In September, a temporary tax cut on gasoline and diesel expired. Another will expire in December.
This means that gasoline and diesel prices will rise by approximately 3 kronor per liter by winter.
If you do the math, an electric car is already 25,000 kronor cheaper per year in total running costs, and fuel accounts for the biggest part. So a gasoline car is already at an economic disadvantage, says Claes Hemberg, an energy economist at heat pump manufacturer Nibe.
If politicians want to extend or adjust the tax cut, time is running out - and it looks like forming a government could drag on.
Motorists can therefore expect gasoline and diesel prices of 21 and 26 kronor per liter at the pump this winter, if the price of oil on the world market remains at today’s level.
“The electric car underclass”
A simple calculation (see fact box) shows that the cost per mile for an electric car is clearly lower than for a car with a combustion engine. Charging the car at home is particularly advantageous.
It’s important to have your own charging station. Until now, people living in apartments have been a bit of an underclass when it comes to electric cars because they haven’t had access to charging stations, but that’s starting to change, he says, noting that Uppsala and Gothenburg have lowered prices for public charging at night.
“Not difficult math”
Among Swedes who own electric cars, 30.5 percent cited personal finances as the main reason, according to a survey conducted by M Sverige this summer.
For price-sensitive consumers, a used electric car is the way to go, says Hemberg.
It’s used cars you should look for, and electric cars aren’t much more expensive. They cost about 15,000 kronor more on average, and you get that money back in eight months because electricity is so much cheaper. It’s not hard math - but it’s hard enough that people think electric cars seem expensive.
Facts: Calculation example
Conditions for gasoline cars after the tax increase on December 1:
Gasoline price: 21 kronor per liter.
Average consumption (more modern car): 0.6 liters per mile.
Cost per mile: 12.6 SEK.
Conditions for diesel cars after the tax increase:
Diesel price: 26 kronor per liter.
Average consumption (more modern car): 0.6 liters per mile.
Cost per mile: 15.6 SEK.
Requirements for electric cars:
Electricity price (public charging points, fast chargers): 6 SEK/kWh.
Average consumption: 1.8 kWh/mile.
Cost per mile: 10.80 SEK.
Electricity price (own charging station): 2 SEK/kWh.
Cost per mile: 3.60 SEK.