Petrol and diesel vs electricity: How much does 100 km really cost you?
The most honest way to compare is the cost per 100 km – not the purchase price, not the range. But what you actually spend every week. A comparison between the petrol and diesel VW Golf VIII and the VW ID.3:
Drive
Petrol
Diesel
Electric car (at home)
Electric car (public)
Consumption
7 l/100 km
6 l/100 km
17 kWh/100 km
17 kWh/100 km
Price
CHF 1.90/l
CHF 2.17/l
CHF 0.29/kWh
CHF 0.65/kWh
Cost per 100 km
CHF 13.30
CHF 13.02
CHF 4.93
CHF 11.05
One detail that often comes as a surprise in everyday life: Diesel currently costs more than petrol per litre because diesel prices have risen more sharply since the Middle East conflict. Anyone driving a diesel car now pays almost the same per 100 km as someone driving a petrol car.
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home, by contrast, costs less than half as much. Even those who rely exclusively on public charging are operating in a similar cost range to both drivers of internal combustion engine vehicles (ICEV), while being far less exposed to price volatility.
For someone driving 15,000 km per year, an electric car saves around CHF 1,210 per year compared with a petrol car – just in fuel costs alone.
Why petrol and diesel remain expensive
The current prices are not an anomaly. They follow a logic that has repeatedly proven itself over the past few years.
Geopolitics
Switzerland imports around 75% of its fuels as finished products. The price at the pump is directly dependent on the world market. And that market reacts immediately to every geopolitical shock. The Middle East conflict caused petrol prices in Rotterdam to rise by 25% within two weeks in March 2026, with diesel increasing by as much as 50%. The Strait of Hormuz, through which around 20% of the world’s crude oil consumption flows, remains a geopolitical flashpoint – and every new crisis is immediately reflected at the fuel pump.
Carbon offsetting and charges
More than half of the price of petrol and diesel consists of fixed and variable charges. These include mineral oil tax (around 77 centimes per litre), VAT and a CO₂ compensation surcharge applied by fuel importers to offset emissions. These charges make fuel structurally expensive, regardless of the oil price.
Electricity: locally produced, less dependent
Around 70% of Switzerland’s electricity comes from renewable sources, more than half of which is generated from hydropower. Electricity is largely produced within Switzerland and is therefore less dependent on geopolitical crises. This makes it structurally more stable than fuel, which is entirely purchased on the world market.
Hidden benefits: Things that are often overlooked in price comparisons
Fuel costs are the most visible difference. In addition, there are other financial benefits that rarely appear in direct comparisons of petrol versus electricity.
Vehicle tax: In the canton of Zurich, owners of electric cars do not pay motor vehicle tax. Other cantons offer several years of exemption or discounts ranging from 50% to 100%. Over the vehicle’s lifetime, this can amount to several hundred to over a thousand Swiss francs in savings.
Maintenance costs: An electric car has no transmission, no clutch, no exhaust and no engine oil. Fewer wear-and-tear parts mean fewer garage appointments and fewer unexpected invoices.
Charging at home or at work: If you charge at home or at work, you pay the cheapest rate and save yourself a trip to the petrol station.
How much sense does it make to switch in 2026?
The financial benefit of electric cars has never as pronounced as it is today. Petrol and diesel prices are high, while the charging infrastructure is well developed. Switzerland has one of the highest-density public charging networks in Europe. And the range of available vehicles has never been broader.
However, the biggest difference is not found at the charging point, but in the mind:
Those who fill up with fuel today never know what next month will cost. Those who drive electric and charge at home already know their costs in advance.
Find out more: Switching from an ICE to an EV – is it really worth it?
Clyde makes journeys easy to plan – and that includes charging
Flexible models such as car subscriptions are becoming more relevant, especially for people who want to try out the switch first. An electric car subscription from Clyde makes this possible. With the “Premium – with electricity” subscription, the charging costs are already included in the monthly rate – at 98% of all public charging stations in Switzerland and 80% in Europe. Anyone charging privately, at home or at work, will receive CHF 0.30 per kWh.
The result: A fixed monthly price with everything included – insurance, servicing, tyres, taxes and, if desired, electricity. No refuelling stops. No surprises when it comes to prices.
That’s exactly why many people are now trying out the switch today with a car subscription first – with no long-term commitment and no risk.
→ All charging costs in detail: Electric car charging in Switzerland: what costs should you expect?
Electric cars used to be the future. In 2026, they are a decision defined by planning certainty.
Frequently asked questions
A petrol car with a consumption of 7 litres costs around CHF 13.30 per 100 km at CHF 1.90 per litre (as of April 29, 2026, TCS). An electric car charged at home costs around CHF 5.20 for the same distance. At a mileage of 15,000 km per year, this equates to savings of around CHF 1,210 in fuel alone.
No. Diesel is currently priced at CHF 2.17 per litre – with a fuel consumption of 6 litres, this equates to CHF 13.02 per 100 km. Charging an electric car at home costs around CHF 5.20. Good to know: since the Middle East conflict, the price of diesel has risen more sharply than that of petrol and they are now at a similar price level per 100 km.
Geopolitical tensions have caused oil prices to rise sharply in 2026. There are also structural cost factors: the mineral oil tax, VAT and carbon offsetting surcharges account for more than half of the price per litre.
In terms of energy content, 1 litre of petrol corresponds to around 8.9 kWh. However, since an electric motor is significantly more efficient than a combustion engine, an electric car needs far less energy to drive the same distance – hence the low price per 100 km. For comparison, 7 l petrol consumption per 100 km corresponds to 62 kWh energy. An electric car consumes around 17 kWh per 100 km.
Financially, yes – especially for those who drive regularly and charge at home or at work. Fuel costs are high and the charging infrastructure in Switzerland is well developed. If you want to test out the switch first, you can drive risk-free with an electric car subscription from three months.
Sources: Petrol/diesel: TCS Benzinpreis-Radar Schweiz, as at 29.04.2026. Electricity at home: Median household electricity price 2025, Statista/Federal Statistical Office. Public charging: Ø standard station, Clyde charging cost overview.
Try it out. Your way.
Get started with e-mobility with no risk: insurance, servicing, taxes and tyres are included in one monthly rate – even the electricity too, if you like.
