They say it's only costs a few cents a mile (as opposed to, give or take ten cents a mile, assuming 30mpg and $3 gas),

Yeah, until you factor in the additional 23 cents per mile it's costing you to amortize the extra $35,000 cost of the car over the 150,000 mile life expectancy of the vehicle.


(Lotus Elise: $45,000. "Tesla Elise": $80,000. Price difference: $35,000.

Cost per mile of $35,000 over 150,000 miles: $35,000/150,000 = $.23, or 23 cents per mile.)

tanstaafl.