As a child around 70 years ago, I can remember my father getting excited about finding 23 cent a gallon gas. On the other hand in those days he was earning about $3,000 a year.
I know the dollar is close to the Euro in value, but have no idea how many pence or pounds equal a dollar or a Euro. So I am unable to evaluate the costs you have mentioned.
Doesn’t matter to me. £1.70 for a litre is maybe a sixth of the hourly pay for a factory worker so if one drives 20 miles to work and back he or she it’s not going to break the bank.
A relative of mine has to visit ten rural sites a day for his job, he’s doing 300 miles a day on average - on country lanes. £70 per day just on fuel, nearly half his take home pay.
The firm is contractually obligated to cover his business travel fuel bill minus the first and last trip of the day (commuting to the workplace and the drive home isn’t included) but it hasn’t reimbursed him in 3 months. If they upheld the contract for all field based staff they’d probably go bust.