Electric vs thermal vehicles
— Which one truly costs less?
The answer is not the same for a private driver doing 12,000 km/year and a company doing 30,000 km/year. Purchase price, Belgian taxation, energy and residual value all matter.
⚡ Compare electric vs thermal →The 5 TCO components
Purchase price is only one part of the real cost of a vehicle. Over 5 years, Belgian taxation, energy costs and maintenance can completely reverse the ranking between EV and diesel.
Purchase price
The gap shrinks every year. Used EVs can already reach parity.
Taxation
EV tax advantage is very strong, especially for companies.
Energy
Depends on mileage and home charging share.
Maintenance
Long-term EV advantage confirmed.
Residual value
A key variable in leasing calculations.
5-year TCO comparison — Typical cases
Total cost over 5 years including purchase price, VRT, annual road tax, taxation, energy and maintenance — residual value deducted.
Low mileage: the EV is not yet profitable on purchase price alone.
Above about 22,000 km/year, the EV becomes competitive for a private driver.
100% deductibility plus lower CO₂ contribution: the EV clearly wins.
* Indicative estimates. Compare costs
The impact of Belgian taxation
For companies and self-employed professionals, Belgian tax rules often turn the verdict in favour of EVs even if the purchase price is higher. Here are the three levers that matter most:
Frequently asked questions
From how many km/year is an electric car profitable in Belgium?
For a private driver, break-even usually starts around 20,000 to 22,000 km/year over 5 years. For professionals, Belgian tax rules lower that threshold materially.
Is a PHEV still a good option in 2026?
For an existing vehicle, yes. For a new company purchase in 2026, 75% deductibility remains acceptable, but the trajectory is negative: less in 2027 and 0% in 2028.
How is TCO calculated on Moovcar?
Our comparator includes purchase price or lease rent, regional VRT, annual road tax, tax deductibility, employer CO₂ contribution, energy cost according to yearly mileage, average maintenance by powertrain and estimated residual value after 5 years.
Is a used EV still interesting from a tax perspective?
Yes. A used EV keeps full deductibility and benefits from a strongly reduced VRT thanks to age reduction. Its BIK is also lower because it is based on the catalogue value.
Is diesel still competitive for fleets in 2026?
Less and less. With capped deductibility, a much higher CO₂ contribution and a path to 0% deductibility in 2028, diesel usually loses to an equivalent EV in fleet use.
TCO Calculator
Compare the true cost of each fuel type over the full ownership period — purchase, taxes, energy, maintenance, depreciation and taxation included.