Cost difference of propane vs electricity

Hi Dick,

Don't buy propane in Canada.

I'm going to assume you're down in Texas snowbirding (based on a question you had a few weeks ago)and trying to get thru this cold snap.

Numbers are nice, but they seldom are valid compared to reality. For us we seem to get the best return by running the fridge on propane and using ceramic heaters for zone heat.

Close off parts of the rig and only heat the section you're in. The RV furnace can't do this, and they are not very efficient. Just feel the exhaust and you'll see how hot it is. Other thing is from time to time you'll lose park power, and it sure is nice to know you have lots of propane while waiting for the electric to come back on.

A key point is the cost of propane at the OP location. I haven't seen propane cost of over $4.00 for a long time and most often it's been closer to $2.80/gal. However, since I only fill the propane tank once every 2 years my observation may be dated.

Propane=filling tanks up….

All electric coach=never having to get propane=priceless.

I've owned 5 coaches that used propane and 2 coaches with aqua hot for everything…..never go back to propane again EVEN IF IT IS CHEAPER.

Dutchstar02 wrote:
A gallon of propane is equal to 26.85 kilowatt hours.
At $0.17/kWh X 26.85 = $4.56 per gallon of propane
So as long as your propane costs less than $4.56/gallon it is cheaper to run on propane than electric.
I used strictly electric for a week and used about $18 of electric. I then switched the fridge and hot water heater to propane for a week and used less than $5 of electricity for everything else in the motorhome. The amount of propane used was about 2 gallons.
So the cost for the second week was 2 X $3.10 (propane in Yuma) = $6.20 + $5 = $11.20 VS $18 (that's per week). $27.20/month
You have to take into consideration how easy it is to get your propane refilled. We have a local company that delivers for the $3.10 per gallon used in the calculation. It's not a big difference but the fridge runs cooler and the water is hotter on propane.

Awesome answer, Bill. My hat's off to you for either knowing this off the top of your head or taking the time to figure it out. You da man! Any chance you have some rough number in diesel in this equation? Our rigs look similar, I have a 7500 Onan, yours may be larger. Anyway, at a half gallon of diesel per hour on half load, the 7.5 kw generator is producing how many watts that will feed into the above equation? I gotta tell you, Bill, this seems like a simple concept but I keep getting lost. I'm thinking the ability to store (batteries) are key but, in theory, I know that this ought to break down to minute by minute so storage isn't really the sticking point. Can you help me with the diesel numbers, Bill?

PapPappy wrote:
I'm assuming the OP is asking for the numbers when he is using the RV at home, where he has to pay for the electricity. If you were at a CG, your paying for the electricity as part of the lot fee, so it doesn't matter how much you use, it's been calculated into equation. I would use electricity when at the CG.

For when at ho, or boondocking, I think I'd go with the propane....unless you are going to be sitting a long time, and have to deal with refills.

Most RV parks charge for electricity separately if staying more than a week.

I'm assuming the OP is asking for the numbers when he is using the RV at home, where he has to pay for the electricity. If you were at a CG, your paying for the electricity as part of the lot fee, so it doesn't matter how much you use, it's been calculated into equation. I would use electricity when at the CG.

For when at ho, or boondocking, I think I'd go with the propane....unless you are going to be sitting a long time, and have to deal with refills.

Hi Dutch,

Except that electricity heat is nearly 100% efficient. Where as a propane furnace is about 80%. The other issue is electricity is "on tap" and propane is not, so there is a nuisance value.

I'm currently running between 4500 and 5500 watts of electric heat--and no propane.

I admire any type of money savings while camping. But seriously, when we are talking perhaps $1 more to $1.50 more a week, when driving a coach that gets 7mpg.... I dunno... Starts becoming redundant.

But to answer, consider your fuel costs when driving to get propane or delivery fees for delivery.

Hi,

Here is a good page to help answer your question: electric vs gas