Why Electric Cars Are Beating Petrol in Europe: The Numbers Behind the Shift

Electric cars in Europe cost about 33% less to run than petrol cars when combining home and public charging. That figure comes from a recent study by the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), and it shows the cost gap is no longer a minor perk — it's a direct reason drivers are abandoning combustion engines.

Public Charging Doesn't Erase the EV Advantage

Surprisingly, Tesla and other electric vehicles held their ground even when relying entirely on public charging. That is usually far pricier than charging at home. According to ICCT data, running an EV on European roads cost about 28% less than comparable petrol cars. Those savings matter more as fuel prices climb — petrol in the EU sits at roughly $9 per gallon, or about €2 per liter.

160 Electric Models in Germany Alone

Running costs aren't the only draw. In Germany, the region's largest car market, the number of passenger EVs nearly quadrupled between 2020 and 2025, reaching about 160 models. More importantly, around 35 of them are priced below €30,000, giving buyers more affordable electric options. That range of choice is shifting the buying equation toward electric.

Savings That Go Beyond the Price Tag

Marie Rajon Bernard, a senior researcher at ICCT and lead author of the study, says EV drivers in Europe pay about a third less than petrol car owners. She argues these savings are hard to ignore. The data backs her up: the gap is wide enough to change purchase decisions, not just trim a few euros off monthly bills.

According to ICCT, current policies could push battery-electric vehicle adoption even higher in the coming years, as running costs keep falling and consumer choices expand. The math clearly favors electric — and the numbers alone are enough to convince the skeptics.