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For many British families, summer means one thing: loading up the car and heading for Europe. Spain remains one of the UK's favourite holiday destinations, with thousands of drivers making the journey every year. But with electric vehicles becoming increasingly common on UK roads, many motorists are asking the same question before setting off: Is an electric car actually cheaper than a petrol car for a long road trip? To find out, we compared two versions of the same vehicle: the Peugeot 2008 and the all-electric Peugeot E-2008. Both offer similar practicality, passenger space and luggage capacity, making them ideal candidates for a fair comparison.
We then looked at a typical summer route from Southampton to Barcelona and back, a journey of approximately 2,000 miles.
The results may not be what you expect.
For this comparison, we used a route many UK families could realistically drive during the school holidays:
This type of journey is often cited as one of the biggest challenges for electric vehicles, making it the perfect test.
For the petrol model, we used a real-world motorway fuel economy figure of approximately 45 mpg.
For the electric model, we used a motorway efficiency figure of around 3.2 miles per kWh, which reflects real-world motorway driving rather than official WLTP figures.
Let's start with the numbers.
A 2,000-mile journey at 45 mpg requires approximately 202 litres of petrol.
Using an average petrol price of 158p per litre, the total fuel cost comes to: £319
For many drivers, that's probably in line with what they'd expect to spend on fuel for a European road trip.
The electric Peugeot E-2008 would require approximately 625 kWh of electricity to cover the same distance.
If all charging is completed using public rapid chargers along motorways in the UK, France and Spain, at an average cost of around 74p per kWh, the total charging bill would be: £463
That means the electric vehicle costs approximately: £144 more than the petrol model
At least when relying primarily on motorway rapid chargers.
Many people assume electric cars are always cheaper to run. For everyday driving, that's usually true. Most EV owners charge at home, where electricity costs can be a fraction of the price charged at motorway charging hubs. Drivers on specialist EV tariffs can often charge overnight for less than 10p per kWh.
However, a long-distance holiday journey is different. When you're travelling through France or Spain, you'll often depend on high-powered public chargers. These offer convenience and speed, but they also come with significantly higher charging costs. In other words, the savings many EV drivers enjoy during the year don't always apply when you're covering thousands of motorway miles in a short period.
This changes the picture considerably. The Peugeot E-2008 has a usable battery capacity of around 50 kWh. Charging that battery at home before departure could cost as little as £4 to £5 on an off-peak tariff. While that won't completely eliminate the need for public charging, it does reduce the overall cost of the trip.
For EV owners who also charge overnight during stopovers or at hotels, the difference between petrol and electric becomes much smaller.
Cost is only one part of the equation.
The Peugeot 2008 can travel roughly 500 miles on a tank during motorway driving.
A Southampton-to-Barcelona journey would likely require:
Total refuelling time: 15 to 20 minutes
The Peugeot E-2008 offers a realistic motorway range of around 180 to 220 miles depending on speed, temperature and luggage load.
The same journey would likely require:
Total charging time: Around two hours
That sounds significant, but many families already stop several times for meals, toilet breaks and rest periods. For some drivers, those charging stops may not add as much extra journey time as expected.
Not anymore. France and Spain have invested heavily in EV infrastructure over the last few years. Major charging networks now cover most motorway routes, including:
Most route-planning apps can automatically suggest charging stops and estimate your battery level throughout the journey.
For drivers sticking to major roads, finding a charger is generally straightforward.
If your priority is reaching your destination as quickly as possible, the petrol Peugeot 2008 still has the advantage. Refuelling is faster, there is less planning involved and fuel remains slightly cheaper than relying entirely on public rapid charging.
However, that doesn't mean electric cars aren't suitable for European adventures. The Peugeot E-2008 can comfortably make the journey, and drivers who combine public charging with cheaper home or hotel charging may find the overall cost difference is smaller than expected.
The real conclusion is that the answer depends on how you charge. For daily driving, electric cars remain significantly cheaper to run. For a one-off motorway-heavy holiday across Europe, petrol still has a slight edge on both cost and convenience.
But the gap is far smaller than it was just a few years ago.
And for many families, that's enough to make an electric road trip a realistic option for summer 2026.
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