Real costs and comparisons of operating a diesel and electric car
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When considering a car upgrade, many of us wonder which option is currently the best and most economical: gasoline, diesel, hybrid, or electric? Let me share my experience transitioning from diesel to electric cars and how much their operation cost me. I hope this information answers some of your questions and provides useful insights.Before purchasing my first electric car, a Nissan Leaf, I drove a diesel 2011 Audi A6 (2.0L, 100 kW). At that time, I wanted a family-friendly, safe, comfortable, and powerful car, and the Audi A6 met all my expectations. I was delighted with how well it served me, requiring minimal maintenance and only minor operational costs, as detailed in the table below.
For two years, I drove the Audi while my wife used a 2006 Toyota Corolla (1.6L, diesel). During this time, I became increasingly interested in EVs. After thorough research and calculations, I decided to replace the Toyota with an EV. I used the Audi for long trips and the Nissan Leaf for daily commutes in and around Vilnius. After a year of owning the EV, I decided to sell the Audi and rely solely on EVs (purchasing a second Nissan Leaf). For occasional long-distance trips, I rented a car or borrowed one from family.
In the table below, you'll see that I spent only about €50 on EV charging during this time, as I often charged at work or free charging stations.
Below are the real operational costs for these cars:
Purchase Price Sale Price Depreciation Usage Duration Kilometers Driven Fuel/Electricity Costs (€) Insurance (€) Maintenance Costs (€) Total (€) Cost per km (€) Nissan Leaf, 2014, Europe 13,700 9,400 4,300 2.5 years 28,500 45 1,500 305 1,850 0.06 Audi A6, 2011, 2.0L diesel 11,000 5,900 5,100 3 years 61,000 4,880 2,180 1,130 8,190 0.13 Advantages of EVs
• Free city parking and the ability to use bus lanes saved nearly an hour daily that would otherwise be spent in traffic.
• Significantly lower operational costs compared to internal combustion engine vehicles.
• Depreciation is comparable to other vehicles of similar price ranges.
• Per-kilometer operational costs (excluding depreciation) are half those of diesel cars.
• Quick acceleration and quiet driving.
• Remote vehicle management, such as pre-heating in winter via a smartphone app.
Disadvantages of EVs:
• Long-distance trips require significant planning and monitoring of charging stations along the route.
• In Vilnius and surrounding areas, careful monitoring of range and charging time is necessary. However, I didn’t face major issues as I had access to a free fast charging station near my home and another at work.
• Limited trunk space and a stiff suspension.
Long-Distance Travel with an EV
With a Nissan Leaf (24 kWh battery, no cooling system), I decided to travel from Vilnius to Klaipėda and back the next day during summer. The journey there required 5 charging stops and took about 6 hours. Returning to Vilnius was similarly time-consuming. The trip was exhausting, and I wouldn’t plan to repeat it. Fortunately, all charging stations worked; otherwise, I would have needed a tow truck to reach the nearest functioning station. Additionally, after three consecutive fast-charging cycles, the battery was on the verge of overheating, which is harmful to its longevity.
Despite the inconvenience of long-distance travel, I personally prioritize EVs. The increasing availability of affordable new models capable of over 300 km per charge makes EVs practical and reinforces their position as the cars of the future.
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