A lot of the “savings” in US get eaten up through poor economy, poor driving strategy and dependence on traffic lights + stop signs instead of roundabouts + “traffic from the left/right gets priority” yield-by-default junctions.

I think cost per kilometre/lightyear/rod is close

Europeans don't drive half as much as Americans.

Because fuel is so expensive.

Rather because the population density is much higher. So there's less need and more inconvenience to longer commutes.

And because driving is slower and less convenient than public transit there. Seriously in Berlin, Paris or London I would prefer the public transit options in nearly all of my trips.

Ah yes, Europe is just one big city.

And cars not as big.

Because fuel is so expensive

It works out at €1.40 a litre, or £1.20 a litre.

Diesel at the local garage I passed at lunchtime is £1.89 (57% more). The web [0] suggests that is more expensive than anywhere in europe other than France and Denmark for some reason.

So nowhere near "half as cheap". Throw in poor American average mileage and I suspect the price-per-mile is quite similar.

[0] https://www.fuel-prices.eu/live/

Diesel engines in the US are used for things where they do count fuel costs. (there are a few diesel cars/SUVs, but they are a tiny minority). In short for most diesel users the efficiency is very similar between US and Europe.

Diesel in Norway was about €2.5 a litre today.

What you on about? A gallon of diesel is 5,9 euros in Italy and 8,6 euros in Germany. In other countries anywhere in between

My grandma called last night and mentioned that diesel was 2.50 €/litre. That would make it about $8.75 a gallon.