A report from the International Council On Clean Transportation (ICCT) published on September 6, 2026, states that operating an electric vehicle in Europe in 2025 cost one-third less than a gasoline or diesel car. Even for drivers using public charging, costs remain 28 percent lower.
Energy costs for combustion engine vehicles rose by 12 to 36 percent at the start of 2026, while costs for battery electric vehicles remained stable. Global battery costs dropped 35 percent between 2020 and 2025, leading to an 18 percent decrease in purchase costs for electric cars in Germany.
The number of available battery electric vehicle models in Europe quadrupled between 2020 and 2025. In 2025, the market share of fully electric powertrains in Europe increased by at least 18 percent, with electric car prices reaching parity with gasoline models in the three largest segments.
Electric trucks in Germany currently have 11 percent lower purchase and operating costs than diesel trucks for long-haul transport. The ICCT suggests that cost parity for electric and diesel trucks across the European Union could be achieved by 2030.
Electric cars produce 73 percent fewer lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions than gasoline vehicles, while electric long-haul trucks offer 86 percent in CO2 savings compared to diesel. Plug-in hybrids show real-world emissions 4.6 times higher than type approval values.
