540 + $7,500) – $2,100
= $25,210 – $2,100
= $23,110 gross savings
⚠️ Wait – but she paid more upfront?
- Leaf net cost after incentives: $35,000 – $8,000 = $27,000
- Civic purchase price: $23,500
- Net savings offset: $23,110 – ($27,000 – $23,500) = $15,110 ahead
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Sarah’s “Why I’d Do It Again” Takeaways
“People think EVs are expensive, but my Leaf costs less than a latte per day to run. No more gas station detours during daycare pickup, and I’ve only visited a mechanic twice in 4 years!”
🔌 Her Charging Hack:
“I plug in overnight like my phone – wakes up ‘full’ every morning. With Nashville’s free public chargers at malls, I sometimes drive all week without paying a dime.”
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Real Talk for U.S. Drivers
- The Tipping Point: Sarah broke even at Year 3 – savings piled up after.
- Battery Fear? Her Leaf still has 86% health (Nissan’s 8-year warranty covers below 70%).
- Hidden Perk: No oil changes = 42 hours saved over 7 years (time = money!).
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(Sources: fueleconomy.gov, Tennessee DMV, Nissan CPO warranty data, Federal AFDC incentives)