Electric cars are more expensive to buy brand new than petrol but over the lifetime of a vehicle they work out cheaper… but only just!

New research from Direct Line has found that the cost or buying and EV and running it over the average lifetime is £52,133, with the figures for an equivalent petrol coming in just over at £53,625.

Even though the data shows that an up front cost of an average EV is 22 per cent more expensive, the costs of fuel, tax and maintenance and insurance all make the greener vehicle the better alternative.

“It is an exciting time for electric vehicles, with a record number of these licenced cars on Britain’s roads last year. Our analysis also shows that with the ban on new non-electric cars set to come into force in less than 15 years’ time, Britons could already be saving money by switching from a traditional petrol or diesel car to an equivalent electric model.

“We expect prices to come down in future, thanks partly to the Government’s commitment to making greener vehicles more accessible but also to advances in technology ensuring that purchasing, refuelling, maintaining and insuring an electric car becomes easier, cheaper and better for the environment.”

CarSupermarket.com has teamed up with iOffset.co.uk to offset the carbon emissions of every vehicle sold in its first year, ensuring that even with a greener

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