Electric or petrol car in Switzerland: which costs less?

On paper, an electric car costs three times less to run than a petrol one. In practice the gap depends on a parameter most comparisons ignore: the price of a kilowatt-hour in your municipality. Between Zwischbergen and Kestenholz, the same electric car costs CHF 260 or CHF 1,178 of electricity a year.

1. The basic calculation: 15,000 km a year

Take an ordinary scenario: 15,000 km a year, a compact electric car at 18 kWh/100 km, an equivalent petrol car at 7 l/100 km. 2026 prices: electricity CHF 0.277/kWh (Swiss average, H4 household), petrol CHF 1.90/l, diesel CHF 2.10/l.

That is about CHF 104 a month, and CHF 12,470 over ten years. It is the figure most buyers remember. It is correct — provided you charge at home, at your municipality's tariff, and do not drive too much in winter.

2. Your municipality's kWh price changes everything

Electricity has no national price in Switzerland: each municipality depends on its grid operator. In 2026 the range runs from 9.64 ct/kWh in Zwischbergen (VS) to 43.61 ct/kWh in Kestenholz (SO), with a Swiss median of 27.89 ct.

On energy the electric car still wins everywhere, but the advantage is twice as large in a cheap municipality. So before any profitability calculation, check your actual tariff.

3. Public charging, the blind spot of comparisons

Charging on a fast charger costs between CHF 0.50 and 0.80/kWh in Switzerland, two to three times the domestic tariff. If you have no socket at home — a rented flat without an installation, a shared garage without a charge point — the calculation changes in nature:

In that last case the saving against petrol falls to CHF 375 a year — and turns negative against an economical diesel. The question "do I have a socket at home?" weighs more than the choice of model.

4. Winter: 20 to 30 % more consumption

An electric car has no waste engine heat to warm the cabin: heating draws on the battery. Add a cold, less efficient battery and winter tyres with higher rolling resistance. In practice, count on 20 to 30 % more consumption in the cold months.

In our scenario, an average increase of 25 % takes annual consumption from 2,700 to 3,375 kWh, i.e. CHF 935 instead of 748. The gap with petrol stays wide, but the manufacturer's rated consumption is not a realistic figure for Swiss use, between altitude, mountain passes and winters.

5. What energy cost does not tell you

Energy is only one of five items. An honest comparison must state what it leaves out:

• Depreciation, often the largest real expense on a new car, and still poorly stabilised on used electric vehicles.
• Insurance, generally more expensive on an electric vehicle with a high new value.
• Servicing, in favour of electric: no oil change, no timing belt, no clutch, and brakes that wear slowly thanks to regenerative braking. On the other hand tyres wear faster (weight and torque), and battery work outside warranty is expensive.
• Cantonal vehicle tax, highly variable, with discounts or temporary exemptions for electric cars in several cantons. Over ten years that can be several thousand francs.
• The purchase premium, still the main barrier in 2026, which has to be amortised through the energy savings.

6. How many kilometres to pay off the premium?

The useful question is not "which consumes less" but "after how long does the electric pay for itself". With an energy saving of CHF 1,247 a year, an CHF 8,000 purchase premium is paid off in about six and a half years. At 25,000 km a year, the same difference falls below four years. At 8,000 km a year with public charging, it never pays off.

7. The solar case

If you generate your own electricity, every self-consumed kWh is worth the price you avoid paying. Charging from your own production costs a marginal few centimes: the 2,700 annual kWh of our scenario drop below CHF 200, and the gap with petrol approaches CHF 1,800 a year. That is the configuration where electric is unbeatable — and also the one where a solar installation pays back fastest, since the car consumes exactly when the surplus would be exported at a low price.

Frequently asked questions

Does an electric car really cost less to run in Switzerland?

On energy, yes, almost everywhere: about CHF 750 a year against CHF 2,000 for a petrol car over 15,000 km, if you charge at home at the Swiss average tariff. The advantage shrinks sharply with exclusive public charging and disappears once a high purchase premium meets low mileage.

What do 100 km cost in an electric car?

At 18 kWh/100 km and the Swiss average of CHF 0.277/kWh, about CHF 5. Against roughly CHF 13.30 for a petrol car at 7 l/100 km, and CHF 11.55 for a diesel at 5.5 l/100 km.

Can the price of electricity cancel the advantage?

Not at home: even in Switzerland's most expensive municipality, electric remains cheaper on energy. With exclusive fast charging, however, yes — the advantage becomes marginal, or negative against a frugal diesel.

Should the home charging station be counted?

Yes, in a complete calculation. A domestic installation is an upfront investment, sometimes with electrical work or the consent of the condominium on top. It is a one-off expense, to be amortised over the holding period.

What about cantonal vehicle tax?

It varies widely by canton and calculation basis (weight, power, emissions). Several cantons grant electric vehicles a discount or a temporary exemption. Check with your cantonal road traffic office before deciding: this item counts in hundreds of francs a year.