EV True Cost

2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV cost to own in Wisconsin

Electricity & gas updated · insurance, fees & incentives reviewed June 17, 2026 (estimates)

Bottom line

The Chevrolet Equinox EV costs about $4,400 more to own than the Mazda CX-5 here today — but it pulls ahead on total cost to own if you drive more than 31,000 mi/yr (you're at 12,000) or gas tops $4.94/gal (now $3.05).

Annual charging cost

$860

$0.07/mi at $0.16/kWh

5-year cost to own

$40,000

≈ $8,000/yr all-in

5-year cost vs Mazda CX-5

+$4,400

more to own · fuel alone saves $550/yr

Charging a 2026 Chevrolet Equinox EV at home in Wisconsin costs about $856 a year at the state's average residential rate of $0.16/kWh — near the national middle (37th of 51) — or roughly $0.07 per mile. With Wisconsin gasoline near $3.05 a gallon (among the lowest in the country), a comparable Mazda CX-5 would burn about $1,408 of fuel over the same 12,000 miles, so the Equinox EV saves roughly $552 a year at the pump. On fuel alone, gas would have to fall below $1.85 a gallon for the CX-5 to cost as little to fuel as the EV costs to charge (the fuel break-even).

Wisconsin charges a steep $175 annual EV registration/road-use fee. There is no state purchase incentive, and the federal credit ended in late 2025. All told, the five-year cost to own comes to about $40,000 — roughly $8,000 a year. Against a comparable Mazda CX-5 — counting its depreciation, insurance, fuel, and upkeep — that's about $4,400 more to own over five years, since the federal credit is gone and the EV's insurance and fees run higher.

Adjust the assumptions

Every figure below is editable and every formula is shown. Defaults use Wisconsin averages and EPA efficiency for the Chevrolet Equinox EV.

Prices updated June 2026 · Wisconsin averages

Driving profile

Driving & vehicle
mi/yr
kWh/100mi

EPA combined. Lower is more efficient.

%

Wall → battery losses (AC charging ≈ 88%).

Electricity
$/kWh
%

Rest is public DC fast charging.

$/kWh
Gas comparison
mpg
$/gal
Ownership costs — depreciation, insurance & fees
$
$/yr
$/yr
$/yr
$

State + federal. Verify current amounts.

Depreciation is usually the largest line — and the biggest source of uncertainty — so tune it to your own resale outlook. Insurance, registration & incentives default to Wisconsin estimates.

Comparison car: Mazda CX-5 ownership
$
$/yr
$/yr
$/yr

Defaults: depreciation & maintenance from CX-5 data; insurance ≈ 87% of the EV figure; registration assumes no EV road-use fee.

Precision: utility plan, L2 charger, escalation

Pick your utility to charge at its real off-peak/peak rates instead of the Wisconsin average.

$
$
%/yr

Grows the 5-yr energy cost. Off (0%) by default.

%/yr

0% = cash. Adds loan interest to both cars.

Precision mode uses your utility's real off-peak/peak rates from the OpenEI URDB. The off-peak share assumes scheduled overnight charging — adjust it to taste.

Annual energy

≈ $860

$0.07/mi

5-year cost to own

≈ $40,000

≈ $8,000/yr all-in

5-yr vs Mazda CX-5

+$4,400

more to own

Energy use & cost (per year)

Electricity drawn from wall3,955 kWh
Home (80%)3,164 kWh · $500
Public (20%)791 kWh · $356
Annual energy cost$856
EV cost per mile$0.07/mi

Gas comparison (Mazda CX-5)

Fuel burned462 gal/yr
Annual gas cost$1,408
Annual fuel savings (EV)$552
Gas cost per mile$0.12/mi
Fuel break-even gas price$1.85/gal

Below this pump price, the Mazda CX-5 is cheaper to fuel than the EV is to charge; above it, the EV wins. (This is fuel only — see total cost to own below.)

5-year total cost of ownership

Energy (5 yr)$4,279
Insurance (5 yr)$11,100
Maintenance (5 yr)$2,750
Registration (5 yr)$875
Operating subtotal (5 yr)$19,004
Depreciation (estimate)$20,997
Incentives (one-time)− $0
Total 5-year cost$40,001
Per year · per mile$8,000 · $0.67/mi

The operating subtotal is the data-backed part. Depreciation is an estimate and is usually the largest single line — adjust it to your own resale outlook.

5-year cost to own: EV vs gas

Chevrolet Equinox EV (EV)$40,001
Mazda CX-5 (gas)$35,643
EV costs more to own by$4,357

Bottom line

The Chevrolet Equinox EV costs about $4,400 more to own than the Mazda CX-5 here today — but it pulls ahead on total cost to own if you drive more than 31,000 mi/yr (you're at 12,000) or gas tops $4.94/gal (now $3.05).

