For Ukrainians who have found temporary shelter in the countries of the European Union, a car has long ceased to be a luxury. For some, it is the only way to get to work in the suburbs, for others it is a means of transporting children to school or a tool for mobility in a new city. However, as soon as there is stable access to a car – own, rented or purchased used, the question of expenses immediately arises. And one of the first: how much does traffic really cost and what type of fuel to choose so as not to pay extra?
Electric car: savings with additional conditions
For those Ukrainians who already have or plan to buy an electric car in the EU, at first glance everything looks simple: you don’t need to pay for gasoline or diesel, charging is cheaper, and European states encourage “green mobility.” But practice shows: without proper preparation, an electric car can turn from a source of savings into a source of trouble.
There is indeed an extensive network of charging stations in the EU countries – in parking lots near supermarkets, hotels, along highways. However, the system is far from unified – some stations are compatible only with the cards of their own operator. Others require a special RFID key fob or app registration. Bank cards are not accepted everywhere.
The most common operators:
– Ionity is a powerful and fast network, but the most expensive (€0.79/kWh);
– Fastned, EnBW, Allego — have an extensive network and moderate tariffs (€0.39–0.69/kWh);
– Tesla Supercharger — now also available for non-Tesla cars, but prices vary (€0.45–0.70/kWh);
– free charging can often be found in supermarket car parks (Lidl, Kaufland, Aldi), but with a 30-60 minute limit or only for customers.
To avoid disappointment, drivers should have several applications at once — Chargemap, PlugShare, ABRP, which show a map of charging in real time, availability and cost. It is also worth pre-ordering single cards such as Maingau Autostrom, Shell Recharge or Chargemap Pass, which are compatible with a large number of charging points in different countries.
Gasoline: a classic that is not always justified
Those who have just obtained a driver’s license in the EU or rent a car, most often choose a gasoline model. Gasoline is the most common fuel available at any gas station in any country. But it is precisely on it that you can lose the most, if you do not take into account the nuances.
In 2025, average gasoline prices in the EU will look like this:
– Germany — €1.79/l
– France — €1.84/l
– Italy — €1.90/l
– Spain — €1.71/l
– The Netherlands — €2.09/l
The price is formed not only by the market rate of oil, but also by state policy. In countries with a strict environmental policy, the excise tax on gasoline is much higher than on diesel. This leads to the fact that gasoline cars lose to diesel cars on long routes: with a long mileage, the benefit of diesel cars is significant. At the same time, in the urban cycle – when the car constantly stops at traffic lights or warms up in short sections – the gasoline engine works more efficiently.
In order not to overpay, do not refuel on the autobahns – the prices are the highest there; use mobile applications (Fuelio, Petrol Prices, Clever Tanken) – they will tell you where it is cheaper; pay attention to discounter networks: Jet, Q8 Easy, Tamoil.
Diesel: Savings that can be eaten up by taxes
Diesel is traditionally considered a more economical type of fuel, and Ukrainians massively choose diesel cars for long-distance trips. In the EU, this logic also works, but with nuances. In particular, with taxation and regional differences.
Here are the average diesel prices in 2025:
– Germany — €1.62/l
– France — €1.69/l
– Italy — €1.74/l
– Spain — €1.56/l
– Sweden — €1.99/l
In some countries (Sweden, the Netherlands) diesel is more expensive than gasoline. The reason is excise taxes on CO₂ emissions and restrictions on entering urban areas. And although the diesel engine is more economical in consumption, in these countries the difference is covered by tax pressure.
What you can save on:
– refuel in cities, not on highways — the difference is €0.10–0.30/l;
– track prices using the Fuel Price Europe service;
– choose gas stations with lower tariffs: Tamoil, Jet, Q8 Easy.
An additional advantage of a diesel car is a long mileage, but the disadvantage is a decrease in popularity in the EU due to environmental restrictions and the prospect of gradual displacement from the market. It is important to know that in large cities, some areas may be closed to diesel cars without an environmental certificate (in Germany – “Umweltplakette”). Violation is subject to a fine.
Additional tips
There is no universal answer to the question of which type of fuel is the most profitable in the European Union. Each option – gasoline, diesel or electric – has its own advantages and limitations, which are revealed depending on the route, the country of residence, the intensity of trips and access to infrastructure. For those who live mainly within the city limits, a gasoline car or an electric car may be more appropriate, especially if there is an opportunity to charge the car at home or near the place of work.
In the case of daily trips over considerable distances, in particular outside the city, a diesel engine with its lower fuel consumption will be more practical. If your routes cover several countries – for example, regular trips between Poland, Germany and the Czech Republic – you should carefully weigh the cost ratio, the availability of gas stations and the requirements for eco standards. In this case, diesel can be profitable, and electric – only if you are ready to plan in advance, register in several systems and use specialized cards.
Ukrainians who are forced to adapt to new realities in the status of temporary protection should pay special attention to such details. Many of the usual practices in pre-war Ukraine do not work in the new environment: refueling on the highway, a single price within the region, buying “automatically” — all this can lead to losses in the budget. Orientation in the tax policies of different countries, the cost of a liter at individual gas stations, the differences between autobahns and normal roads — such nuances become part of daily logistics, just like finding housing or visiting a doctor. And it is this attention to details — comparing prices, choosing networks, selecting applications — that allows you to keep control over expenses and avoid unnecessary overloading of the financial background.
