Are Electric Cars Really Cheaper Than Petrol? And Will They Stay That Way?

Electric cars are generally cheaper to run than petrol cars—particularly when they’re charged at home. But will that advantage survive as governments lose billions in fuel-duty revenue? In the first Cog & Effect video, we examine: The rise of electric-car sales Electricity versus petrol running costs Road tax, fuel duty and home charging How governments could tax electric driving Whether EVs will remain cheaper in the future The answer is more complicated than simply comparing the price of petrol with a unit of electricity. Sources and further reading: International Energy Agency — Global EV Outlook⁠ UK Government — Vehicle tax for electric vehicles⁠ UK Government — Advisory electricity rate for company cars⁠ Ofgem — Energy price cap⁠ SMMT — UK vehicle data⁠ Running costs vary by vehicle, driving style, location, tariff and charging method. Figures discussed are illustrative rather than personalised financial advice. Subscribe to Cog & Effect for videos about cars, engineering, technology—and what happens next.