Electric against petrol
Both cars over the same period, the same distance and the same assumptions, so the only thing that differs is the thing you are comparing.
Both sides start from the same purchase price. Giving the electric car a premium we invented would decide the answer before you did — put in the prices of the cars you are actually weighing up. The method is written out in full.
Result
Over 5 years and 75,000 kilometres
The electric car costs €4,684 less
- Electric
- €37,092
- Petrol
- €41,775
There is no break-even point: the electric car is cheaper from the first year onwards, so one never overtakes the other.
How the totals build up
- Electric
- Petrol
Running total after each year. The exact figures are in the table below.
| Year | Electric | Petrol | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | €8,804 | €9,704 | €900 electric ahead |
| 2 | €16,795 | €18,613 | €1,818 electric ahead |
| 3 | €24,102 | €26,856 | €2,754 electric ahead |
| 4 | €30,836 | €34,545 | €3,709 electric ahead |
| 5 | €37,092 | €41,775 | €4,684 electric ahead |
Where the difference comes from
| Cost | Electric | Petrol | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | €22,000 | €22,000 | — |
| Energy | €4,684 | €9,367 | €4,684 |
| Maintenance | €2,602 | €2,602 | — |
| Insurance | €4,163 | €4,163 | — |
| Road tax | €3,643 | €3,643 | — |