LifestyleMotoringA motoring journalist has compared the cost of driving a petrol car and the cost of driving an electric car and come to an interesting conclusion07:10, 08 Sep 2026Since the renaissance of electric cars in the early-2010s there has been one big question – how much are they to run? At first, when there was a big push to get more people into electric cars, they were relatively cheap to charge.‌However, as time has passed, the gap between the cost of driving an electric car compared to a petrol car has narrowed. At a time when petrol prices are still quite high, in part because of the continuing Iran War and disruption to the Strait of Hormuz, is it cheaper to drive a petrol or switch to electric?‌This was a question answered by car-selling service Carwow who compared Renault’s petrol-powered Clio to its nearest electric equivalent, the Renault Zoe.‌The journalist Jamie Edkins compared the fuel and charging costs, the price of servicing over three years, depreciation, and a “30,000 mile ownership period” to see which one was best.This comes as more and more electric cars enter the used car market meaning buyers can snap up an electric car for under £10,000. Overall, it cost £8,001 to run the electric Zoe compared to £10,178 for the Clio. However, this was if someone decided to charge their car at home.‌However, if someone decided to charge their Zoe via public chargers this £8,001 figure rose to £10,444, higher than the Clio. As with petrol cars, where you ‘fill up’ your electric car can make a massive difference.This was a conclusion reflected by Jamie who said: “The lowest cost of ownership comes from having a Renault Zoe with home charging, followed by the Clio, and relying on public charging with the electric car is the most expensive overall.‌"So if you can charge up at home, a used Renault Zoe is a great buy to keep the bills down.”Jamie’s comparison test came as the latest figures from the SMMT (Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders) were released, showing a significant jump for electric car sales in the UK.The figures showed that BEVs (Battery Electric Vehicles) now have a 29 percent market share with a 27 percent rise in registrations last month. In a statement addressing this rise they said: “For consumers considering the switch to electric, the market offerings are highly compelling.Article continues below"Drivers can choose from more than 170 zero emission models across every segment, supported by generous manufacturer incentives and government support.”Choose Daily Mirror as a 'Preferred Source' on Google News for quick access to the news you value.‌