Analysis: EV charging costs in Europe are less than half the cost of diesel
Brussels (ANTARA) - Electric vehicle (EV) drivers in Europe spend, on average, less than half the cost per kilometre on charging compared to what diesel vehicle drivers spend on fuel, according to the Brussels-based environmental group Transport & Environment (T&E).
The analysis, released by T&E on Tuesday (29/9), calls for Europe to accelerate its transition to EVs and rejects wholesale fuel tax cuts.
T&E recommends targeted assistance for low-income households, as well as the imposition of a windfall tax on energy companies to fund public transport and vehicle replacement programmes.
“We are at a critical moment in the diesel crisis. Prices are already very high for the public and businesses, and if the United States blocks diesel exports, there is a real risk of serious supply shortages,” said Antony Froggerm, senior director of T&E.
“Electrification is the only way to ensure this is the last oil crisis. However, we also need short-term measures,” he added.
The analysis shows that diesel vehicle drivers must now pay 32 euros (1 euro = Rp20,426) more to fill a 50-litre tank compared to the beginning of the year. Approximately 16 euros of this increase is attributed to rising oil refinery margins.
Estimates from the European Central Bank (ECB) show that these margins increased from approximately 0.10 euros per litre in February to 0.41 euros per litre around 14 September.
This comparison only covers the costs of refuelling and charging. The calculation is based on an average diesel vehicle consumption of 6.9 litres per 100 kilometres and a battery electric vehicle consumption of 20.2 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometres, with electricity priced at 0.343 euros per kilowatt-hour.
T&E stated that these charging cost estimates, which account for the link between electricity and gas prices and the time lag before electricity price changes are passed on to households, are likely an upper limit.
A previous T&E analysis showed that six of the eight major oil companies studied, including BP and Shell, recorded profits more than double in the European Union (EU) in the second quarter of 2026 compared to the same period the previous year.
A T&E study published on Monday (28/9) found that battery-electric heavy-duty trucks have a lower total cost of ownership compared to diesel trucks in six of the nine major EU markets. These six markets account for 46 per cent of new heavy-duty truck sales in the bloc.
EU Commissioner for Energy and Housing Dan Jorgensen sent a letter to member states, requesting them to consider implementing energy-saving measures in response to potentially high gas prices.
T&E argued that the European Commission should not focus solely on gas, asserting that oil and diesel are becoming the commodities most affected by the energy crisis.