Loh! Recent Study Calls Luxury Electric Cars More Wasteful Than Gasoline Cars, Hybrids?

Porsche at the 2024 Auto China exhibition. (Doc. Porsche)

JAKARTA - Conflict in the Middle East has triggered an increase in fuel prices in a number of countries in the world. The high price of fuel may be a momentum to switch to electric cars. But wait a minute, a recent study shows that for certain vehicles, electric cars can actually be more wasteful than gasoline cars.

According to a study from iSeeCars, quoted from Autoblog, May 5, which analyzed data from November 2022 to April 2023, 15 cars with the highest operational costs per mile (1.6 km) are all electric luxury cars (EVs and PHEVs). This fee is obtained by calculating ownership and operational costs, including car purchase prices, charging costs (EVs), or charging gasoline ( gasoline cars), and the distance it reaches.

The study found that although electric cars are generally rarely used, the cost per kilometer is even more expensive than gasoline cars that are more frequently used.

Porsche Taycan was named the highest operational car, reaching 22.02 US dollars per mile (around Rp. 352 thousand. Followed by Porsche Cayenne PHEV (Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle) in second place at a cost of 14.69 US dollars/mile (around Rp. 224 thousand).

10 Ratings of the Most Expensive Cars Drivered (US/Mil dollars).

Porsche Taycan: 22.02/milPorsche Cayenne PHEV: 14.69/milTesla Model S: 11.62/milAudi e-tron Sportback: 9.27/milAudi e-tron: 8.78/mil Polestar 2: 8.55/milLincoln Aviator PHEV: 7.71/milVolvo XC40 Recharge: 7.44/milBMW i3: 7.24/milBMW X5 PHEV: 7.35/mil

The high purchase price and the tendency for ownership of luxury cars, which are generally rarely used, are the main factors for the high operational cost per kilometer of these cars.

Meanwhile, hybrid cars actually dominate 15th place in cars with the cheapest operating costs. Honda Insight is in the top ranking at a cost of only 1,46 US dollars/mil (around Rp. 23 thousand), followed by Hyundai Ioniq Hybrid in second place at US$1.81 per kilometer and Toyota Corolla Hybrid in third place at US$1.86/mil or Rp29 thousand.