EV vs petrol

How do you compare the cost of electric and petrol?

Put the purchase price and the yearly running costs side by side. Running costs are energy (electricity or petrol), road tax and maintenance. Add them to the purchase price year by year and you see in which year the lines cross: that is the break-even point.

How much road tax does an electric car pay?

Electric cars pay road tax based on their weight, like other cars, but with a discount. The discount applies to the total including the provincial surcharge, and to used electric cars too.

Note: many sites still quote a 25% discount for 2026. That is wrong: it is 30%, so you pay 70% of the normal rate. Electric cars are often heavier, so their normal rate is higher. Work it out exactly with the road tax calculator.

When does an electric car pay for itself?

The more you drive, the faster the price gap comes back. Home charging is much cheaper than fast charging. If you mostly charge on the road, enter your own average price per kWh. Also count insurance and resale value: electric cars often lose value faster in their first years. You can see that in monthly cost of ownership.

Is there a subsidy for a (used) electric car?

The SEPP subsidy is permanently closed; the last applications were possible until 27 December 2024. On 21 September 2026 the government announced a successor, the Overstapsubsidie Gebruikte Elektrische Auto’s (OGEA): €4,000, or €6,000 if you scrap a Euro 0–4 car you have owned for at least a year, for a used electric car with a catalogue price of €12,000 to €60,000. The scheme is announced but not yet open; opening is planned preferably in the fourth quarter of 2026, otherwise in the second quarter of 2027.