Electric Vehicles vs Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs)
Electric Vehicles vs Internal Combustion Engines (ICEs) – How Do They Compare in 2025?
When thinking about electric vehicles (EVs), I believe there’s something really important to keep clear in your mind. If you’re going to directly compare an EV to an Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicle, then in the game of Top Trumps, the ICE is likely to win on more fronts than the EV — perhaps with the exception of 0–60 mph times!
Basically, while they both look very similar and, to all intents and purposes, do the same job, they’re not directly comparable. And if comparison is insisted upon, then the EV is more than likely going to lose in several key areas.
So Why Doesn’t the EV Directly Compare to an ICE?
Refuelling Infrastructure Challenges
There continues to be a challenge around there being enough charging points in the UK to meet growing demand. Added to this is the risk that when you do arrive at a charger, it could be out of service or already in use. This remains a significant barrier for many would-be EV drivers in 2025.
Purchase Price
This remains a real barrier for many people. The price of EVs is affected by several factors — including the still-high cost of battery manufacturing (which, despite improvements, hasn’t fallen as quickly as predicted). Combine this with the additional electronics required for EV operation and it makes these vehicles more expensive to produce and purchase than their ICE counterparts.
Refuel Time is Longer
You can refuel the average petrol or diesel car in the UK in around 3 minutes — including paying for the fuel! Refuelling an EV is a different ball game entirely. There are two main types of charging: AC (alternating current) and DC (direct current). In simple terms, AC is the standard electricity supply we have in our homes, and DC is a modified version that allows for rapid charging at public charge points.
Even the fastest public rapid chargers in the UK in 2025 can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour to give you a useful range top-up. And home charging overnight, while convenient, won’t suit everyone.
Vehicle Range
While battery range in modern EVs has improved in recent years, most current models still offer a maximum range around the 300-mile mark. By contrast, an average petrol or diesel family car can often achieve 600 miles on a full tank — a noticeable difference, especially for those who regularly travel longer distances.
Vehicle Size and Value
While there are smaller, more affordable EVs available on the market, two issues persist. Firstly, they're painfully expensive for the size of vehicle you get. And secondly, their range is often limited because a smaller car can only house a smaller battery. This loops us back to the urgent need for advances in battery technology.
Many of us will remember how, in the 1980s, mobile phone technology was limited by the size
of the battery rather than the electronics inside the phone. It feels as though EVs in 2025 are in a similar place — waiting for the next big leap forward.
Now, while all these comparisons are true, there’s also a lot of misunderstanding and outdated assumptions about EVs that come with them. Keep an eye out for the third blog in this series where I’ll be unpacking those misconceptions!
Summary
Change is coming — like it or not. It’s more about how quickly we’re able to adapt that matters. Sometimes, we have to accept that resistance is futile.
Yes, there are negatives, but there are also positives. As is often the case, it’s about how we choose to view the situation. And one thing’s certain — the future of the UK car market is going to look very different by the end of the decade.
Dave Bownes
Director,
Haynes Oliver Limited
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