Skip advert
Advertisement

Electric vehicles cheaper to own than petrol or diesel cars

Study finds electric cars are cheaper to run than petrol or diesel models, even once higher purchase prices are taken into account

Electric vehicles (EVs) are already cheaper to own and run than petrol and diesel models, even once purchase prices are taken into account, according to a new study.

The International Council for Clean Transportation (ICCT) analysed the cost of owning petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric variants of the Volkswagen Golf in the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Norway, over four years.

Advertisement - Article continues below

• EVs could be the same price as petrol and diesel cars in two years’ time

The study found the pure electric version was the cheapest in all areas, thanks to a combination of lower taxes, lesser fuel costs, reduced maintenance expenditure, and buying subsidies.

It wasn’t all good news for alternatively fuelled vehicles, though, with the plug-in hybrid Golf GTE being more expensive over the course of ownership that its petrol and diesel stablemates. The hybrid option found itself in last place due to the fact it demands a similarly high purchase price to its fully electric equivalent, but does not offer the same cost savings related to fuel, tax obligations and maintenance.

Researchers also revealed UK drivers could make an overall saving of five per cent by choosing an electric Golf over a diesel model. This was, however, the lowest proportional saving of any of the five countries analysed by the study. Drivers in Norway, by comparison, could save 27 per cent by making the same decision, in part due to the fact the country has a sizeable registration tax on diesel vehicles. Drivers in the Germany, France and the Netherlands, could respectively save 11, 12 and 15 per cent by switching from a diesel to an electric Golf.

The ICCT’s researchers said an effective method for driving the rollout of EVs would be to increase the tax burden for more polluting vehicles while providing tax breaks for EVs and cars with low emissions.

Do you believe that electric cars are cheaper to own than ICE cars? Let us know in the comments below...

Skip advert
Advertisement

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

Ford Focus alternatives: ten cars to consider instead of the family hatch icon
Ford Focus alternatives - header image

Ford Focus alternatives: ten cars to consider instead of the family hatch icon

As the Ford Focus prepares to bow out, we suggest some other great cars worthy of your attention
Best cars & vans
6 Jun 2025
Best-selling cars 2025: the year's 10 most popular models
Best selling cars - June2025

Best-selling cars 2025: the year's 10 most popular models

These are officially Britain’s biggest-selling new cars so far this year
Best cars & vans
5 Jun 2025
Best small hybrids on sale 2025
Best small hybrids - header

Best small hybrids on sale 2025

Do you need good fuel economy, but don’t want a large PHEV? Here’s our list of the best small hybrids on sale in the UK
Best cars & vans
29 Apr 2025
Best diesel cars 2025
Best diesel cars - header image

Best diesel cars 2025

Diesel power strikes a balance between performance and fuel economy, and these are the best diesel cars you can buy
Best cars & vans
28 Apr 2025

Most Popular

Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK
Toyota GR Corolla - front cornering

Toyota GR Corolla hot hatch is on the way to the UK

The success of the GR Yaris has persuaded Toyota that there’s room in its UK range for the high performance Corolla
News
19 Jun 2025
Citroen recall sees owners told to stop driving “immediately”
Citroen C3 Mk2 - front tracking

Citroen recall sees owners told to stop driving “immediately”

A ‘Stop-drive’ order has been issued by Citroen following a fatality that may have been caused by a faulty Takata airbag
News
20 Jun 2025
Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price
Volkswagen ID.7 GTX - front static

Car Deal of the Day: a potent 335bhp Volkswagen ID.7 GTX for a rock bottom price

GTX Plus gives some extra punch to an already excellent electric saloon. It’s our Deal of the Day for 20 June.
News
20 Jun 2025