IS EV ALWAYS THE CHEAPEST? SMALL PETROL ENGINE VS. ELECTRIC (RUNNING COST COMPARISON) CHARGING COSTS

EV Channels Review

This video presents a practical, albeit unconventional, comparison of running costs between a 2015 Volkswagen Up! 1.0 petrol and a Nissan Leaf 62kWh electric vehicle. The reviewer explicitly states this experiment focuses on public charging costs, acknowledging that home charging is significantly cheaper. The petrol car averaged 10 pence per mile, costing £35 for 350 miles. In contrast, the Nissan Leaf, using only public Gridserve stations, incurred a higher cost of 10.3 pence per mile over 270 miles, totaling £26 for three charging sessions equating to 2 hours of charging time. The reviewer highlights range anxiety, the inconvenience of public charging, and the impact of cold weather and amenity usage (heating, heated seats) on EV range and efficiency. While the EV was marginally more expensive per mile in this specific scenario, the reviewer emphasizes that this method of charging is not the cheapest and that home charging would yield different results. The experiment serves as a valuable insight for those without home charging access.