If you’re cross‑shopping a Rivian R1T vs a gas car or truck on cost, you’re not alone. Electric pickups promise lower running costs and big performance, but sticker prices can sting. The only way to cut through the hype is to run the numbers: energy, maintenance, depreciation, and what changes if you buy used instead of new.
Quick answer
Rivian R1T vs gas car cost: what you’re really asking
When people search for “Rivian R1T vs gas car cost,” they’re usually trying to answer one of three questions: 1. How much cheaper is it to “fuel” a Rivian with electricity instead of gas? 2. Do lower running costs ever make up for the higher price? 3. Is it smarter to buy a used R1T instead of a new gas truck? We’ll tackle all three, using real‑world data where it exists and clear assumptions where it doesn’t, and we’ll flag those assumptions so you can adjust them for your own situation.
Key assumptions behind the numbers
Cost comparisons get slippery fast if you don’t pin down a few basics. Here’s the framework we’ll use so you can see exactly how the Rivian R1T vs gas truck cost math comes together.
- Vehicle: 2024 Rivian R1T dual‑motor, Large pack, 21" wheels (a common spec).
- Energy use: EPA combined consumption around 2.2–2.5 miles per kWh, i.e., roughly 0.42–0.45 kWh per mile. We’ll use 0.44 kWh/mi as a middle‑of‑the‑road figure.
- Annual miles: 15,000 miles (U.S. average for many commuters and light truck users).
- Gas comparison: A similarly sized, 4WD full‑size crew cab pickup (think F‑150, Silverado, Ram) averaging 18 mpg combined in real‑world use.
- Energy prices:
- • Electricity: U.S. residential average around $0.17 per kWh in early 2025, with many states still in the $0.13–$0.20 band.
- • Gasoline: national average around $3.00–$3.30 per gallon over 2024–2025, after a spike earlier in the decade.
- Ownership window: 5 years, 75,000 miles total.
- Charging behavior: 85% of miles at home, 15% on DC fast charging for road trips.
Your numbers will vary
Energy cost per mile: electricity vs gasoline
Energy cost per mile: R1T vs gas truck
Let’s peel that back so you can plug in your own rates. Rivian R1T electricity cost per mile
- Energy use: ~0.44 kWh per mile
- Home electricity: $0.17 per kWh
- Home‑charged miles: 0.44 × $0.17 ≈ $0.075 per mile
- Fast charging: assume roughly $0.30 per kWh on road trips → about $0.13 per mile
- Blend: 85% home, 15% fast → (0.85 × $0.075) + (0.15 × $0.13) ≈ $0.083 per mile
- Fuel economy: 18 mpg
- Gas price: $3.30 per gallon
- Cost per mile: $3.30 ÷ 18 ≈ $0.183 per mile
How to estimate your own per‑mile cost
Five-year total cost: Rivian R1T vs gas truck
Fuel is only one line on the spreadsheet. To see how the Rivian R1T vs gas truck cost story plays out, we’ve got to add maintenance, repairs, insurance, taxes, and, biggest of all, depreciation.
Illustrative 5‑year cost of ownership (new vehicles)
Approximate, simplified totals over 5 years and 75,000 miles. These are directional, not quotes, your actual costs will depend on purchase price, financing, location, and driving style.
| Category (5 years) | Rivian R1T (new) | Gas crew cab 4x4 (new) |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel / Energy | $5,000 | $13,500 |
| Maintenance | $1,500 | $4,000 |
| Repairs (out of warranty) | $1,700 | $2,500 |
| Insurance | $8,500 | $7,500 |
| Taxes & Fees | $12,000 | $6,000 |
| Financing (interest) | $16,000 | $11,000 |
| Depreciation | $47,000 | $33,000 |
| , | , | |
| Approx. 5‑yr total | $91,000+ | $77,000+ |
Rivian R1T numbers lean on recent third‑party cost‑to‑own estimates; gas truck numbers approximate a well‑equipped 4WD half‑ton pickup.
Why the R1T can cost more overall when new
Maintenance and repairs: where EVs quietly win
One big advantage of the Rivian R1T vs a gas truck is what isn’t under the hood. There’s no oil to change, no spark plugs, no exhaust system, and no transmission hunting for gears on the highway. Over 5 years, that adds up.
Maintenance: Rivian R1T vs gas truck
Same 5‑year, 75,000‑mile window, very different experiences at the shop.
Rivian R1T
- No engine oil changes
- Far fewer moving parts in the drivetrain
- Brake wear is low thanks to strong regen
- Most maintenance is tires, cabin filters, brake fluid checks
Over five years, third‑party estimates peg scheduled maintenance plus typical repairs in the $3,000 range, depending on how many miles you rack up and where you service the truck.
Gas 4x4 pickup
- Oil and filter changes several times a year
- Transmission service, coolant, belts, spark plugs
- Exhaust, emissions components, and more heat‑related wear
- Brake jobs more frequent, especially if you tow
Over five years, it’s not unusual for maintenance and repairs to climb into the $6,000–$7,000 ballpark for a hard‑working gas truck.
The invisible benefit: time
Depreciation, taxes, and insurance
If energy is the everyday money, depreciation is the big, silent check you write over time. That’s true for any new vehicle, but it’s especially true for high‑tech EVs with lofty MSRPs.
