The Berlin to Madrid Challenge: Electric Cars Put to the Test
A whopping 2,500 kilometers. That was the journey from Berlin, Germany, all the way down to sunny Madrid, Spain, set up precisely to answer a burning question: are electric vehicles truly more cost-effective than their fossil-fueled cousins on marathon road trips? Journalists keen on getting more than just a ticket for Europe’s scenic highways got behind the wheel after a stop at the Tesla Gigafactory near Berlin. At their disposal: two of the latest in Tesla technology, the Model Y Long Range Rear-Wheel Drive (RWD) and the Model 3 Highland Long Range. Let the showdown begin.
Charging Stops (and Coffee Breaks): The Route in Detail
But you can’t just cruise non-stop in an EV – at least, not unless your legs and batteries are both superhuman. Thanks to Tesla’s in-car navigation, the group’s pit stops were mapped out as efficiently as possible, taking full advantage of Tesla Supercharger stations while also highlighting other providers along the way. In practice, this meant pausing every 125 to 185 miles (200–300 km) – usually just enough time for a coffee, bathroom break, or a brisk stretch, with the car charging up as fast as the schedule (and the battery) allowed.
Funny enough, these stops often ended before a full charge. The goal? Keep moving, and try not to turn Europe’s highways into a new workplace.
Simulating Petrol and Diesel: Adding up the Numbers
To keep things fair and square, the journalists also ran a simulation of the exact same trip, but using two theoretical cars: a petrol-powered vehicle consuming 33.6 miles per gallon (7 liters/100 km) and a diesel model sipping 42.8 mpg (5.5 liters/100 km), based on official EU average fuel prices.
The final tally was, well, not what many expected. Once all the charges and refuels were done and dusted, diesel still came out on top in terms of cost efficiency. Petrol didn’t fare as well, and while EVs have plenty of perks, straight savings on a European cross-country odyssey evidently isn’t (yet) their ace card.
More Than Just Numbers: What Really Matters
Of course, this is hardly a one-size-fits-all story. The age-old battle between electric and diesel—much like debates over the perfect pizza topping—boils down to personal priorities:
- Some value speed and the shortest possible travel time,
- Others keep an eagle eye on operating costs,
- And there are those who put environmental impact first, come what may.
The good news is that today’s market offers a wide and ever-evolving range of vehicles, letting every driver choose what really suits their lifestyle, balancing performance, expenses, and sustainability.
So, whether your heart beats for instant torque, long-haul autonomy, or just a handful of euros (or pounds, or dollars) saved, there’s a car out there for you – diesel smell or not.
John is a curious mind who loves to write about diverse topics. Passionate about sharing his thoughts and perspectives, he enjoys sparking conversations and encouraging discovery. For him, every subject is an invitation to discuss and learn.
