In 2026, buying a car is no longer a question of emotions, the smell of gasoline, or the roar of the exhaust pipe. It has become a question of an IQ test and the ability to use a calculator. If you are buying as a company, you are crazy if you do not buy electricity. If you are buying as an individual and live in a house, insisting on gasoline is the same as burning banknotes to heat your neighbor's apartment.
Imagine a world where there are two identical cars on the road. In one sits a driver who leaves 300 euros at the gas station every month and pays for services that cost as much as a small wedding. In the other sits someone who drives practically for free because fuel falls from the sky - literally. Welcome to the year 2026, where automotive logic no longer follows the engineering of the past, but energy independence. Based on market analysis, we have dispelled the myths and come to the conclusion: an electric car is no longer an alternative, it is the only way not to go bankrupt in installments.
Entrepreneurial Nirvana: Why “Electrician” is the only business hygiene
If you are a business owner and are considering purchasing anything other than electric vehicle (EV), you probably hate money or you have a really bad accountant. The matter is simple, almost banal. Tax legislation has created an environment where buying a classic diesel or gas station for a company makes no business sense.
Let's look at the facts you can't ignore. When a company buys an electric car:
- VAT deduction: You calculate the entry tax. This is an immediate 22% discount, which is not available on "stinkers" (ICE vehicles).
- Credit rating: This is where the magic happens. The employee who drives this car does not pay any bonuses. This means that his net salary is not reduced even though he drives a technological machine with 300 kW (402 hp).
- Investment relief: You are reducing your profit tax base.
If you add this up, you find that an electric car for business is the only rational choice in terms of costEven if the car costs 50,000 euros, the real cost to the company over five years of use is drastically lower than with a diesel that is half the price. Or the equivalent of an ICE car that costs 20,000 euros.
Natural person and “Sunny Jackpot”
Now let's move on to individuals. It has long been believed that they EVs for individuals, "throwing money away" due to depreciation. But this is a myth spread by those who do not know how to calculate the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Here is the key information: 74 % Slovenians live in their own houses or two-apartment buildings. (Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia) This is unique in Europe. What does this mean? This means that three-quarters of the country has the possibility of charging at home.
If you have a solar power plant (SP) at home, the equation for buying a car changes drastically:
- Fuel: Your “fuel” costs are close to zero. While your neighbor is filling up on diesel at 1.6 EUR per liter, you are “filling up” on the sun. With 20,000 kilometers driven per year, this means a saving of approximately 2,500 to 3,000 euros on fuel alone. In five years? That’s 15,000 euros left in your pocket.
- Maintenance: Classic cars are complex machines with thousands of moving parts. Oil, filters, belts, turbines, clutches… With an electric car? You top up the windshield washer fluid and check the tire pressure. Service costs are negligible with an EV. (If you have a Tesla, of course, … but other manufacturers have problems)
- Subsidy: Calculate the comparison between electric and conventional. The subsidy really brings them closer to normal prices.
Even if an electric car loses value faster (which it does), you've saved so much on fuel and servicing over five years that a regular ICE car has become too expensive. You simply can't afford it anymore if you want to be frugal.
But when does a classic car (ICE) still win?
Let's be honest, so as not to sound like fanatics. Where does the classic gasoline or diesel engine still hold water?
Block settlements without infrastructure: If you live on the 8th floor of a block of flats and don't have a garage or a public charger, EVs can be a logistical nightmare. Public charging stations are expensive. In this case, a used diesel or hybrid is still a lifesaver.
Specific needs: If you're hauling a horse-drawn carriage to Munich every week without stopping, then stick with diesel. But honestly, how many of you do that?
For everyone else? A petrol engine has become an expensive hobby. It's like listening to music on vinyl records - romantic, it has its charm, but it's sinfully expensive and impractical compared to Spotify.
The Chinese Wave and democratization
We can't ignore the fact that the market is flooded with Chinese cars. In 2026, they are no longer "approximations". Brands like BYD, Xiaomi, Nio, Zeekr and Volvo, Polstar, Lotus, .... have brought technology that was once reserved for the premium segment to the popular class. This means that the cost of entry into e-mobility is falling.
When you get a solid electric car for the price of a Golf, and at the same time have a “gas pump” on the roof of your home, the debate is over. The European industry needs to wake up, because customers vote with their wallets.
Conclusion: Don't be a fossil in the age of electrons
We are at a turning point. On one side, we have companies that have long ago switched to electricity due to taxes. On the other side, we have smart homeowners who have realized that solar power + electric car is the formula for financial freedom. And somewhere in between, there are those who still believe that “diesel is worth it” while paying 100 euros for a tank and 500 euros for a “small” service.
My advice? If you have a house, install panels and buy an electrician. Whether it's a Tesla, a Chinese dragon or a European lion. Driving on electricity is not only ecological (which is great), it is also economical. And in 2026, the greatest luxury is not being dependent on the price of petroleum products. Let it only rumble in your stomach when you are hungry for new kilometers, not under the hood.
Technical Summary (Buying Guide 2026):
- Company: Electric car (No-brainer due to taxes and credit ratings).
- Homeowners (74 % SLO): Electric car + Solar power plant = Unbeatable combination. TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) is drastically lower than a gas station.
- Residents in blocks of flats: Hybrid or used ICE (until the infrastructure is fixed).
- Fact: An ICE car has become too expensive to maintain and drive if you have the alternative of home charging.
