Plug-in car sales exceeded 2.27 million in 2021, showing that more and more are choosing to go electric. With the rise in petrol costs and ever-growing concerns of car emissions, how much would be making the switch to an electric vehicle save you in emissions and money?
Interested in finding out, money.co.uk considered the cost of the average petrol vehicle compared to an electric vehicle, plus the cost of travelling the average driving distance in one year. From this, they can reveal which European countries could save the most money by switching to an electric vehicle.
#1 Denmark:
Money.co.uk can reveal that buying an electric vehicle in Denmark would save you the most money. An electric car would cost €26,000 less than a petrol vehicle. With savings of over 50% and Denmark aiming to have 775,000 electrified vehicles by 2030, now is the best time to go electric for the sake of both your wallet and the environment.
#2 Norway:
Coming in second is Norway, where buying an electric vehicle could save you €17,000 compared to a petrol vehicle. In February 2022, battery-operated vehicles held a 64% stake in the Norwegian market, revealing their popularity. Norway earns its high ranking due to the various tax incentives in place, making electric vehicles very affordable compared to those with higher emissions.
#3 France:
Ranking third is France, where the average electric vehicle costs €9,000 less than its petrol counterpart. Compared to the first two results, this is a significant drop in savings, however, this price includes France’s government grant of €1,000 towards buying an electric car.
If you would like to see the full list of countries and more extensive data you can do so here.
James Andrews, a spokesperson from money.co.uk, offers guidance on choosing the perfect electric car:
- Consider the benefits: Switching to an electric car or van means zero emissions from the vehicle, cheaper road tax as well as escaping charges for emission zones in cities. But there’s no denying the range limitations, longer charging time and generally higher purchase prices. So, make sure you should weigh up your options against petrol/hybrid vehicles to see which is most suited to your specific needs.
- Consider charging points: Although electric vehicles are becoming more common, access to rapid chargers is still harder than finding a petrol station. While millions will be able to charge at home or at work, if that’s not an option you need to make sure you have public points available nearby before you commit to a purchase.
- Is an electric vehicle right for you? If you aren’t sure if you can commit to a 100% electric vehicle yet, hybrid vehicles could bridge the gap while the infrastructure and technology develop further. You don’t need to solely rely on charging points and hybrids still emit less pollution than conventional petrol cars.
Research conducted by: https://www.money.co.uk/saving…
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