Unem: Petrol and diesel cars are cheaper than electric ones – here’s why

Despite fuel prices, petrol and diesel remain cheaper than electric. The calculations come from Unem (the association of companies operating in the refining, storage and distribution of petroleum products and low-carbon energy products) and were presented by the president Gianni Murano, during his report to the annual general meeting, where he spoke of a ‘factor closely linked to the disparity in energy costs’: with a €100 fill-up, petrol and diesel vehicles cover between “30 and 40% more kilometres than an electric car”. In detail: 610 kilometres with a BEV (Battery electric vehicle), 951 kilometres on petrol, 1,000 kilometres on diesel.

“There is also another factor that is often underestimated, but just as strategic,” explained Murano: “the fuel distribution network. If we look at the situation in Italy, we are talking about a widespread infrastructure, covering the whole country, capable of ensuring continuity of service in very different conditions, from large urban areas to the most remote regions. A network that in recent years has been the subject of extensive debate regarding its future, but which has undoubtedly, in some cases, been able to transform itself to meet new consumer needs, integrating new solutions and proving itself not to be a static infrastructure, but a platform that evolves and can support the transition.”

In May, 150,096 cars were registered in Italia, 7.64% more than in the same month last year. The total for the first five months stands at 790,031 registrations, up 9.38% on the same period in 2025. Sales are being driven by the incentives introduced by the government last October: according to ANFIA’s analysis, the share of fully electric vehicles registered has doubled, reaching 8.8% in May and 8.2% since the start of the year. According to Motus-E data as at 31 May, the electric vehicle fleet in Italia comprises 421,487 cars.