ADAC crunches the numbers: At what vehicle value does switching to an EV really pay off

TVS News AI, editorially supervised, presents ADAC crunches the numbers: At what vehicle value does switching to an EV really pay off.

In a new analysis, the ADAC has crunched the numbers on how much higher fuel prices are hitting drivers in the wallet. The result is likely to surprise many: Despite significantly higher fuel costs, it is not always sensible to ditch your combustion engine and switch directly to an electric car.

Specifically, the analysis shows that running costs for petrol and diesel have risen so sharply in recent years that switching to electric mobility is getting closer and closer for higher-value vehicles. The study names a specific vehicle value above which switching makes real economic sense – even when maintenance, insurance, and depreciation are factored in.

What the ADAC calculation shows

The core message of the analysis: higher fuel costs alone are not yet a reason to ditch your combustion engine immediately. According to the ADAC, the decisive factor is the relationship between the residual value of the current car and the total costs that continue to accrue from running it. Only above a certain vehicle value – which the ADAC study specifies concretely – do the savings potential of an electric car outweigh the costs of purchase and transition.

For many owners, this means the dream of an immediate switch to an electric car does not yet add up purely economically with the car they currently own. But anyone who is already considering buying a new or newer car should seriously consider the switch, according to the ADAC.

What this means for your garage and fuel bills

The analysis mainly helps answer a question many are currently asking: Is it worth ditching your old car now to avoid persistently high fuel costs? The ADAC's answer is nuanced. On the one hand, higher fuel prices are noticeably driving up running costs. On the other hand, the depreciation of a combustion engine combined with the purchase and insurance of an electric car often weighs heavier than the fuel costs saved.

Conclusion: Calculate instead of going by gut feeling

Anyone thinking about switching now should not decide based on a bad day at the pump. The ADAC calculation provides clear guidance: It depends on the specific vehicle value and your own usage profile whether the switch pays off economically – or whether the combustion engine remains the cheaper choice for now.