Following a 2,500-kilometer journey in an electric vehicle, the final assessment was unequivocal: Diesel remains the undisputed ruler of the road.

In a recent test, two electric vehicles, specifically Volkswagen models, were put to the test on a 2,500-kilometer journey from Berlin to Madrid. The vehicles in question were a Model Y Long Range RWD and a Model 3 Highland Long Range.

The journey started at Tesla's Gigafactory outside Berlin and included charging stations from Tesla's Supercharger network and various third-party public chargers across Germany, France, and Spain. Despite the growing EV infrastructure, the lack of consistent infrastructure was a significant disadvantage during the journey.

The recharging time was longer than a typical fuel stop for an electric vehicle, making the journey less fluid. Filling up a diesel tank takes minutes, while charging a battery, especially when not at a Tesla station, can take much longer. In remote zones or less developed parts of the route, delays stacked up due to underperforming or unavailable chargers. As a result, journalists spent considerably more time at charging stops compared to diesel drivers refueling.

Over the multi-day trip, the cost of charging the Teslas was €53.62 more than the cost of fuel for a diesel-powered vehicle. Had the team compared the electric Teslas to gasoline cars, the difference in cost would have been €136.61 more for charging than refueling.

Even though EVs have lower long-term maintenance costs, diesel vehicles have an edge on short-term travel efficiency. Slower AC chargers would have resulted in a significantly longer trip. The models were chosen for their ability to handle long-distance travel, but the results showed that diesel vehicles maintain a practical edge due to the infrastructure and simplicity of operation.

Drivers are currently forced to choose between saving money or saving time when it comes to charging an electric vehicle. Despite the growing EV infrastructure, there is still a long way to go before electric vehicles can match the efficiency and convenience of diesel for long-haul trips.

The cost data was gathered from the European Commission fuel data and the EU's Weekly Oil Bulletin. The findings of this test highlight the importance of improving the charging infrastructure for electric vehicles to make them a more viable option for long-distance travel.

Following a 2,500-kilometer journey in an electric vehicle, the final assessment was unequivocal: Diesel remains the undisputed ruler of the road.