Research carried out by Nevo.ie, Ireland’s only dedicated electric vehicle platform, has found that since the start of the year, the 10 best-selling EV (electric vehicle) models have an average price of €37,774. For the same period, the top 10 petrol and diesel models have an average price of €40,149. A difference of €2,375.
Derek Reilly with Nevo stated “For a long time, price has been a huge factor stated by drivers stopping them going electric, there was a ‘Green Premium’, This is no longer the case. This research, adding to the lower running costs and total cost of ownership that goes hand in hand with owning an EV is really starting to make sense to more Irish drivers.”
Coupled with this research, the Q2 Fuel Price Comparison data from the SEAI (Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland) shows that the average cost of fuelling an EV in Ireland to drive 100km is €3.12. The same distance in a diesel car costs €8.75, and petrol would, on average, cost you €9.32. These average forecourt prices do not reflect the recent price increases per litre.
The SUV body type is dominant across all fuel types, with 9 of the top 10 coming in this form factor, as Irish drivers prefer a more upright driving position. Since SUVs are the most popular shape, it’s easy to calculate just how much can be saved by driving electric versus a 1.5L diesel.
If you’re looking to trim your monthly expenses, switching from a traditional diesel SUV to an electric vehicle offers some pretty eye-opening numbers. Based on a standard 30-day month with a daily commute of 35 km (totalling 1,050 km), a 1.5L diesel SUV consuming 6.0 L/100 km would burn through 63 litres of fuel. At a price of €2.14 per litre, your monthly fuel bill hits €134.82.
In contrast, a 60 kWh EV with an efficiency of 18 kWh/100 km would use 189 kWh for that same distance. Using a home charging rate of €0.18/kWh, the monthly cost drops significantly to just €34.02. This results in an estimated monthly saving of roughly €101, which puts about €1,210 back in your pocket every year on commuting costs alone.
