30.12.2024 08:25
(Act. 30.12.2024 09:16)
Despite a slight decrease in fuel costs, diesel remains more expensive than gasoline for the third year in a row. Due to higher CO2 pricing, this trend is expected to continue after 2025.
This year, gasoline prices fell by about one percent (two cents) compared to the year before, while diesel became about three percent (four cents) cheaper. However, diesel remained more expensive on average throughout the year, at 1,596 euros per liter, compared to petrol, which cost an average of 1,569 euros, according to the ÖAMTC. This makes diesel more expensive than petrol for the third year in a row.
Diesel will be more expensive than petrol for the third year in a row in 2024
Drivers currently pay about 3.5 cents more per liter of diesel. “Due to rising CO2 prices and the higher CO2 content per liter of diesel, we will probably have to get used to this image on price displays,” the ÖAMTC warns. Currently, around one in five newly registered cars in Austria have a diesel or diesel hybrid engine, but around half of all car owners in Austria still use diesel.
Cheaper to refuel at the weekend
But not only the engine plays a role in fuel costs, but also the calendar. 2024 also showed that refueling at the weekend is cheaper than in the middle of the week. “Sunday was usually the cheapest day, with a saving of about four cents compared to the most expensive day of the week. However, you don’t have to ‘drive out’ on Sunday, because prices can only drop from Sunday afternoon to Monday at 12:00 noon, because a price increase is only possible after that,” the ÖAMTC emphasizes.
Higher CO2 prices from 2025: fuel costs will rise
And what is the future for drivers in 2025? More expensive, the club says: At the turn of the year, the national CO2 price will increase from 45 to 55 euros per tonne of CO2. At the pumps this means an increase of about three cents, but due to the higher CO2 content per liter, diesel suffers more. In total, the CO2 costs in 2025, including sales tax, amount to 15 cents for petrol and 16.5 cents for diesel of the pump prices.
However, how much more expensive it will ultimately be for the consumer depends on the future of the climate bonus, which is paid out as compensation for the climate measures. Given the great need for savings in the state budget, this bonus has been proposed several times by economic researchers as a possible cut.
This article has been automatically translated, read the original article here.