Caralogy

Analysis · April 2026

Electric or combustion: compare the real cost per 100 km

Home charging (€0,21/kWh) puts electric at €3,15/100 km — versus €12,94 for petrol at €1,99/L. Our simulator calculates the exact cost for your mileage, rates and driving profile.

Featured duels

Electric

French electric city cars

Peugeot e-208 136 Phase 2vsRenault 5 E-Tech Electric 150

Two French city cars under €35,000. In urban driving, their cost per km drops below €0.02/km.

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Combustion

French hybrids: Peugeot vs Renault

Peugeot 208 Hybrid 110 e-DCS6vsRenault Clio 5 E-Tech Full Hybrid 145

Two compact hybrids, two technologies (eDCS6 vs E-Tech). Which costs less over 20,000 km/year?

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Electric

French EVs: premium vs budget

Renault 5 E-Tech Electric 150vsDacia Spring Electric 65

R5 52 kWh, Spring 27 kWh. Two philosophies, two prices. Cost per km brings them closer.

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Explore by category

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2 100 comparisons

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Understanding cost per kilometre

Electric vs combustion: the real gap

Charging an electric vehicle at home (€0,21/kWh off-peak) costs about €3,15 per 100 km for a WLTP consumption of 15 kWh/100 km. An equivalent petrol vehicle consuming 6.5 L/100 km at €1,99/L costs €12,94 — 4.1 times more. This gap narrows to 2× on rapid DC charging (€0,45/kWh).

The impact of charging type

The cost of an electric trip varies threefold depending on the charging method. Home: €0,21/kWh (off-peak). Public AC: €0,30/kWh. Motorway rapid DC: €0,45/kWh. For a 300 km trip at 16 kWh/100 km, the bill ranges from €10,08 (home) to €21,60 (rapid DC).

How to read our results

Our results show the trip cost in euros, cost per 100 km and WLTP combined consumption. The cheapest vehicle for energy is highlighted in green. You can adjust the distance (10 to 1,000 km) and charging rate (home, AC, DC) to simulate your real usage. Consumption data comes from manufacturer specification sheets (WLTP standard).

Methodology and sources

Consumption: WLTP combined as reported by manufacturer. SP95 €1,99/L, home electricity €0,21/kWh, AC charging €0,30/kWh, DC charging €0,45/kWh (prix-carburants.gouv.fr, mai 2026). Reference annual mileage: 20,000 km (SDES 2025). Simulation by Caralogy calibrated physics engine. This comparison covers energy cost only — it does not include insurance, maintenance, depreciation or purchase cost. Data for informational purposes.

Frequently asked questions

How much does 100 km cost in an electric car charged at home?

Between €2.10 and €3.50 depending on the vehicle's consumption. Example: a Peugeot e-208 (15 kWh/100 km WLTP) costs €3.15 per 100 km at €0.21/kWh (off-peak tariff). An equivalent hybrid consuming 4.5 L/100 km costs €8.96 at €1.99/L — 2.5 times more. These figures are calculated by the Caralogy simulator based on manufacturer WLTP consumption data.

Is electric really cheaper than petrol in 2026?

Yes, in most cases. Home charging (€0.21/kWh) makes electric 2.5 to 4 times cheaper than petrol. DC fast charging (€0.45/kWh) narrows the gap to 1.5 to 2 times. Only systematic DC charging (without any home charging) can erase the electric advantage for high-consumption vehicles. Caralogy simulation, France tariffs 2026.

At what electricity price does electric become cheaper than a hybrid?

The crossover point depends on the vehicle but is generally between €0.33 and €0.38/kWh. Below this threshold (home or AC charging), electric is always cheaper. Above it (motorway DC), a hybrid can be competitive. Our simulator calculates this exact threshold for each vehicle pair and displays it in the results.

Can I compare an electric car and a diesel car?

Yes. The simulator normalises costs between kWh and litres of fuel to compare any pair — electric, hybrid, PHEV or combustion. It calculates cost per km, monthly budget (for 1,500 km/month) and the crossover point — the distance at which one energy type becomes cheaper than the other.

Are fuel and electricity prices adjustable?

Yes. You can modify the fuel price (€/L) and electricity tariff (€/kWh) to reflect your actual rates — home, public AC or rapid DC. The simulator instantly recalculates cost and crossover point. Default rates: SP95 €1.99/L, home €0.21/kWh, AC €0.30/kWh, DC €0.45/kWh.