Light EV vs Petrol: The Real Cost Breakdown

The ASTRAUX Team
2026-03-20T17:59:56+08:00

The sticker price is only part of the story. We ran the numbers on purchase price, fuel, servicing, and insurance across 5 years — and the gap is larger than most people expect.

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EV · Cost

Light EV vs Petrol.
The Real Numbers.

ASTRAUX Team March 21, 2026 EV · Cost

The purchase price is only part of the story.

When most people compare an electric vehicle to a petrol car, they stop at the purchase price and walk away. That is the wrong calculation. The real cost of owning a vehicle plays out over years — fuel, servicing, insurance, maintenance, and what you are actually paying per kilometre every single day.

We ran the numbers. Here is what 5 years of ownership actually looks like.

Purchase

The Starting Point

The ASTRAUX AL6 starts from €6,990. A comparable petrol city car — similar footprint, similar use case — typically starts from €12,000 to €15,000 new. Even before you factor in running costs, the light EV entry point is significantly lower.

In several European markets, government EV incentives and purchase subsidies reduce the effective price further. The AL6 and AL7 qualify for road use under WVTA certification across the EU, meaning these incentives apply in most member states. Check local schemes before you purchase — in many cases, the real out-of-pocket cost is lower than the listed price.

Running Costs

Where the Gap Widens

Purchase price is a one-time cost. Fuel and maintenance are not. This is where the 5-year picture changes significantly.

A petrol city car averaging 15,000 km per year at 6L/100km consumes roughly 900 litres of fuel annually. At current European pump prices of approximately €1.70 per litre, that is around €1,530 per year — or €7,650 over 5 years — in fuel alone.

Charging an equivalent light EV at average European residential electricity rates costs a fraction of that. For typical daily urban commuting distances, annual energy cost for a light EV comes in at approximately €150 to €250 per year depending on your market and charging habits.

Over 5 years, the fuel and energy cost difference alone can exceed €6,000 in favour of the electric vehicle.

That is before you account for servicing — which for a light EV with no combustion engine, no oil changes, and fewer moving parts, is substantially simpler and less frequent.

5-Year Comparison

Side by Side

The figures below are estimates based on average European market conditions, 15,000 km per year, and standard residential charging. They are illustrative, not a guarantee — your actual costs will vary by country, usage pattern, and energy tariff.

Cost Category | Petrol City Car | ASTRAUX Light EV
Purchase price | €13,000 | from €6,990
Fuel / energy (5 yr) | ~€7,650 | ~€1,000
Servicing (5 yr) | ~€2,500 | ~€800
Insurance (5 yr) | ~€3,500 | ~€2,000
Estimated 5-year total | ~€26,650 | ~€10,790

The difference is not marginal. Over a standard ownership period, a light EV represents a significantly lower total cost — even before factoring in subsidies that reduce the purchase price further.

The Bigger Picture

What the Numbers Do Not Show

The table above captures direct costs. What it does not capture is the daily experience of owning a light EV for city use.

No fuel stops. No oil changes. Charging at home overnight while you sleep. A vehicle designed specifically for the distances and conditions most urban drivers actually face — not a compromise cut down from something larger, but a purpose-built city vehicle from the ground up.

The ASTRAUX AL6 and AL7 require an AM licence in most European markets, not a full car licence. That opens access to a category of driver who has never had a practical daily vehicle option at this price point and running cost before.

Coming Up

What's Next

Next up: we cover exactly what licence and registration you need to legally put an ASTRAUX on the road where you live — country by country, with the details that actually matter.

If you have questions in the meantime, reach us at support@astraux.com