Cost of mobility
07.38
From 2007 to 2008
TML analysed the cost of driving in 10 countries for the years 1995, 2005, and 2020, focusing on different vehicle classes and fuel types. The findings show an increase in mobility costs, mainly due to rising fuel prices, new measures against congestion, and stricter emission and safety regulations, leading to higher overall spending for car drivers.
This study analysed the cost of driving for ten countries, specifically Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic. To get a view of past, present, and future, costs were calculated for 1995, 2005, and 2020.
Six classes of cars were used, divided according to fuel (petrol or diesel) and engine capacity (1400cc, 1400 - 2000cc, and 2000cc). The all-inclusive cost per kilometre driven ranged from €0.225 for a small Czech diesel car to €0.641 for a large petrol car in France.
Mobility contributes greatly to everyone’s economic and social development. The cost of mobility is increasing, especially the cost of driving a car. The increase in these costs is said to be caused by oil consumption, but new measures to combat congestion as well as emission and safety regulations are also increasing costs.
The main trends are as follows:
This study analysed the cost of driving for ten countries, specifically Germany, France, the UK, the Netherlands, Sweden, Denmark, Spain, Italy, Poland, and the Czech Republic. To get a view of past, present, and future, costs were calculated for 1995, 2005, and 2020.
Six classes of cars were used, divided according to fuel (petrol or diesel) and engine capacity (1400cc, 1400 - 2000cc, and 2000cc). The all-inclusive cost per kilometre driven ranged from €0.225 for a small Czech diesel car to €0.641 for a large petrol car in France.
Mobility contributes greatly to everyone’s economic and social development. The cost of mobility is increasing, especially the cost of driving a car. The increase in these costs is said to be caused by oil consumption, but new measures to combat congestion as well as emission and safety regulations are also increasing costs.
The main trends are as follows:
- Fuel: diesel cars have traditionally been more expensive to buy but cheaper to run than petrol cars. Whereas until now this has been enough to make diesel more interesting, rising fuel prices may reduce the difference in cost price and make petrol cars more prominent again. CO2 standardisation does ensure that fuel consumption will fall. Based on conservative projections, our analysis suggests that this will not be enough to reduce fuel's share of total expenditure.
- Taxation: taxes are increasingly aligned with car emissions. A move towards less fixed and more variable taxation is within expectations and fits within the framework of internalising external costs. The current tax burden on cars averages between 33% and 37%. It could fall slightly in the future, mainly due to the stronger expected increase in other expenditure items (see previous and next sections). In the drive towards a single market, unification of tax systems is of great importance.
- Regulation: euro standards and safety regulations have already caused a price increase of €2,000 - €2,300 at present. Future stricter standards will cause another €1,000 - €1,500 in additional costs per car. In total, this represents an additional cost of some 6% over the total usage time of the car.
