Cost comparison: E-car versus combustion engine

Electromobility Cost Comparison: E-Car Versus Combustion Engine

2025-05-23 From Mario Hommen/SP-X | Translated by AI 2 min Reading Time

Related Vendor

E-cars are cheaper to maintain than combustion engine models in many European countries. This is shown by an analysis from a leasing provider. In Germany, the result is not clear-cut.

In many European countries, electric cars are cheaper to maintain than combustion engine models.(Image: SP-X) — In many European countries, electric cars are cheaper to maintain than combustion engine models.
(Image: SP-X)

In an increasing number of European countries, electric cars outperform comparable combustion engine models in terms of total costs. This is shown by the latest edition of the cost index published by the leasing and fleet management company "LeasePlan." For the analysis, the company compared various vehicle types from multiple segments in 27 and 28 European countries regarding their Total Cost of Ownership. The basis was a usage scenario with a holding period of four years and an annual mileage of 30,000 kilometers (approx. 1,864 miles)—referring to the fourth quarter of 2024. The analysis shows the monthly costs in euros.

In the segment of medium-sized so-called premium vehicles, electric cars lead in all 27 countries studied. In Belgium, for example, the monthly total costs for the analyzed BEV models Polestar 2 and Audi Q4 E-Tron amount to 1,153 euros (1,308.54 USD). In comparison: BMW 3 Series or Mercedes GLC as plug-in hybrids cost 1,375 euros (1,308.54 USD), gasoline cars 1,529 euros (1,735.26 USD), and diesel models even 1,748 euros (1,983.81 USD). While the advantage is particularly pronounced in Belgium, the differences in Germany are smaller. But here, too, e-cars lead with 1,111 euros, followed by diesel at 1,156 euros (1,311.94 USD), gasoline at 1,160 euros (1,316.48 USD), and PHEV at 1,173 euros (1,331.24 USD).

Mid-Range E-Models are More Expensive

In the standard mid-size segment—represented by VW Passat, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Kuga, or Skoda Enyaq, electromobility only leads in 11 out of 28 countries. In Germany, pure electric models are significantly more expensive at 1,045 euros per month than combustion engines: Diesel costs amount to 913 euros (1,036.16 USD), gasoline to 928 euros (1,053.19 USD), and plug-in hybrids to 933 euros (1,058.86 USD).

In the small car segment—analyzed were VW Polo and T-Cross, Peugeot 208 and Opel Mokka—e-models are cheaper than gasoline cars in 18 out of 28 countries. Diesel and PHEVs were not considered in this segment.

In Belgium, the monthly total costs for electric small cars average 853 euros (968.07 USD), while gasoline cars cost 1,082 euros (1,227.96 USD) there. In Portugal, there is also a clear advantage for electric drive at 877 (995.31 USD) versus 1,051 euros (1,192.78USD). In France with 818 (928.35 USD) versus 819 euros (929.48 USD) and Italy with 702 (796.70 USD) versus 718 euros (814.86 USD), the differences are marginal. In some countries, small gasoline cars remain the cheaper choice—such as in Germany with 850 (964.66 USD) versus 726 euros (823.94 USD) or in the United Kingdom with 807 (915.86 USD) versus 748 euros (848.91 USD).

Subscribe to the newsletter now

Don't Miss out on Our Best Content

Business E-mail

Please enter a valid mailadress.

By clicking on „Subscribe to Newsletter“ I agree to the processing and use of my data according to the consent form (please expand for details) and accept the Terms of Use. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy. The consent declaration relates, among other things, to the sending of editorial newsletters by email and to data matching for marketing purposes with selected advertising partners (e.g., LinkedIn, Google, Meta)

Date: 08.12.2025

Naturally, we always handle your personal data responsibly. Any personal data we receive from you is processed in accordance with applicable data protection legislation. For detailed information please see our privacy policy.

Consent to the use of data for promotional purposes

I hereby consent to Vogel Communications Group GmbH & Co. KG, Max-Planck-Str. 7-9, 97082 Würzburg including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG (hereafter: Vogel Communications Group) using my e-mail address to send editorial newsletters. A list of all affiliated companies can be found here

Newsletter content may include all products and services of any companies mentioned above, including for example specialist journals and books, events and fairs as well as event-related products and services, print and digital media offers and services such as additional (editorial) newsletters, raffles, lead campaigns, market research both online and offline, specialist webportals and e-learning offers. In case my personal telephone number has also been collected, it may be used for offers of aforementioned products, for services of the companies mentioned above, and market research purposes.

Additionally, my consent also includes the processing of my email address and telephone number for data matching for marketing purposes with select advertising partners such as LinkedIn, Google, and Meta. For this, Vogel Communications Group may transmit said data in hashed form to the advertising partners who then use said data to determine whether I am also a member of the mentioned advertising partner portals. Vogel Communications Group uses this feature for the purposes of re-targeting (up-selling, cross-selling, and customer loyalty), generating so-called look-alike audiences for acquisition of new customers, and as basis for exclusion for on-going advertising campaigns. Further information can be found in section “data matching for marketing purposes”.

In case I access protected data on Internet portals of Vogel Communications Group including any affiliated companies according to §§ 15 et seq. AktG, I need to provide further data in order to register for the access to such content. In return for this free access to editorial content, my data may be used in accordance with this consent for the purposes stated here. This does not apply to data matching for marketing purposes.

Right of revocation

I understand that I can revoke my consent at will. My revocation does not change the lawfulness of data processing that was conducted based on my consent leading up to my revocation. One option to declare my revocation is to use the contact form found at https://contact.vogel.de. In case I no longer wish to receive certain newsletters, I have subscribed to, I can also click on the unsubscribe link included at the end of a newsletter. Further information regarding my right of revocation and the implementation of it as well as the consequences of my revocation can be found in the data protection declaration, section editorial newsletter.