EV vs petrol running cost calculator
Yearly fuel cost of a petrol car against charging cost of an electric car, from your own figures.
Energy cost per 100 km = consumption × price. With example figures of 15,000 km a year, a petrol car using 8 litres per 100 km at 200c a litre costs about $2,400 a year in fuel. An electric vehicle (EV) using 16 kWh per 100 km charged at home at 30c per kWh costs about $720 a year in electricity, a difference of $1,680. These are examples, not market prices: enter the figures from your own car, bills and fuel receipts.
Difference per year (petrol minus EV)
$1,680
$32.31 a week
- Petrol per year
- $2,400
- EV electricity per year
- $720
- Petrol per 100 km
- $16.00
- EV per 100 km
- $4.80
- Electricity price where both cost the same per km
- 100c per kWh
Show the numbers as a table
| Item | Value |
|---|---|
| Petrol car (fuel) | $2,400 |
| Electric vehicle (charging) | $720 |
- Petrol car
- Electric vehicle
Show the numbers as a table
| Years | Petrol car | Electric vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | $0 | $0 |
| 1 | $2,400 | $720 |
| 2 | $4,800 | $1,440 |
| 3 | $7,200 | $2,160 |
| 4 | $9,600 | $2,880 |
| 5 | $12,000 | $3,600 |
| 6 | $14,400 | $4,320 |
| 7 | $16,800 | $5,040 |
| 8 | $19,200 | $5,760 |
| 9 | $21,600 | $6,480 |
| 10 | $24,000 | $7,200 |
Good to know
- This compares energy only. Registration, insurance, servicing, tyres, depreciation and the purchase price are not included.
- Use the consumption figure from your own trip computer or the vehicle's fuel or energy label; real-world use varies with speed, weather and load.
- On a time-of-use plan, use the rate for the hours you usually charge. Charging losses mean slightly more energy is drawn from the grid than the car reports.
- Employer-provided electric cars may have different fringe benefits tax (FBT) treatment: see EV FBT exemption changes.
Related calculators
Appliance running cost calculatorWhat an appliance costs per hour, day and year at the rate on your own electricity bill.Take-home pay calculatorIncome tax, low income tax offset and Medicare levy at resident rates.Hourly to annual salary converterHourly rate to yearly, monthly, fortnightly and weekly pay (or back), with take-home pay at 2026–27 rates.
Terms on this page
- EV · Electric vehicle
- A car powered by a battery and electric motor. Some FBT rules treat eligible electric cars differently.
- FBT · Fringe benefits tax
- A tax employers pay on certain non-cash benefits given to employees, such as a car.
- kWh · Kilowatt-hour
- A unit of energy: using 1,000 watts for one hour. Electricity is billed per kWh; battery capacity is measured in kWh.