The price gap between electric cars and internal combustion engines is narrowing again
Image: Renault (illustrative)
The purchase prices of electric vehicles and internal combustion engines narrowed again in September. When comparing the 25 best-selling models in Germany, pure electric cars were on average 2124 euros more expensive than internal combustion engines. The price gap decreased by 125 euros compared to August. This is according to a study by industry expert Ferdinand Dudenhöffer’s private Center Automotive Research (CAR).
In December 2025, the premium for electric cars was 1328 euros, rising to 2363 euros by July. Thus, even despite recent narrowing, the difference in September was still nearly 800 euros higher than the December figure. In October 2024, the price gap was over 6500 euros, and at the beginning of electric mobility, it sometimes reached 15,000 euros.
Dudenhöffer attributed the rise by July to a favorable market environment for electric cars. Due to high fuel prices and government subsidies, they were attractive, and manufacturers did not see the need for additional sales incentives. Recently, however, discounts on the 25 best-selling electric vehicles have risen again: from an average of 17.4 percent in August to 17.9 percent in September.
CAR attributes the higher discounts to new and more affordable electric models as well. According to Dudenhöffer, the VW ID. Polo and other new electric vehicles from the VW group increase price pressure on older all-electric compact cars. The expert expects this trend to intensify in the coming months.
For the study, CAR compares transaction prices based on list prices minus calculated discounts, relying also on data from the Federal Motor Transport Authority. The government’s purchase subsidy of up to 6,500 euros for electric cars is not taken into account in the price comparison.
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About the author
Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric cars, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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