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Electric cars, charging costs 160% higher compared to 12 months ago
Simonluca Pini - Sole 24 Ore Contributing Editor
The increase in the cost of energy is having a negative impact on the running costs of electric cars. In October 2021, it cost 50 to 70% less to charge the battery of a zero-emission car compared to filling up the tank of a petrol or diesel powered car. Today, it can even cost more.
Charging electric cars costs more and more. Increased energy costs are having serious repercussions on anyone who use a lithium-ion-battery powered car every day. It can cost up to 161% more compared to twelve months ago. If at the end of 2021, electric cars were significantly cheaper in terms of fuel costs compared to petrol and diesel versions, with savings of between 50 and 70%, today this is no longer the case. The analysis carried out by Facile.it shows that the situation is completely reversed.
Comparing the cost of charging an electric car and filling up a fuel tank
The analysis was made by examining 3 car models, 100% electric, diesel and petrol versions, taking into account the fuel consumption indicated by the car manufacturers (based on the WLTP combined cycle) and the price of electricity and fuel. The cost of a domestic recharge was considered for electricity, using the prices in force in the protected market in October 2021 and October 2022 as a reference value, while for petrol and diesel the average prices at the pump in September 2021 and in the last week of September 2022 were used. Specifically, to determine the price of energy per kWh, only the variable components of the electricity bill were used (therefore the energy price, the dispatch price and the PPE (Energy Equalisation Price)) applied in the protected market in October 2021 (€ 0.205 / kWh) and October 2022 (0.535 € / kWh). For the price of petrol and diesel, on the other hand, the average prices at the pump in September 2021 (petrol 1.731 €/l, diesel 1.590 €/l) and in the last week of September 2022 (petrol 1.633 €/l, diesel € 1.738 €/l) were used.
The cost of filling up a small petrol, diesel and electric car
The first analysis compared the costs of segment B-segment cars, with power outputs of between 100 and 136 hp. In first place, in terms of economy, is the 100 hp diesel version, which with an average consumption of 24.4 km/l, showed a 9% increase in cost, going from 65 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 71 euros in 2022. In second place was the small 100 hp car with a petrol engine and an average consumption of 19.6 km/l. In this case, the cost decreased by 6% as it cost 83 euros in 2022 compared to 88 euros in 2021. Last was the 136 hp electric city car with an average consumption of 6.3 km/kWh that increased from 33 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 85 euros in 2022, which translates into an increase of 161%.
The cost of filling up a mid-sized petrol, diesel and electric sedan car
The second analysis compared the costs of C-segment sedan cars, with power outputs of between 130 and 150 hp. In first place, in terms of economy, is the 150 hp diesel version, which with an average consumption of 22.5 km/l, showed a 9% increase in cost, going from 71 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 77 euros in 2022. In second place was the small 130 hp sedan car with a petrol engine and an average consumption of 18.7 km/l. In this case, the cost decreased by 6% as it cost 88 euros in 2022 compared to 93 euros in 2021. Last was the 150 hp electric sedan car with an average consumption of 6.6 km/kWh that increased from 31 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 80 euros in 2022, which translates into an increase of 161%.
The cost of filling up a D-segment hybrid diesel and petrol and an electric sedan car
The third analysis compared the costs of D-segment cars, with power outputs of between 249 and 286 hp. In first place, in terms of economy, is the 249 hp diesel version with mild hybrid technology, which with an average consumption of 16.1 km/l, showed a 9% increase in cost, going from 99 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 108 euros in 2022. In second place was the 258 hp sedan with a with mild hybrid petrol engine and an average consumption of 13.2 km/l. In this case, the expenditure decreased by 6% as it costs 124 euros in 2022 compared to 132 euros in 2021. Last was the 286 hp D-segment electric car with an average consumption of 5.4 km/kWh that increased from 38 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 99 euros in 2022, which translates into an increase of 161%.
Comparing the cost of charging an electric car and filling up a fuel tank
The analysis was made by examining 3 car models, 100% electric, diesel and petrol versions, taking into account the fuel consumption indicated by the car manufacturers (based on the WLTP combined cycle) and the price of electricity and fuel. The cost of a domestic recharge was considered for electricity, using the prices in force in the protected market in October 2021 and October 2022 as a reference value, while for petrol and diesel the average prices at the pump in September 2021 and in the last week of September 2022 were used. Specifically, to determine the price of energy per kWh, only the variable components of the electricity bill were used (therefore the energy price, the dispatch price and the PPE (Energy Equalisation Price)) applied in the protected market in October 2021 (€ 0.205 / kWh) and October 2022 (0.535 € / kWh). For the price of petrol and diesel, on the other hand, the average prices at the pump in September 2021 (petrol 1.731 €/l, diesel 1.590 €/l) and in the last week of September 2022 (petrol 1.633 €/l, diesel € 1.738 €/l) were used.
The cost of filling up a small petrol, diesel and electric car
The first analysis compared the costs of segment B-segment cars, with power outputs of between 100 and 136 hp. In first place, in terms of economy, is the 100 hp diesel version, which with an average consumption of 24.4 km/l, showed a 9% increase in cost, going from 65 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 71 euros in 2022. In second place was the small 100 hp car with a petrol engine and an average consumption of 19.6 km/l. In this case, the cost decreased by 6% as it cost 83 euros in 2022 compared to 88 euros in 2021. Last was the 136 hp electric city car with an average consumption of 6.3 km/kWh that increased from 33 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 85 euros in 2022, which translates into an increase of 161%.
The cost of filling up a mid-sized petrol, diesel and electric sedan car
The second analysis compared the costs of C-segment sedan cars, with power outputs of between 130 and 150 hp. In first place, in terms of economy, is the 150 hp diesel version, which with an average consumption of 22.5 km/l, showed a 9% increase in cost, going from 71 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 77 euros in 2022. In second place was the small 130 hp sedan car with a petrol engine and an average consumption of 18.7 km/l. In this case, the cost decreased by 6% as it cost 88 euros in 2022 compared to 93 euros in 2021. Last was the 150 hp electric sedan car with an average consumption of 6.6 km/kWh that increased from 31 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 80 euros in 2022, which translates into an increase of 161%.
The cost of filling up a D-segment hybrid diesel and petrol and an electric sedan car
The third analysis compared the costs of D-segment cars, with power outputs of between 249 and 286 hp. In first place, in terms of economy, is the 249 hp diesel version with mild hybrid technology, which with an average consumption of 16.1 km/l, showed a 9% increase in cost, going from 99 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 108 euros in 2022. In second place was the 258 hp sedan with a with mild hybrid petrol engine and an average consumption of 13.2 km/l. In this case, the expenditure decreased by 6% as it costs 124 euros in 2022 compared to 132 euros in 2021. Last was the 286 hp D-segment electric car with an average consumption of 5.4 km/kWh that increased from 38 euros per 1000 km in 2021 to 99 euros in 2022, which translates into an increase of 161%.
