EV charging cost vs petrol — 2026–27
Typical EV, home-charged (NSW reference rate) vs typical petrol car
$5.34 vs $12.12 per 100 km · petrol at $1.66/L (capital-city average, week of 17 July 2026).
Energy cost only — servicing, depreciation and rego excluded
EV vs petrol calculator
NSW · home chargingTypical mid-size EV incl. charging losses.
Hybrids run roughly 4–5.
- EV cost per 100 km
- $5.34
- Petrol cost per 100 km
- $12.12
- EV per year
- $672
- Petrol per year
- $1,527
Home tariff: AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (DMO 8) usage rate. Petrol default: capital-city weekly average as at 17 July 2026 — edit for your local price. Public DC rates run $0.40–$0.73/kWh by network. Energy cost only — servicing, tyres, depreciation and rego excluded. Full EV charging cost breakdown →
Home charging cost by state
| State | Home rate c/kWh | EV $/100 km | Annual saving vs petrol |
|---|---|---|---|
| New South Wales | 33.1c | $5.34 | $855 |
| Victoria | 27.5c | $4.42 | $970 |
| Queensland | 28.0c | $4.50 | $959 |
| South Australia | 41.9c | $6.75 | $677 |
| Western Australia | 33.3c | $5.36 | $852 |
| Tasmania | 28.0c | $4.50 | $960 |
| Australian Capital Territory | 37.0c | $5.95 | $777 |
| Northern Territory | 31.7c | $5.10 | $884 |
How efficient are the popular models?
| EV | kWh/100 km |
|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | 13.8 |
| Tesla Model 3 Long Range AWD | 16.7 |
| BYD Atto 3 Extended Range | 14.4 |
| BYD Seal Premium RWD | 14.6 |
| BYD Dolphin Dynamic | 12.6 |
| MG4 Excite 51 | 14.5 |
| Kia EV5 Air Long Range 2WD | 18 |
| Kia EV6 GT-Line RWD | 17.2 |
| Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range | 14.7 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 RWD | 17.9 |
Petrol comparison basis: median of six popular non-hybrid models at 7.3 L/100 km (hybrids run roughly 4–5). Home charging adds ~10% losses over these lab figures — the calculator default accounts for it.
Frequently asked questions
- How much cheaper is an EV per kilometre?
- Home-charged, a typical EV costs $5.34 per 100 km against $12.12 for a typical petrol car — about $855 a year at average driving. On public DC fast charging the EV cost roughly $9.66/100 km, which closes most of the gap — the economics live at home.
- What do public fast chargers cost?
- The major networks charge $0.40–$0.73 per kWh depending on network and charger speed — three to four times a home tariff. Fine for road trips; expensive as a routine.
- Does charging at home need a special tariff?
- No, but it helps. The figures here use each state's standard reference rate; an off-peak or dedicated EV tariff (or daytime solar) can cut the home-charging cost substantially. Never charge through the evening peak on a time-of-use plan.
Related
- Green Vehicle Guide (Australian Government)verified
- NRMA weekly fuel report (regular unleaded, capital-city average)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics — Survey of Motor Vehicle Use
- Public DC network pricing (surveyed)cross-checked
ABS Survey of Motor Vehicle Use 2018 — the last pre-COVID national average per passenger vehicle (the 2020 survey, 11,100 km, was pandemic-suppressed).