Electric vehicles offer better value for money than diesel and petrol engines
The Ayvens Car Cost Index study: in the mid-range segment, the average monthly cost of an electric car is 969 euros, compared with 994 for a diesel car
Electric cars are not just a driving force behind the energy transition; they now also aim to be the most competitive solution to businesses’ mobility needs. This dual role is already being realised, according to the Ayvens Car Cost Index 2026, an analysis carried out by the long-term hire operator formed from the merger of Ald Automotive and LeasePlan.
The study highlights that, in Italia, fully electric vehicles are the most cost-effective option when considering the most popular vehicle segments: an electric car already offers significant monthly savings compared with a diesel model.
The analysis was based on a four-year period of use and an average annual mileage of 30,000 kilometres per vehicle, with the aim of establishing a consistent basis for comparing the Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) across the various markets under consideration.
Electric cars are most competitive in Portugal and Belgium, whilst Switzerland remains the market with the highest average hire costs.
Even in our country, which ranks among the lowest in Europe for electric car registrations in the business and long-term hire sectors, the financial benefit is very real. In the compact segment, the Ayvens Car Cost Index estimates an average monthly cost per electric vehicle in Italia of 858 euros, which is lower than both petrol (908 euros) and plug-in hybrid (€912) and significantly lower than that of a diesel vehicle (€1,032). The saving therefore ranges from around €50 per month, if an electric model is preferred to a petrol one, to over €170, if an electric vehicle is chosen instead of a diesel one.
