Electric cars: how EVs compare to petrol and diesel

EV sales rose nearly 24% last year and almost a quarter of new cars sold were electric; EVs now vary widely in price, range, charging speed and maintenance compared with petrol and diesel models.

Electric vehicle sales have grown rapidly, rising by nearly 24% last year and accounting for almost a quarter of new-car registrations. The article examines common questions about switching to an EV, including costs, charging speed, range, maintenance and the second-hand market. It notes that prices are falling, ranges are generally increasing, and public charging times are getting faster. The review also compares EVs with petrol, diesel and various hybrid types as the market changes. Key facts: - EV sales rose nearly 24% last year, and almost a quarter of new cars sold were electric. - Price examples cited include the Ford Puma Gen-E at £26,245 (including a £3,750 Electric Car Grant) versus a petrol Puma at £26,580, and a variety of new EVs starting below £25,000 such as the Dacia Spring at £14,995. - Fast public charging can reach up to 320kW for some cars (the article cites a Porsche Taycan example, 10–80% in about 18 minutes), while home chargers typically operate at 3.6–7kW and take much longer. - Real-world ranges vary widely: the article lists long-range examples like the BMW iX3 (about 500 miles) and Volvo EX60 (503 miles), mid-market ranges around 200 miles, and short-range models such as the Dacia Spring at about 140 miles. WLTP figures are used for comparison but may differ from real-world performance. - Cold weather reduces battery performance and charging speed; cited tests from Norway’s NAF found winter range losses of roughly 4–30% depending on conditions. Battery health and diagnostics are important for used EVs. - Second-hand EV prices have fallen substantially in some cases, with examples ranging from older Nissan Leafs for low prices to nearly-new models available at lower cost; the article also notes generally lower mechanical maintenance needs for EVs and describes regenerative braking and one-pedal driving features. Summary: The EV market is expanding with more models, lower entry prices for some vehicles, varied real-world range and faster public charging for higher-power cars. Undetermined at this time.