A recent road trip from Berlin to Madrid—spanning over 2,500 kilometers—has sparked fresh debate about the true cost and convenience of electric vehicles (EVs). While Tesla’s Model Y is one of the world’s best-selling electric cars, this journey highlighted a key takeaway: when it comes to long-distance travel, diesel still holds a significant edge.
The Road Trip: Tesla vs. Diesel
Following a visit to Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin, a group of Spanish journalists decided to put two of Tesla’s most popular models—the Model Y Long Range and the Model 3 Long Range—to the test on a 2,500 km road trip. Along the way, they made frequent stops to charge, typically every 200-300 kilometers. Interestingly, the Tesla vehicles were often ready to continue their journey before even the shortest toilet or coffee breaks were over.
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The key question going into the trip was straightforward: which option would be more economical—driving an EV or a traditional diesel car? For the purposes of this comparison, the team used official EU data on fuel costs, including the average price of diesel and petrol across various countries. They also simulated the fuel consumption of a typical petrol car (7 litres per 100 km) and a diesel car (5.5 litres per 100 km) to calculate the overall cost of the journey.
Diesel Comes Out on Top
The results were surprising: after driving nearly 2,500 km and using Tesla’s Supercharger network, the journalists found that the difference in cost was 53.62 euros between charging the Tesla Model Y and refilling a diesel car, based on average EU prices. When comparing the costs to a petrol car, the difference widened significantly to 136.61 euros.
These figures suggest that, in terms of time and money, a diesel car is the more economical choice for long road trips. Not only is the cost of refueling a diesel vehicle lower, but the overall driving time was also quicker. While the Tesla vehicles needed frequent charging stops, the diesel car was ready to continue with much fewer interruptions.
That said, the journalists noted that the charging infrastructure could influence these costs. They were exclusively using Tesla’s high-speed Superchargers, which are faster but also more expensive. If they had opted for slower, less costly charging options—such as those available at night or while resting—it’s likely the electric car would have shown more significant savings.
EVs Offer Long-Term Savings Despite Upfront Costs
While the journey confirmed that diesel may still be the better option for road trips in terms of cost and speed, there are other factors to consider. For one, the maintenance costs of a diesel car are significantly higher over time compared to an electric vehicle, which could make an EV the more economical choice in the long run.
Additionally, EVs come with the appeal of reduced environmental impact, something diesel cars simply can’t match. As the world shifts toward more sustainable transport, these long-term savings, along with the potential environmental benefits, are factors that increasingly influence consumer decisions.
Ultimately, this road trip highlights that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer when it comes to choosing between an electric car and a diesel car. The ideal choice depends on individual preferences, driving habits, and specific needs. For long road trips, diesel may still have the edge, but as infrastructure improves and EV technology advances, the scales could tip in favour of electric vehicles sooner than we think.
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Hi, I’m Brandon from the Decatur Metro team. I guide you through the trends and events reshaping our region.