Rivian R1T depreciation profile
- New R1Ts are premium‑priced, so the first owner eats a big chunk of value in the first 3–4 years.
- Five‑year depreciation estimates around $45,000–$50,000 are not unusual, depending on trim and incentives.
- On the flip side, that means used buyers get a lot of truck for the money once the initial drop is baked in.
Gas truck depreciation profile
- New half‑ton pickups also depreciate, but from a lower starting price and with deep discounting in many markets.
- Five‑year depreciation in the $30,000–$35,000 range is common for a nicely equipped 4x4 crew cab.
- The market understands gas trucks; resale is predictable, especially for the big three domestic brands.
Taxes and insurance tend to scale with price. A new R1T can cost more to insure and tax than a mainstream gas truck because it simply costs more to replace. As purchase prices converge on the used market, those gaps usually narrow.
How buying a used R1T changes the math
Here’s where things get interesting for cost hawks. When you compare a used Rivian R1T vs a new gas truck, the story flips. Because the first owner already took that massive depreciation hit, you get the lower running costs of an EV without shouldering the steepest part of the value curve.
Used R1T vs new gas truck: example scenario
Same 5‑year, 75,000‑mile horizon, starting from today.
Used Rivian R1T
- 3‑year‑old R1T bought for, say, $55,000 instead of $80,000+ new.
- Five more years of use takes it to 8 years old and 100k–120k miles.
- Energy and maintenance savings vs a gas truck still apply: potentially $10,000+ over five years combined.
- Because most battery degradation happens early and Rivian’s packs are large, you often retain plenty of usable range for daily use.
New gas crew cab 4x4
- Well‑equipped new half‑ton lands around $55,000 in many trims.
- Five years later, you’ve spent roughly $13,000–$15,000 more on fuel and maintenance than the used R1T driver in this example.
- Resale can be strong, but so is the money you’ve poured into the tank.
The result? In many realistic used‑vs‑new matchups, the R1T can actually be the cheaper truck to own, not just the cleaner one.
Why battery health matters
When a Rivian R1T actually saves you money
So, under what conditions does the Rivian R1T pull ahead on total cost of ownership versus a gas truck, rather than just feeling better every time you pass a gas station?
Scenarios where the R1T is a financial win
1. You drive a lot, especially on electricity
High annual mileage magnifies the R1T’s per‑mile energy advantage. If you’re closer to 20,000 miles a year and can charge mostly at home, your fuel savings pile up quickly.
2. You can charge cheaply at home
If your electric rate is closer to $0.12–$0.15 per kWh, your cost per mile plunges. Time‑of‑use plans that reward overnight charging make the spread vs gasoline even larger.
3. You buy used instead of new
Let someone else swallow the early depreciation. A well‑priced used R1T can beat a similarly priced new gas truck on total 5‑year cost, thanks to lower energy and maintenance bills.
4. You keep vehicles a long time
Stretch your ownership to 8–10 years and the Rivian’s mechanical simplicity and low day‑to‑day costs have more time to out‑earn its higher sticker price.
5. You live where gas is expensive
If your local gas price is north of $4 per gallon while your electricity is near the national average, the Rivian’s fuel‑cost advantage can be dramatic.
When a gas truck may still be cheaper
Checklist: are you a good candidate to switch?
Before you trade your gas pickup keys for a Rivian fob, it helps to sanity‑check your own situation. Use this quick list to see which way the scales tilt for you.
Personal fit for a Rivian R1T vs gas truck
You have (or can add) home charging
A dedicated Level 2 charger in your garage or driveway is the single biggest factor in keeping your cost per mile low and your day‑to‑day experience easy.
Your daily range needs fit comfortably
Most R1T owners use a slice of the battery each day and recharge at home overnight. If your regular routes are well under the truck’s usable range, you’ll rarely think about public charging.
You understand your local energy prices
Know your $/kWh and local gas price today, not just what they were a couple of years ago. Run the per‑mile math for your real world, not national averages.
You plan to keep the truck at least 4–5 years
The longer you keep it and the more you drive, the more the Rivian’s low running costs can out‑earn its higher price tag.
You’re open to buying used
If total cost matters more than the new‑car smell, a used R1T from a specialist like <strong>Recharged</strong> can give you the truck you want with a much friendlier 5‑year cost curve.
FAQ: Rivian R1T vs gas car cost
Frequently asked questions
Bottom line: how to shop smart for an R1T
When you set a Rivian R1T vs a gas truck side by side, the pattern is clear: the Rivian is usually more expensive to buy new, but cheaper to live with. Electricity beats gasoline on cost per mile in most of the U.S., and the R1T’s low maintenance appetite quietly chips away at the gap every year. The real magic happens when you let someone else pay for the early depreciation and shop for a well‑vetted used R1T instead.
If you’re ready to run the numbers on an R1T for your own driveway, start by checking your local electricity and gas prices, then look at how many miles you actually drive. From there, exploring Recharged for used Rivian R1Ts with verified battery health, fair market pricing, and EV‑specialist support can turn this from a thought experiment into a truck you genuinely enjoy paying for, and driving, every day.
