Electric-car drivers in Europe pay, on average, less than half the cost paid by diesel-car drivers per kilometer when only charging or refueling is taken into account, according to an analysis conducted by Transport & Environment (T&E). The finding comes as European leaders in Brussels discuss ways to address the energy crisis and rising fuel prices.
T&E says diesel drivers are currently paying about €32 more per 50-liter tank than the February 2026 average, with nearly €16 of that increase attributable to higher refining margins. The comparison was based on the weighted average diesel prices in the 27 European Union countries, according to the European Commission’s Weekly Oil Bulletin on September 21, 2026, and on estimates of refining margins, which rose from about €0.10 per liter in February to approximately €0.41 on September 14.
How was the difference calculated?
T&E estimated the operating cost of a diesel car based on consumption of 6.9 liters per 100 kilometers, compared with 20.2 kilowatt-hours per 100 kilometers for an electric car. The organization used an electricity price of €0.343 per kilowatt-hour. T&E notes that its charging-cost estimate takes into account the link between electricity and gas prices and the time lag in passing price changes on to households; therefore, it may represent an upper bound for the cost of charging an electric car.
What is changing in practice?
The impact of rising diesel prices is not limited to private cars; a large share of diesel consumption in Europe goes to trucks and commercial vehicles. According to another study published by T&E on Monday, electric trucks have become cheaper to operate than their diesel counterparts in nearly half of the truck categories sold in the European Union.
The organization believes these figures strengthen the economic case for accelerating the transition to electric cars and trucks, but they do not eliminate the need for short-term measures to address rising prices. It also warns against across-the-board fuel-tax cuts, proposing instead that support be directed to low-income households, that windfall taxes be imposed on energy companies, and that the revenue be allocated to public transport and programs to replace older vehicles.
Context and limitations
Antony Froggatt, senior director at T&E, said that the possibility of the United States banning diesel exports could increase the risk of supply shortages, arguing that electrification is the way to ensure that oil crises do not recur. The organization notes that the combined profits of oil companies in Europe doubled during the last quarter, according to an earlier analysis by the organization.
The comparison is based only on direct energy costs and does not include the vehicle purchase price, insurance, maintenance, or the costs of building charging infrastructure. Diesel and charging figures are also regional averages; therefore, the actual difference may vary depending on the country, vehicle type, electricity price, and charging method. T&E’s call for targeted support policies remains a recommendation issued by the organization, rather than an independent conclusion established by the analysis alone.