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Electric Car vs Combustion Car Cost Comparison

A practical prompt for comparing electric and combustion cars based on purchase price, fuel or charging costs, maintenance, depreciation, driving habits, and total ownership costs.

Jan FűriJan Fűri·26 May 2026· 44

Prompt

You are an expert car cost-of-ownership advisor for the Czech and European car market.

Help me decide whether an electric car or a combustion-engine car is a better choice for my real driving needs, budget, and ownership period.

Use the following inputs from me:

- Country or region:
- Annual mileage:
- Typical daily mileage:
- Share of city driving:
- Share of highway driving:
- Number of long-distance trips per year:
- Average long-distance trip length:
- Can I charge at home: yes/no
- Can I install a wallbox: yes/no
- Home electricity price per kWh:
- Public charging price per kWh:
- Share of charging at home:
- Share of charging at public chargers:
- Petrol price per liter:
- Diesel price per liter:
- EV consumption in kWh/100 km:
- Petrol car consumption in l/100 km:
- Diesel car consumption in l/100 km:
- Purchase price of the electric car:
- Purchase price of the combustion car:
- Expected ownership period:
- Expected resale value of the electric car:
- Expected resale value of the combustion car:
- Estimated annual EV service costs:
- Estimated annual combustion car service costs:
- Insurance cost for EV:
- Insurance cost for combustion car:
- Tire costs:
- Parking benefits or costs:
- Highway toll benefits or costs:
- Available subsidies or tax benefits:
- My main priority: lowest cost / convenience / ecology / performance / long-distance comfort

Based on these inputs, create a complete electric vs combustion car comparison.

Please include:

1. Driving profile analysis
   - Determine whether my driving habits are better suited to an electric car or a combustion car.
   - Consider daily mileage, long trips, city use, highway use, access to home charging, and charging convenience.
   - Explain whether an EV would be comfortable for my routine or whether it would require too much planning.

2. Purchase price comparison
   - Compare the initial purchase prices.
   - Explain how much more expensive or cheaper the electric car is compared with the combustion car.
   - Mention that EVs often have higher purchase prices but may compensate through lower running and service costs.
   - Identify how large the price difference must be before an EV becomes financially difficult to justify.

3. Energy and fuel cost calculation
   - Calculate the cost per 100 km for the electric car using both home and public charging.
   - Calculate the cost per 100 km for petrol or diesel.
   - Calculate annual energy or fuel costs based on my annual mileage.
   - Show the annual savings or extra cost of the electric car.
   - If I mostly charge at home, emphasize the advantage of low running costs.
   - If I rely mostly on public fast chargers, warn that EV running costs may approach combustion-car fuel costs.

4. Maintenance and service comparison
   - Compare expected service costs.
   - Explain that EVs usually have fewer mechanical parts and may have lower maintenance costs because they do not have an exhaust system, clutch, turbo, gearbox oil, engine oil, or many traditional combustion components.
   - Include possible EV-specific risks such as battery health, charging system issues, tires, software, and limited specialized service availability.
   - Include combustion-car risks such as engine, turbo, clutch, gearbox, exhaust, emissions systems, oil service, timing belt or chain, and fuel system repairs.

5. Depreciation and resale value
   - Estimate depreciation for both cars over the ownership period.
   - Compare expected resale values.
   - Warn that depreciation can strongly affect the total cost of ownership.
   - Consider battery degradation, market demand, brand reputation, mileage, warranty, and future emission restrictions.

6. Total cost of ownership calculation
   - Calculate the total cost of ownership for both options:
     purchase price
     minus resale value
     plus fuel or electricity
     plus service
     plus insurance
     plus tires
     plus parking, tolls, subsidies, and other costs.
   - Show the total cost difference.
   - Calculate the cost per year and cost per kilometer.
   - Estimate the break-even mileage or break-even year when the EV becomes cheaper, if applicable.

7. Convenience comparison
   - Compare refueling vs charging.
   - Evaluate whether home charging makes the EV much more convenient.
   - Evaluate whether public charging and long-distance travel would be a disadvantage.
   - Consider charging speed, range, winter consumption, highway consumption, and route planning.
   - Explain whether a combustion car is more practical for frequent long trips.

8. Legal and city-use factors
   - Consider highway toll benefits, low-emission zones, city restrictions, parking rules, tax benefits, and future regulation risks.
   - Explain whether an EV may be more future-proof in cities.
   - Explain whether a combustion car may still be more flexible in areas with poor charging infrastructure.

9. Environmental and comfort factors
   - Compare local emissions, noise, driving comfort, smoothness, and urban impact.
   - Mention that EVs have zero local exhaust emissions and quiet operation.
   - Include the benefit of charging from home solar panels if available.
   - Keep the environmental analysis practical and balanced.

10. Final recommendation
   - Recommend either electric car, petrol car, diesel car, hybrid, or plug-in hybrid.
   - Explain the main financial and practical reasons.
   - Give a suitability rating for each option from 1 to 10.
   - Clearly state when I should choose an EV and when I should stay with a combustion car.

Final output format:

- Best option for my situation:
- EV suitability score:
- Combustion car suitability score:
- Recommended drivetrain:
- Cost per 100 km for EV:
- Cost per 100 km for combustion car:
- Annual EV running cost:
- Annual combustion running cost:
- Annual savings or extra cost:
- Purchase price difference:
- Estimated depreciation difference:
- Total cost of ownership for EV:
- Total cost of ownership for combustion car:
- Cost per kilometer for EV:
- Cost per kilometer for combustion car:
- Break-even mileage or year:
- Main advantages of EV:
- Main disadvantages of EV:
- Main advantages of combustion car:
- Main disadvantages of combustion car:
- Risks to check before buying:
- Final recommendation:

Be practical, numerical, and specific. Do not assume that an electric car is always cheaper. The goal is to compare both options honestly based on real mileage, charging access, fuel prices, service costs, depreciation, legal benefits, and everyday convenience.