Not Your Average Road Trip: The Electric vs Diesel Showdown
A 2,500-kilometer (about 1,550 miles) journey between Berlin and Madrid sounded like the ultimate way to settle the score on long-distance driving costs for electric cars. The goal was simple: pit EVs against their fossil-fueled competitors, and see which comes out cheapest once and for all. The result, though, was anything but predictable: when the calculators and receipts were tallied, diesel still took the crown as the more economical option.
The Journey Begins at Tesla’s Berlin Gigafactory
The adventure kicked off with a visit to Tesla’s mighty Gigafactory in Berlin. From there, a group of journalists set out on their road test to the Spanish capital. Their steeds? Two shiny electric models: a Model Y Long Range RWD and a Model 3 Highland Long Range.
When it came to charging, Tesla’s built-in navigation took the reins. It prioritized Superchargers but wasn’t shy about pointing out lay-bys equipped by other providers. Charging stops cropped up every 200-300 km (roughly 125-185 miles), and the crew made sure to use these for quick coffee breaks or to stretch their legs. Quite often, the cars were unplugged and back on the road before the batteries were even fully charged—no time wasted!
To Gas or Not to Gas: The Simulated Competition
Of course, to make things fair, the journalists didn’t just stick to pure EVs. On paper, they ‘drove’ the same route using two fossil-fueled vehicles:
- A petrol car using 7 liters per 100 kilometers;
- A diesel car sipping just 5.5 liters per 100 kilometers.
For the cost comparison, they used average fuel prices reported by the European Union—the sort of number crunching that makes accountants swoon.
No One-Size-Fits-All Winner
If you’re waiting for the champion to be crowned, here’s the twist: it’s complicated. The electric-diesel match isn’t a straightforward race. It all comes down to the priorities of whoever’s behind the wheel:
- Some folks value getting to their destination as quickly as possible;
- Others want to keep running costs to a minimum;
- Then there are those who put the planet first and focus on environmental impact.
The silver lining? Today’s market is bursting with choices, whether you’re after performance, budget, eco-friendliness—or all of the above. Motorists get to pick the car that suits *their* lifestyle and their conscience. A happy ending for gearheads and greenies alike!
