voziti magazine · Guide
Electric car – or the good old combustion engine?
Some swear by quiet, cheap driving on electricity, others by range and a fuel station on every corner. We looked at how complicated electric mobility really is, how well you can charge in Europe and Croatia – and what it all means for your next vehicle purchase.
Is electric mobility more complicated?
The honest answer: it depends on where you park. If you have a socket or wallbox at home or at work, an electric car often feels even more convenient than a combustion car. You plug in at night and leave with a full battery in the morning – no more detours to the fuel station. For most daily journeys, today’s ranges of 250 to 500 kilometres are more than enough.
Things look different if you live in a flat without your own parking space. Then you depend on public chargers – and charging becomes something you have to plan. The same applies to long trips: instead of five minutes at the pump, a stop at a fast charger usually takes 20 to 40 minutes. With a coffee break that is no drama, but it is a different way of travelling.
Charging in Europe: the network is growing – unevenly
By the end of 2025 the EU already had more than one million public charging points – and the number keeps rising. However, the network is very unevenly distributed: the Netherlands, Germany, France and Belgium account for a large share of all charging points, while southern and south-eastern Europe are still much less well covered.
To make long journeys possible everywhere, the EU regulation on alternative fuels infrastructure (AFIR) requires a fast-charging hub roughly every 60 kilometres along Europe’s main transport corridors. In addition, new fast chargers have had to accept bank card payments and show prices transparently since 2024 – so collecting charging cards and apps is gradually becoming unnecessary.
And Croatia? Along the motorways, for example the A1 towards the coast, and in the larger cities you will now find fast chargers from various operators. In the hinterland and on the islands they become scarcer, and in peak season the chargers on the coast are often busy. If you drive to Dalmatia in summer in an electric car, plan your route and ideally choose accommodation with charging facilities.
What does it actually cost?
With an electric car, where you charge determines the cost. With household electricity or your own solar panels you usually drive considerably more cheaply than with petrol or diesel. At a public fast charger, on the other hand, the cost per 100 kilometres can come close to that of an economical diesel. Maintenance costs are lower, though: no oil changes, no timing belt, no clutch – and regenerative braking spares the brakes.
One point that pleases used-car buyers: electric cars often lose value faster than combustion cars in their first years. That is annoying for the first owner – but for you as a used buyer it means that well-kept electric cars are now available at prices that were unthinkable a few years ago.
Buying a used electric car: what matters
The heart of an electric car is the battery. It ages more slowly than many fear, but you should still take a close look:
- Battery health (SoH): ask for a recent battery certificate or workshop report. Values above 85–90 % after a few years are a good sign.
- Battery warranty: many manufacturers give 8 years or 160,000 km on the battery. Check how much is left and whether it transfers to you.
- Charging power and equipment: can the car use fast chargers (CCS), and at how many kW? A heat pump noticeably helps range in winter.
- Accessories: is the charging cable (Type 2) included? A portable charger for a household socket is a nice extra.
- Test drive with a charging stop: if possible, plug in once at a fast charger – that way you can see whether the charging power is right.
And the combustion engine? Far from obsolete
Petrol and diesel cars still have real advantages: long range, fuel stations everywhere – on every island and in every mountain village –, low purchase prices and workshops that know every engine. If you often tow a trailer, caravan or boat, a combustion car is usually the more relaxed choice. And one thing is certain: existing combustion cars may continue to be driven, bought and sold.
The downside: fuel is more expensive than electricity from your own socket, maintenance and wear cost more, and some European cities have low-emission zones with restrictions for older diesels. Hybrids can be a middle way – but plug-in hybrids only pay off if you really charge them regularly.
Our verdict: what suits whom?
- Electric car if you can charge at home or at work, drive manageable distances every day or are looking for an affordable second car for town.
- Combustion engine if you drive long distances in regions with few chargers, regularly tow something, have nowhere to charge or are buying on a small budget.
- Hybrid if you want both: low consumption in town and full freedom on long trips.
In the end there is no “right” or “wrong” – only the car that suits your everyday life. On voziti.eu you will find both: electric cars, hybrids, petrol and diesel cars from private and commercial sellers in Croatia and the region.
Note: this article is for general information only. Prices, incentives and the charging network change constantly – please check the latest details before buying.
