For the first time in 2017 in the Netherlands, it was cheaper to drive an electric car than a diesel car. Those who drive 30,000 kilometres a year in an electric car spend an average of 829 euros a month, while a diesel car costs an average of 861 euros a month.
This is according to LeasePlan's Car Cost Index, which compares the monthly cost of owning a vehicle in 21 European countries including the Netherlands. It assumes a small to medium-sized car, looking specifically at the cost of a BMW i3, Ford Focus/Focus Electric, Hyundai Ioniq, Nissan Leaf, Opel/Vauxhall Corsa, Renault Clio, Renault Zoe, Smart Fortwo, Volkswagen Golf/e-Golf and Volkswagen Polo. The cost includes fuel, depreciation, maintenance, road tax and insurance.
Fifth most expensive country for car owners
Owning a car - regardless of the type of fuel the vehicle runs on - costs an average of 643 euros per month at 20,000 kilometres per year in the Netherlands. This makes the Netherlands the sixth most expensive country for car owners. Italian car owners are the most expensive at 761 euros per month, while Polish car owners are the cheapest at 448 euros per month.
Remarkably, the Netherlands is simultaneously one of the cheapest countries among all 21 countries surveyed to drive electric. If 20,000 kilometres per year is assumed, the monthly cost of an electric car is lower only in Norway, Poland and Hungary.
Petrol car remains cheapest
A petrol car remains the cheapest vehicle to own in the Netherlands. On average, a petrol car in our country costs 785 euros per month at 30,000 kilometres per year, compared to 829 euros for an electric car and 861 euros for a diesel car.
The cost of electric driving varies widely across Europe. For example, an electric car in Hungary costs an average of €597 per month, while the same car in Italy is as much as €389 more expensive at €986. Norway is the only country where electric driving is the cheapest option in some cases. Motorists driving 20,000 kilometres a year sentence Norway with an average monthly cost of 670 euros cheaper than with a petrol car (731 euros) or diesel car (722 euros).
LeasePlan points out that drivers with an electric car save substantially on fuel costs. For instance, electric drivers spend an average of 39 euros on fuel per month, compared to 110 euros per month for petrol drivers and 78 euros per month for diesel drivers.
'Everyone should be able to move green'
"EV (ed: electric vehicle) is one of the best ways to tackle climate change. The challenge is that everyone should be able to buy or lease an electric car and move 'green' from now on. The latest figures for the first few months in 2018 show an even more positive trend in EV costs. The fact that all kinds of new models are also coming onto the market in the coming years supports our belief that EVs are becoming an increasingly accessible and natural alternative to petrol and diesel cars," says Erik Henstra, managing director of LeasePlan Netherlands.
Henstra expects the increasing number of electric used cars that will eventually become available on the market and the possibility of leasing these vehicles to boost the popularity of electric vehicles in the Netherlands.
'Action by policymakers remains necessary'
Tex Gunning, CEO of LeasePlan: "The good news is that drivers can now also choose an electric car from a cost perspective. The cost of EV (Electric Transport) is more competitive and increasingly attractive. However, not yet in all countries. The Car Cost Index exposes that policymakers must continue to take action on key issues such as taxes (in the Netherlands: BPM, road tax, addition) and the availability of charging stations in order to make electric driving a sound transport alternative throughout Europe."
Author: Wouter Hoeffnagel
Source: LeasePlan
Source photo: Pixabay/ paulbr75
