Study: Driving an electric car in Europe is a third cheaper than a petrol car

A new study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) shows that driving an electric vehicle in Europe already costs substantially less than operating a petrol-powered car. In 2025, the combined maintenance and energy costs of electric vehicles were on average 33% lower than for petrol cars. Even when EVs were charged exclusively at public charging stations — typically pricier than home charging — the savings still amounted to roughly 28%.

Fuel prices and battery costs

Researchers note that the cost gap has widened further due to fluctuations in fuel markets. In early 2026, prices for petrol and other fossil fuels rose noticeably, while EV charging costs remained largely stable. Falling battery prices have also played a major role: between 2020 and 2025, global battery costs dropped by 35%, making electric vehicles themselves more price-competitive.

Price parity and a wider model range

In Germany, one of Europe's largest car markets, EV prices in 2025 had already reached levels comparable to petrol cars in the three largest vehicle segments. At the same time, the number of available EV models has roughly quadrupled over five years. Competitiveness has also grown in freight transport — in Germany, electric long-haul trucks, factoring in both purchase and operating costs, can already be around 11% cheaper than diesel trucks, helped further by an exemption for electric trucks from road tolls.

Climate benefits

The ICCT study also highlights environmental gains, finding that electric vehicles produce roughly 73% fewer greenhouse gas emissions over their full lifecycle compared to internal combustion engine cars. This means the advantage of EVs is not limited to lower everyday running costs but also includes a significantly smaller climate impact.