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Electric cars play a vital role in making road traffic more carbon neutral. However, many consumers have concerns about the price. At what point does owning an EV start to pay off and what expenses can you expect? Here we’ll show you how the costs stack up when buying an EV.
Anyone interested in an electric car will primarily look at the purchase price. But this is not the only aspect to take into consideration. Ultimately, there are a lot of costs associated with a car, regardless of whether it has a combustion engine or an electric battery: Car insurance, vehicle tax, fuel, operation, maintenance and repairs.
Only when you consider all of these costs together can you truly see whether the switch to an EV is worth it and whether the list price is possibly not the most important aspect after all.
In general, the purchase price of an electric car is higher compared to a conventional vehicle with a combustion engine. This is partly because of the expensive battery which the vehicles require to reach certain ranges. For example, the engine power of an electric vehicle ranges from 40 to 100 kWh (kilowatt hours), with an average estimated price of CHF 120 to CHF 130 per kWh. The average range of an electric car is currently around 300 kilometers.
The fact that the raw materials used are in high demand and have to be imported also makes the electric car market somewhat dependent on suppliers and on corresponding price fluctuations.
Furthermore, the production costs for electric cars are often higher since the market is still relatively small and due to the investments that are necessary for the development of new technologies. Despite the purchase price, electric cars can be worth buying since the operating costs are significantly lower. In addition, when buying an electric car, you will benefit from tax incentives and, depending on the canton, environmental rebates.
Although Switzerland has not yet launched a national funding promotional program, the cantons have established some regulations:
In contrast to the higher purchase price, electric cars generally have lower costs concerning maintenance and operation compared to vehicles with combustion engines. This is partly because electric cars have fewer movable parts and are therefore less prone to wear and tear and breakdowns. Typical maintenance measures such as oil changes are not required. But, truth be told, repairs are more expensive on average due to the sensitive technology.
Our tip: If you add “e-mobility battery” service to your electric car insurance, your battery will also be covered. This service takes care of the repair costs if your battery is damaged due to operation errors or the malfunctioning of the charging device.
On average, operating costs for EVs are about 50 to 70 percent lower than for vehicles with combustion engines, provided that the electric car is charged at home. EVs generally consume between CHF 5 and CHF 6 for every 100 kilometers. The exact costs are, of course, based on various factors, such as current electricity prices, the specific model and driving style. The average combustion engine consumes seven to eight liters per 100 kilometers, which, depending on the price of gas, is significantly more expensive.
The costs for constructing and operating charging stations vary considerably. There are basically three charging options: Regular household sockets, wallboxes and fast charging stations
Although a normal household socket is the simplest and cheapest way to charge an electric car, it takes an excessively long time since the ordinary household socket was not developed for this purpose. Therefore, you should have an installed charging station for your electric vehicle (EV) at home due to safety reasons. These wallboxes are faster, more efficient and fully charge your EV within a few hours. On the other hand, a fast-charging station can charge the EV to 80 percent in about 30 minutes. In Switzerland, over 13,000 public charging stations have been installed so far, and this number is expected to reach 20,000 by 2025.
The long-term savings potential of electric cars depends on electricity costs. In Switzerland, the price of electricity has actually gone up an average of 18 percent in 2024. This can lead to an increase of electricity costs by several hundred francs per year.
Since both consumption and fuel prices are considerably higher for conventional cars, EVs do offer cost advantages.
The price of the premium is based on different factors and personal requirements. Since electric vehicles are relatively expensive to buy and repair, it's advisable to purchase comprehensive accidental damage insurance in addition to mandatory liability coverage. Any supplementary protection for battery, parking damage, etc. may also be worthwhile. The easiest way to determine the expected costs is to use the premium calculator.
When it comes to purchasing an electric car, depreciation must be considered. Electric cars actually tend to depreciate more than combustion cars. However, the next few years will show how the market situation will develop in this regard.
There are several reasons for the potentially higher depreciation of electric cars:
Choosing an electric car with a good battery life and a high charging capacity can help minimize depreciation. Regular maintenance as well as care and proper use, especially of the battery, also reduce the depreciation.
From an environmental perspective, an electric car is primarily a good investment for people who drive a lot. If you only drive a few thousand kilometers a year, it will take you a long while before you net any emissions benefits. On average, a small EV only becomes more eco-friendly than a conventional car after about 85,000 kilometers. But this changes significantly if you look at mid-sized vehicles. Driving a mid-sized EV can already become cleaner than driving a conventional car after only 27,000 kilometers, depending on the model, energy consumption, size of the battery and manufacturing conditions.
To calculate the actual expenses of electric cars, all relevant costs must be included: The purchase price, operating costs, maintenance costs and the resale value at the end of the usage period.
The calculation of the total cost should also take into account subsidies, tax incentives and the potential savings from lower operating and maintenance costs.
A total cost analysis over the entire period of use can show that electric cars are cheaper in the long term compared to combustion engines. Although electric cars generally feature a higher purchase cost, the lower operating and maintenance costs, as well as possible subsidies, can mean that the actual total cost is lower than for vehicles with combustion engines.
This depends largely on the fact that the price of electricity remains relatively low compared to the price of gas, despite rising trends, and that there are continued government subsidies and incentives for electric car owners. This is the only way to compensate for the more expensive purchase price.
The savings depend on different factors, such as the price of electricity, annual mileage, and type of electric car. Some estimates predict savings of several hundred to one thousand francs per year.
There are several aspects that determine the service life of a battery: The brand of car, the type of battery, usage and the ambient temperature. Manufacturers often provide guarantees of eight to ten years.
Karin Stötzer is a Content Marketing Manager at AXA and researches interesting content for you on the subjects of mobility, sustainability and climate protection.
