Are electric vehicles actually cheaper to run, or are hidden costs like heavy tyre wear, skyrocketing insurance, and public fast-charging eating up all your savings?

If you buy a new car today and keep it for five years, will an EV genuinely put money back in your pocket compared to a conventional petrol car? Brent is joined by James Ward, Managing Editor from Drive.com.au, to cut through the marketing hype and crunch the real-world five-year dollar figures across purchase prices, fuel, servicing, depreciation, and tyres.

• The Upfront Purchase Gap: Analyzing showroom price differences between EVs and internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles, and how long it takes day-to-day savings to bridge that initial gap.

• Home vs. Public Charging: Contrasting cheap overnight home charging rates against the public DC fast-charging trap that can rival liquid fuel costs.

• The Heavy Weight Penalty: How the massive mass of electric battery packs chews through tyres faster and strains suspension components.

• Insurance & Depreciation: Evaluating tech-heavy insurance premiums and how different EV models hold their value on the used market over a standard five-year window.

If you're weighing up whether your next driveway addition should plug in or fill up at the bowser, this is an absolute must-listen.