Alarmed about surging gas prices? Consider a used EV

• They don't need gasoline, they require less maintenance and their batteries last longer than expected.

Yes, but: There are lots of variables to consider — and the biggest one is charging.

• Charging at home is relatively cheap, but charging at a public DC fast-charger costs about four times as much — often about the same as a fill-up at the gas station.
• As gas prices rise, however, even public charging could have a cost advantage over gasoline.

Zoom in: Veloz, an EV education nonprofit, published a cost comparison last December, before the recent spike in gas prices.

• On average, fully charging an EV at home costs $12.86, compared to $43.00 to fill up a standard 14-gallon gas tank — saving EV drivers up to $2,000 per year, Veloz said.

The catch: Not everyone has access to a home charger.

What's next: You can do the math yourself using Veloz's EV savings calculator, which compares public and home charging costs by ZIP code and vehicle.

The bottom line: Gas prices would need to stay high for years — not weeks or months — to drive a lasting shift toward EVs.

• But for budget-pinched shoppers, a deal on a used EV could be attractive.