New petrol cars may cost drivers around £700 a year more to run than electric ones, analysis shows.
This would lead to a “petrol premium” building to £10,000 over the expected 14-year lifetime of each vehicle, non-profit organisation the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit calculated.
The study is based on the 10 top-selling petrol cars of the year, compared with their EV equivalents.
The price of fuel was the main reason for the cost difference, but other factors included vehicle excise duty and servicing.
However, the higher purchase price of electric cars is still putting buyers off.
This week, the AA said the chances of an EV breakdown caused by running out of power are at a record low.
Just 2.3% of its EV callouts this year were due to a low battery charge, falling from 8.3% in 2015 and 4.3% in 2021 – which they put down to improved EV ranges and more charging points.
