The substantial increase in electric energy costs over the past few months has changed the economy dynamic between electric and internal combustion engine power, writes Brian Byrne. Especially if you depend on public charging facilities for your electric car. At this time of writing, internal combustion engines — for which fuel costs have been coming down since the scary heights reached at the start of the Ukraine invasion — can have an economy edge over similar electric models. Since electric vehicles have become a realistic part of the cars mix, the emphasis has been on range rather than consumption. But that’s not the correct way to think about it. It’s really — as it always has been with ICE engines regardless of their fuels — about consumption. With ESB stations now charging 68c per kWh, following two major increases in the last year, travelling 100km in a Peugeot e-208 will cost €10.20 if you depend on public chargers. The same journey in an equivalent Toyota Yaris Hybrid will co