Real economy or fiscal mirage? The true cost of the electric car

Is an electric car really more economical to use than a thermal model? For several years, the Arval Mobility Observatory has been carrying out a study on this subject. Called TCO Scope, it compares the cost of ownership (Total Cost of Ownership in English) of the two energies, both for private vehicles and utility vehicles. And the results of the latest edition, published at the end of September 2024, are unequivocal. Overall, it is electric passenger vehicles that win these duels. On the other hand, on the utility side, the results are clearly in favor of thermal.

Thus, according to the study, which is still based on a holding period of forty-eight months, the Peugeot 2008 microhybrid turns out to be “better priced” – by very little – on the lowest mileages (60,000 km and 80,000 km), due to a more moderate rent, which neither the energy budget nor the taxation specific to electricity compensates for. But as soon as we move to higher mileages…