Today, driving one kilometer in an electric car costs four times less than in a combustion-engine car.

Omissions

• The claim does not specify whether 'cost per kilometer' refers to energy/fuel costs only or total cost of ownership (including maintenance, depreciation, insurance). Energy-only comparisons typically yield ratios of 3–4x in favour of EVs; total cost of ownership differences are narrower.
• No primary official EU-wide source (e.g., Eurostat, European Commission study) was found that provides an exact EU-average cost-per-kilometer ratio. Available data comes from secondary analyses and consultancies.
• The ratio varies significantly by EU Member State. In countries with high petrol taxes and low residential electricity prices (e.g., France, Spain), the ratio can approach or exceed 4:1; in countries with expensive electricity and lower fuel taxes, the ratio may be closer to 2–3:1.
• The source found (Carbone4) shows a ratio of approximately 3.4:1 for the French market—close to but not exactly 4:1.
• The European Commission (16 June 2026) confirms EV running costs are lower but does not quantify the exact ratio.

Sources

• SecondaryCarbone4 – Misconceptions about electric vehiclesTo travel 15,000 km, a motorist will spend around €1,700 on petrol for a combustion engine vehicle, compared to around €500 on electricity (when charging at home). This equates to approximately €0.113/km for petrol vs. €0.033/km for electric—roughly 3.4 times less.
• SecondaryEuropean Commission – Climate Action NewsElectric cars generally have lower running costs than petrol or diesel vehicles. The article does not provide a specific cost-per-kilometer ratio.
• SecondaryTransport & EnvironmentBattery-electric vehicles have long been cheaper overall to own and run. This is largely because recharging has typically cost much less than refuelling. The article confirms EVs are cheaper but does not provide a quantified 4x per-km ratio in the search snippet.