Is a Tesla really cheaper than a petrol car? Danish motoring organisation FDM analysed fuel costs on long trips, and the results surprise many people. But that's only part of the picture. Here is the complete 5-year comparison.
What does a long trip cost?
On a 3,000 km trip (e.g. holiday to Southern Europe and back):
| Fuel type | Energy costs |
|---|---|
| Diesel (18 km/l, €1.80/l) | approx. €300 |
| Tesla Supercharger (€0.45/kWh) | approx. €177 |
| Petrol (16 km/l, €1.80/l) | approx. €338 |
With home charging it's even cheaper: approx. €118 for 3,000 km. Tesla wins clearly on long trips.
Purchase price – Tesla is not as expensive as you think
- Tesla Model Y Standard RWD: from approx. €32,990
- Toyota RAV4 Hybrid: from approx. €40,000
- VW Tiguan 1.5 TSI: from approx. €36,000
Tesla is lower or on par. With a referral link you save an additional €1,750 from day one.
Fuel/charging over 5 years
Based on 15,000 km/year:
Tesla (home charging, €0.25/kWh)
- 15,000 × 0.131 × 0.25 = approx. €491/year
- Over 5 years: ~€2,456
Petrol car (8l/100km, €1.80/l)
- 15,000 × 0.08 × 1.80 = approx. €2,160/year
- Over 5 years: ~€10,800
➡️ Fuel savings over 5 years: ~€8,344
Maintenance over 5 years
- Tesla: approx. €400/year = ~€2,000
- Petrol car: approx. €1,000/year = ~€5,000
➡️ Maintenance savings: ~€3,000
Insurance over 5 years
- Tesla: ~€1,100/year = ~€5,500
- RAV4: ~€900/year = ~€4,500
➡️ Extra cost Tesla: ~€1,000
5-year total comparison
| Item | Tesla Model Y Standard | Toyota RAV4 Hybrid |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price (w. bonus) | €31,240 | €40,000 |
| Fuel/charging | €2,456 | €10,800 |
| Maintenance | €2,000 | €5,000 |
| Insurance | €5,500 | €4,500 |
| Total 5 years | €41,196 | €60,300 |
➡️ Tesla wins by approx. €19,104 over 5 years!
Long trips with Tesla – a genuine advantage
As the FDM analysis shows, Tesla is now cheaper than petrol cars even on long European trips. Saving roughly €160 on a 3,000 km holiday drive. The Supercharger network makes planning easy and predictable – the navigation pre-conditions the battery automatically.
Conclusion: Tesla is the cheaper choice over 5 years
Whether you look at daily commuting, holiday road trips, or total 5-year ownership – the Tesla Model Y comes out ahead. Start saving from day one with our referral link.
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