Photo Credit: iStockWhy do electric vehicles seem more attainable in parts of Europe even though Americans often earn higher salaries? In one widely discussed Reddit thread, commenters suggested the answer has less to do with income alone and more to do with fuel prices, the types of vehicles available, and how people actually use their cars.Here's what to knowAcross Redditors discussing the question, the recurring themes were cheaper entry-level EVs and lower running costs.After saying the poster's question of "How are Europeans able to afford expensive electric vehicles, while USA has higher salaries but still struggles to afford EVs?" is "way too much of an over generalization," one commenter pointed to "some cheaper more budget models on the market like the Chinese made BYD cars" and argued that "the economics for electric cars make even more sense in Europe because most people are making shorter trips where battery mileage doesn't matter."The thread highlighted budget models rather than luxury purchases. One commenter identified the Romania-built Dacia Spring as the cheapest EV in Europe at 17,500 euros (less than $20,000) and said the lowest-priced Chinese model sold there is the Leapmotor T03 at 18,900 euros (just over $21,000). Those examples challenge the idea that Europeans are mostly choosing high-end EVs.Operating costs were another major theme. As one commenter put it, "Gas is a lot more expensive in europe. It makes the savings from EV more valuable." Another gave a more specific comparison: "Just for reference, Europeans pay per liter, and right now is over 2 euro per liter. That's roughly $8 a gallon."Vehicle size came up too, with one commenter joking, "They're not trying to buy the Chevy suburban fully loaded EV … makes sense."More backgroundBecause compact vehicles usually need less battery and cost less upfront, markets dominated by hatchbacks or small SUVs may have an easier path to cheaper EVs. Several commenters contrasted that with American demand for larger vehicles.Tariffs were another part of the discussion. The commenter who said the issue was overgeneralized said some cheaper models, including Chinese-made EVs such as BYD vehicles, are "kept out of the USA by huge tariffs." Another commenter made the same point, stating, "They also have access to Chinese EVs."Not everyone in the thread agreed that Americans generally can't afford EVs. Citing that "The average price of a new car there is $50k, which means a huge number of buyers have far more to spend than they would need to buy an EV," one commenter argued that for many buyers the decision may have more to do with preference and availability than with raw affordability.Where can I learn more?The affordability picture looks different in markets built around smaller cars and higher fuel prices, a theme these stories dig into further.• Across Europe, automakers are shrinking their EVs to fight SUV bloat and Chinese rivals.• In the U.K., BYD is bringing an ultra-cheap city EV to buyers seeking lower prices.• Automakers are betting the next wave of affordable EVs will broaden the market beyond early adopters.Get TCD's free newsletters for easy tips, smart advice, and a chance to earn $5,000 toward home upgrades. To see more stories like this one, change your Google preferences here.