ICCT Report Finds EV Running Costs a Third Cheaper Than Combustion Cars in Europe

A September 6, 2026 report from the International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT) puts hard numbers behind a claim EV drivers have long suspected: running an electric car in Europe cost roughly one third less than fuelling a petrol or diesel equivalent in 2025. The gap is attributed largely to the jump in fuel prices that followed the attack on Ukraine, which pushed pump costs sharply higher across the continent.

The comparison covers day-to-day operating expenses rather than sticker prices, meaning electricity, maintenance and related running costs were weighed against the cost of keeping a conventional car on the road. With home charging and cheaper public tariffs, the ICCT’s figures suggest the savings accumulate steadily over a year of driving.

For European buyers weighing the switch, the finding reinforces a simple economic argument: even where purchase prices remain close, the ongoing cost of ownership tilts toward electric. The report arrives as policymakers continue to debate how quickly the continent’s fleet should transition away from fossil fuels.

AutoVoltix will continue to track how these cost trends develop as electricity and fuel markets shift.