New fully electric cars can already be bought for the same price as internal combustion engine cars – which should you buy?

What does the fully electric car market offer right now – do the benefits already outweigh those of internal combustion engine (ICE) cars? What about purchase prices, driving ranges and charging power?

We asked Tero Kallio, the Managing Director of the Association of Automobile Industry in Finland.

The purchase price gap has narrowed

Although people tend to believe that new, fully electric cars cost much more than ICE cars, the price gap has narrowed slightly. Kallio points out that new ICE passenger cars had an average price of €36,000 in Finland in 2025. If battery-powered cars are included, the average price rises to €49,000 euros.

However, affordable fully electric cars have also entered the market.

"Fully electric cars can already be bought for €23,000–€24,000, putting them in the same price range as affordable ICE cars. Admittedly, the most affordable electric models are often small."

Price competition has been intensified by new Chinese brands, such as BYD and MG. Kallio considers these options worth considering.   

"Chinese cars are as good as other brands' models in the same price range, but the focus of their features may differ. That's why careful comparison is important."

A range of up to 800 kilometres

The newest fully electric cars travel 300–800 kilometres on a single charge. On average, a fully electric car has a range of 500–550 kilometres. Price has a significant impact on this, as the battery is the most expensive component.

"Cars costing over €60,000 have the biggest batteries, but even the most affordable models have a range of 350–500 kilometres," Kallio notes.  

Weather conditions and driving style have a large impact on range, which can easily decrease by a third in winter and cold weather.

Rapid charging capability is decisive on the road

Charging an electric car using slow or standard charging protects battery longevity and reduces costs. However, high-power fast-charging stations are needed on long journeys. In such cases, the onboard charger's (OBC's) power acceptance capacity is important.  

"At a high-power charging station, the fastest will recharge from 10% to 80% in as little as 15 minutes, the slowest in just over 30 minutes."

Mileage and purchase price determine running costs

The more you drive, the greater the benefits with electric cars, since electricity is significantly cheaper than petrol or diesel. This is even more true if you can use cheap spot-price electricity and avoid fast charging.  

"Motorists can also save on servicing, as fully electric cars tend to have longer service intervals and fewer parts that need servicing. Most fully electric cars are serviced every 2–3 years," Kallio says.

The more you drive, the greater the benefits with fully electric cars.

In contrast, the insurance costs and vehicle tax of a fully electric car are higher than for petrol-powered cars.   

Buyers must also take account of depreciation in new cars, which strongly depends on the purchase price and the brand's reputation. The more expensive a car, the more it tends to depreciate regardless of the power source. Value falls by roughly the same percentage in all price ranges.

An electric car lasts 

"Electric cars are as durable as internal combustion engine cars," says Kallio. "For example, batteries in fully electric cars can have a theoretical service life as high as 500,000–1,000,000 kilometres."  

"Experiences from Norway, a pioneer in the use of electric cars, are very good."

Consider these issues when choosing a fully electric car