{"id":14343,"date":"2025-07-27T17:07:03","date_gmt":"2025-07-27T15:07:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/?p=14343"},"modified":"2025-07-27T17:07:03","modified_gmt":"2025-07-27T15:07:03","slug":"electric-cars-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/advancedfleetmanagementconsulting.com\/eng\/2025\/07\/27\/electric-cars-2\/","title":{"rendered":"\u201cI’ve saved more than \u20ac32,000 compared to a diesel car\u201d: three real stories of switching to electric cars purely for economic reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"

Three real stories reveal how electric cars transformed their lives, with savings of up to \u20ac32,000 in costs compared to a diesel car.<\/span><\/p>\n

Far from futuristic headlines or ideological debates, more and more professional drivers are making the transition to electric cars for one reason alone: to save money. This is demonstrated by the cases of three taxi drivers in Vigo, Barcelona, and Valladolid who have switched from combustion engines to electric motors and have seen their monthly expenses reduced dramatically. In all cases, the economic impact was so evident that there was no turning back. \u201cGasoline cost me more than the car,\u201d sums up one of them.<\/span><\/p>\n

The best example is personal experience<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

In Vigo, Julio Sousa made the decision in 2022, after doing the math with his tax advisor. He traded in his old diesel Peugeot for a Tesla Model 3, financed in installments, and connected the car to a special nighttime electricity rate. He went from spending about $600 a month on diesel to just $60 on electricity. \u201cThe first month, I thought I had made a mistake, that there was a charge missing. But no, I just didn’t need to refuel anymore,\u201d he says. In total, he estimates that he has saved around \u20ac7,000 in a single year, which is equivalent to almost three full monthly payments on the car, he explains in an interview with La Voz de Galicia. He also enjoys additional benefits such as free parking and unrestricted access to Low Emission Zones.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Honda<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cGasoline cost me more than the car,\u201d explains one of the cases.<\/span><\/p>\n

In Barcelona, taxi driver \u00c1ngel Garc\u00eda has been committed to electric mobility for some time. For the past five years, he has been driving a 40 kWh Nissan Leaf, with which he travels about 200 kilometers a day in double shifts. Although he was initially concerned about range, he soon adapted his breaks to charge at midday and at night, and the numbers spoke for themselves: while with a hybrid he would spend around $300 per month on fuel, his current electricity bill is around $65 per month. \u201cI’ve saved more than \u20ac15,000 in five years, and the car is still running perfectly,\u201d he said in an interview with La Vanguardia.<\/span><\/p>\n

In addition to the savings, Angel highlights driving comfort as an unexpected improvement. \u201cYou arrive less tired, there are no vibrations, the car makes no noise, you’re not spending all day pressing the clutch or listening to the engine,\u201d he explains. He also acknowledges that he has become an \u201celectric evangelist\u201d among his colleagues. \u201cThere is a lot of ignorance, but when I show them the numbers, their eyes open. There are already several of us at the taxi rank who are plugged in.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The most veteran case is that of Roberto San Jos\u00e9, a taxi driver in Valladolid and considered the first to operate an electric car in Spain. He started in 2011 with a first-generation Nissan Leaf, when there was hardly any charging infrastructure. Even so, Roberto has driven more than 347,000 kilometers in his electric car and has documented every refueling in an Excel spreadsheet that he uses in his talks and interviews. His conclusion is clear: \u201cI’ve saved more than \u20ac32,000 compared to a diesel car,\u201d he tells Iberisa.<\/span><\/p>\n

Roberto breaks down those savings: in fuel, he would have spent about \u20ac35,394 on diesel during that time. Instead, he has spent only \u20ac5,830 on electricity. On top of that, there is maintenance: no oil changes, no belts or clutches, and minimal battery degradation after more than a decade. \u201cPeople are surprised, but the numbers don’t lie. The savings are huge. And best of all, it’s still working,\u201d he says. He has even given talks at vocational training institutes to explain his experience.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\"Tesla<\/span><\/p>\n

The Tesla Model 3 is one of the cars used in one of the real stories.<\/span><\/p>\n

Unfortunately, Roberto had an accident with his Nissan Leaf, Spain’s first electric taxi, leaving it a total write-off. After the accident, the insurance company declared the car a \u201ctotal loss.\u201d After recovering from the incident, Roberto continued to support electromobility and currently drives an electric Hyundai Ioniq: “Amazing. After 266,127 kilometers, the Ioniq’s battery is at 100%,” he says in a post on his personal LinkedIn account.<\/span><\/p>\n

Electricity rates adapted to professional use<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>\n

The three taxi drivers share another pattern: they all use electricity rates adapted to professional use, recharging mostly at night or during scheduled breaks. Julio, for example, signed up for a rate of \u20ac0.05\/kWh and always charges at his private parking spot. \u00c1ngel combines free slow public charging with charging at home. And Roberto started with conventional outlets until his city council installed specific charging points for taxis. \u201cI’ve never been stranded,\u201d he emphasizes.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\"Joinup<\/span><\/p>\n

It is increasingly common to see 100% electric taxis on the roads.<\/span><\/p>\n

Although each one has its own make and model, experience has united them in a common profile: that of the driver who is not looking for green flags, but profitability. \u201cIt wasn’t for the environment, it was for the economy,\u201d Julio says bluntly. “Then you realize that you are also polluting less, and that is an added value. But the first thing was to save money, without a doubt.”<\/span><\/p>\n

Industry experts such as Joan Groizard, director of the Institute for Energy Diversification and Saving (IDAE), agree with this practical view. In recent statements, he asserted that the electric car is now \u201cthe most rational option\u201d from an economic point of view, if you add up the energy savings, public subsidies, and lower maintenance costs. \u201cAnd especially in the case of professional drivers, where mileage more than justifies the initial investment,\u201d he emphasized.<\/span><\/p>\n

In a context of rising fuel prices and increasingly strict regulations, these testimonials provide a different narrative than usual. \u201cMy car pays for itself,\u201d \u00c1ngel sums up. And as in the best businesses, the numbers rule.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>

<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\n
\n
\n

\n