Show summary Hide summary
Electric cars promise a greener future, but how do they hold up on a long-haul road trip across Europe? A group of Spanish journalists set out to find out, driving 2,500 kilometers from Berlin to Madrid in two Tesla models. Their conclusion was sobering: for now, diesel still wins when it comes to cost, speed, and convenience on the open road.
Setting off from Berlin
The journey began at Tesla’s Gigafactory in Berlin, where the team collected a Model Y Long Range RWD and a Model 3 Highland Long Range. Both cars were designed with extended travel in mind, making them prime candidates for comparison against traditional diesel vehicles.
The Growing Demand for Data-Driven Decision Making in Silicon Valley
He quit, ran out of money, and begged to come back — here’s how his boss reacted
The route stretched across several countries, giving the journalists a real-world test of Europe’s charging infrastructure. Their mission was simple: drive as any long-distance traveler would, stopping every 200–300 km to recharge, and compare the costs and time with what a diesel vehicle would have required.
The reality of charging on the road
Using Tesla’s Supercharger network made things smoother than expected — charging was quick, efficient, and reliable. But even the fastest chargers couldn’t compete with the sheer speed of refueling a diesel car.
In some areas, the team found themselves waiting far longer than planned. Sparse infrastructure and slower public chargers meant that time on the road was often dictated not by how far the Teslas could go, but by where and how they could recharge. For drivers in a hurry, that’s a major drawback.
Crunching the numbers: diesel’s cost advantage
At the end of the 2,500 km trip, the journalists compared receipts. According to official EU fuel price data, recharging the Teslas ended up costing €53.62 more than filling up a comparable diesel car. Against petrol, the gap widened further — the EVs cost €136.61 more over the same distance.
The reason? Superchargers, while fast, are expensive. Slower public chargers could have cut costs, but they also would have added hours to the trip. It’s a trade-off that highlights the challenge for EV owners: pay more for speed, or save money at the cost of time.
Infrastructure still catching up
Europe’s charging network is expanding rapidly, but the study revealed uneven progress. While countries like Germany and France offer a good spread of high-speed chargers, others lag behind, leaving gaps that make route planning essential.
For EV drivers, it means every trip involves balancing speed, cost, and convenience — something diesel drivers rarely need to think about, thanks to the ubiquity of fuel stations.
Diesel’s edge in practicality
When the team compared the overall experience, diesel cars still came out on top for long-distance practicality. Refueling took minutes, stations were everywhere, and the total cost was lower.
That’s not to say EVs don’t have advantages. They offer lower maintenance costs, a quieter ride, and undeniable environmental benefits. But for now, when it comes to covering thousands of kilometers quickly and cheaply, diesel remains the safer bet.
The road ahead
The journalists concluded that electric cars are improving fast — but until Europe’s charging network is cheaper, faster, and more consistent, diesel will continue to dominate long-distance travel. For those making frequent cross-country drives, the convenience gap is simply too wide to ignore.
The future may still be electric, but after 2,500 km behind the wheel, one thing was clear: the present still belongs to diesel.
You might also like:
- Tunisian solar-powered cars charge 30 miles for free each day using African sunshine
- 300,000 km without worry: discover 10 cars built for endless miles
- Flying cars collide mid-air, burst into flames before airshow
- 70% of drivers switch to this GPS app: here’s why Waze is losing ground
- In Singapore, Luxury Isn’t Owning A Ferrari Or A Lamborghini. The Real Luxury Is Just Having A Car, Even A Junk One
David Miller is an entertainment expert with a passion for film, music, and series. With eight years in cultural criticism, he takes you behind the scenes of productions and studios. His energetic style guides you to the next big releases and trending sensations.
Man, Im all for the electric vibe, but after a wild 2,500 km ride, gotta admit, diesel still holds the crown for long hauls. The charging hustle aint for the faint-hearted yet!
Man, I remember road-tripping in my old diesel guzzler like it was yesterday. Those pit stops for gas and snacks were part of the adventure. Cant imagine doing that in an EV yet! Diesel still rules the long haul.
Man, I remember road-tripping in my old diesel beast, no range anxiety, just smooth sailing. EVs got a long way to go for long-hauls. But hey, progress is progress, right?
Man, after my road trip last summer, Im not surprised diesel still rules the long-haul game. Charging stations were like rare Pokémon. Hope infrastructure catches up cause EVs got potential, but they aint there yet.
Man, these old diesel beasts still rule the long haul, huh? EVs got style, but that diesel cost advantage? Hard to beat. Maybe one day the charging game will catch up, but for now, diesels still king of the road.
Oh man, totally get what youre saying! Those old diesel beasts do have a certain charm, dont they? The EVs might be sleek, but that diesel cost advantage? Its a hard one to beat, gotta give it that. Charging game needs to level up, no doubt. But for now, yep, diesels still ruling the road, aint they?
Oh man, I remember my grandpa bragging about diesel power, like it was the elixir of life for cars. But hey, EVs make you rethink things. Maybe diesels still got game on long hauls, but EVs are sneaking up!