Car manufacturers are crazy about bringing affordable electric cars to the market. With prices falling, it is now often cheaper to drive electrically. Even without the (no longer obtainable) subsidy from the government. Especially if you wait a few months.
Because later this year or early next year, many car houses will come onto the market with new electric models with a higher range that will cost between 30,000 and 40,000 euros.
For example, Skoda comes with the Enyaq, Volkswagen with the ID3, Opel with an electric Mokka and Fiat with an electric 500 convertible. In terms of price, those cars are between 30,000 euros and 39,000 euros. All with a range of 250 km or more with a full battery.
Kia and Hyundai already have models with such a range for around 35,000 on the market. And if you are satisfied with less range, you can already drive a Renault Twingo or Seat Mii for just over 20,000 euros.
Calculate per month
According to Leaseplan, electric cars in the compact segment are fully competitive compared to combustion engine vehicles. Milieu Centraal also made a calculation and came to an advantage of almost 170 euros per month for electric compared to petrol.
RTL Z also asked electric driving expert Auke Hoekstra from Eindhoven University of Technology to make a calculation. "With the new generation of models that are a lot more affordable, it quickly becomes much cheaper per month to drive electrically. And that often applies from the moment you drive 10,000 kilometers per year."
Less maintenance, more expensive insurance
Electric driving is not only financially attractive because of the lower fuel costs. Maintenance is also cheaper. "The electric motors require hardly any maintenance," says Hoekstra. "And you will notice that in your wallet."
On the other hand, the insurance premium is often more expensive. Electric cars are damaged more often, possibly because they can accelerate so quickly, and the damage is often more difficult to repair, according to research by price comparison site Pricewise.
Incidentally, it is mainly the more expensive models that suffer damage more often. Drivers of small electric cars actually have a 10 percent lower risk of accidents, says Pricewise. Yet even there the premiums are often two to three tens higher per month.
The tires of an electric car also wear out faster. That's because the car is heavier.
Charging station
Installing a charging station at home also drives up the costs of electric driving. That can amount to more than 2000 euros. The advantage is that you can charge at home, which is cheaper than at a public station.
Source: RTL News