Research ‘Electric driving cheaper than gasoline?’ Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz

‘Electric driving cheaper’ survey of German car brands

The importer compared three brands that have released similar models in each fuel category: BMW, Audi and Mercedes-Benz. The number of miles driven per year combined with the price per mile, road tax and purchase cost in both the Netherlands and Germany were considered. And what turns out? Driving on a plug is by no means always cheaper.

Electric driving not cheapest

“We see that many people assume that electric driving is simply the cheapest. But it always remains a combination of consumption and purchase costs,” said Job Das, director of Das Import. “It’s different for each situation, of course. For each situation, it is interesting to see what is beneficial. People can then draw their own conclusion. But don’t stare blindly at electric as the cheapest option.”

Electric driving cheaper? This is how the investigation proceeded

For the study, six different types of cars from three different brands were compared based on purchase cost, fuel cost, range and road tax. All these cars were for sale in mid-December 2022 at official brand dealers in the Netherlands or in Germany. For the prices of gasoline, diesel and electricity (kWh), the Average National Advisory Prices were used. Of course, all these variables and associated tipping points are subject to daily change and these calculation examples are only a snapshot in time, but it does give a picture in the cost of a gasoline or diesel car compared to an EV.

Comparison of Audi Q5 and Audi e-tron

Comparison Audi A5 Sportback, Audi A7 Sportback, Audi A8 and Audi e-tron GT

Comparison BMW X3 and BMW iX3

Comparison Mercedes-Benz GLC and Mercedes-Benz EQC

Comparison Mercedes-Benz S-Class and Mercedes-Benz EQS