Gas total includes its depreciation, fuel, insurance, maintenance, and registration (edit them in “Comparison car ownership” above).

Home L2 charger payback

Upfront (hardware + install)$1,300
Annual saving vs public charging$924
Pays for itself in1.4 yr
How this is calculated

Annual electricity

(29 ÷ 100 × 12,000 mi) ÷ 0.88 = 3,955 kWh

Home charging cost

3,164 kWh × $0.16 = $500/yr

Public charging cost

791 kWh × $0.45 = $356/yr

Annual energy cost

$500 + $356 = $856/yr

Annual gas cost

(12,000 ÷ 26 mpg) × $3.05 = $1,408/yr

Fuel break-even gas price

$856 ÷ 462 gal = $1.85/gal

EV 5-year TCO

$20,997 + $4,279 + $11,100 + $2,750 + $875 − $0 = $40,001

Gas 5-year TCO

$13,200 + $7,038 + $9,655 + $5,500 + $250 = $35,643

5-year ownership difference

$40,001 − $35,643 = +$4,357 (EV pricier)

L2 payback

$1,300 ÷ (($0.45 − $0.16) × 3,164 kWh) = 1.4 yr

Estimates, not quotes. Figures use Wisconsin averages and the assumptions above — your real costs depend on your utility plan, driving, insurer, and the incentives you actually qualify for. Verify with your utility, insurer, and state DMV before deciding.

5-year cost to own: Chevrolet Equinox EV vs Mazda CX-5

Over five years the Chevrolet Equinox EV costs about $4,400 more to own than the Mazda CX-5.

5-year cost Chevrolet Equinox EV Mazda CX-5
Depreciation (5 yr) $20,997 $13,200
Fuel / energy (5 yr) $4,279 $7,038
Insurance (5 yr) $11,100 $9,655
Maintenance (5 yr) $2,750 $5,500
Registration & fees (5 yr) $875 $250
Incentives − $0 $0
5-year total cost to own $40,001 $35,643

Efficiency: 29 kWh/100mi vs 26 mpg. Gas insurance is estimated at ~87% of the EV figure and gas registration assumes no EV road-use fee; depreciation and incentives are estimates. Edit any value in the calculator above.

When ownership costs cross over

Cumulative cost to own, year by year. The single 5-year figure hides when one car overtakes the other — useful if you don't keep a car a full five years.

How each car holds its value

Estimated resale value as a share of MSRP. The Chevrolet Equinox EV depreciates faster than the Mazda CX-5 — the single biggest reason for the gap above. See the methodology for the basis.

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to charge a Chevrolet Equinox EV in Wisconsin?
About $856 per year (~$71/month), or roughly $0.07 per mile, at Wisconsin's average home rate of $0.16/kWh — assuming 12,000 miles a year and 80% home charging.
Is a Equinox EV cheaper to drive than a CX-5 in Wisconsin?
Yes. Charging the Equinox EV costs about $856 a year versus roughly $1,408 to fuel a CX-5, a saving of about $552 a year. The fuel break-even — where charging and fueling cost the same — is $1.85/gal. (That's separate from the total cost to own below.)
Is a Equinox EV cheaper to own than a CX-5 in Wisconsin?
Over five years, not in Wisconsin: about $40,000 to own the Equinox EV versus $35,600 for the CX-5 — roughly $4,400 more, driven by higher EV insurance and fees plus the expired federal credit. The EV still usually wins on fuel alone.
What is the 5-year cost to own a Chevrolet Equinox EV in Wisconsin?
About $40,000 over five years (~$8,000/year), combining depreciation ($20,997), energy ($4,279), insurance ($11,100), maintenance ($2,750), and registration ($875), minus $0 in incentives. Adjust any assumption in the calculator above.
Are there EV incentives in Wisconsin?
We show no state purchase incentive for Wisconsin, and the federal clean-vehicle credit ended in late 2025. Programs change often — verify current state and utility offers before buying.
How accurate are these estimates?
Electricity and gas prices come from EIA data and are refreshed monthly; insurance, fees, and incentives are state-level estimates you can edit. Every formula is shown in the calculator. Treat the results as ballpark comparisons, not quotes, and confirm with your utility, insurer, and DMV.

Precision mode: use your exact utility rate

Charging cost can use your utility's real time-of-use plan instead of the Wisconsin average. Open Precision: utility plan in the calculator above and pick from Wisconsin Electric Power Co — rates come from the OpenEI URDB and update monthly.

Chevrolet Equinox EV cost to own in other states