Is it cheaper to run an electric car than a petrol?

ELECTRIC cars may be the solution to a greener and healthier world.

But the toll may be on our own pockets with how much they cost to run – we explain which is cheaper, petrol or electric cars.

There’s lots to think about when doing the sums to compare petrol and EVs

There are petrol cars, diesel cars, an assortment of hybrids, range extenders and full-electric models to choose from.

It’s the hope that all news being produced in 2030 won’t be petrol or diesel but it’s left people wondering what to buy now.

For old times sake is it worse buying another petrol or diesel before you can only buy an EV in 2030?

Petrol is probably your best option as diesel has been given the cold shoulder.

But is an electric car cheaper to run than a petrol one?

 Is it cheaper to run an electric car than petrol?

There is no simple answer due to the many variables you’ll need to consider when buying and running a car.

At the time this article is published, new EV’s are more expensive to buy than new petrol cars no matter if you buy with cash or finance.

However, buying a used car can narrow the gap as some EVs are priced at a much more affordable price.

When it comes to the day-to-day running of the car, EV’s are usually the cheaper option.

That’s because to fill the average petrol car such as a such as a VW Golf at current prices, it’ll cost around £80-90 depending on where you buy your petrol.

The EV equivalent is the VW ID.3.

The largest battery it comes with is 77kWh and the current average kWh price for electricity at home is around 28p.

A full charge, therefore, costs around £22.

For your £80-90 of petrol you can expect around 400 miles of driving.

For your £22 of electricity, you can expect at best 300 miles of range.

Nevertheless, per mile, the EV is much cheaper to run and it works out this way when comparing most petrols and EVs like-for-like.

However, this is based on charging the vehicle at home which isn’t possible for everyone.

If you rely on public chargers then this can be much more expensive.

Is it cheaper to insure an electric car than a petrol car?

Electric vehicles are also slightly more expensive to insure and aren’t cheaper to service.

They tend to be more expensive due to higher purchase prices and because there is less available data on them.

Many factors are considered when insurers decide on the price of car insurance which may include whether or not the vehicle is electric.

For example, in the period between April 1 and July 1, 2021 the average insurance premium for a Nissan Leaf ‘Tekna’ was £421.76 whilst a Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD was insured on an average of £1,160.35.

Is it cheaper to tax an electric car than a petrol car?

At the moment electric vehicles are also currently free to tax and is exempt from things including city Ultra Low Emissions Zones.

However, hybrid cars may have to pay a reduced rate based on their C02 tailpipe emissions.

A high emission ICE car registered before 2017 could cost up to £600 a year in tax or if the cars registered after 2017, £2,245 for the first year and £155 every year afterwards.

Overall, if you’re considering buying your first electric vehicle there are many factors you need to take into account in terms of costs.

Hopefully with the information set out above, you can make the best decision for you and your finances.