EV vs Petrol Cost Calculator
Compare the running costs of an electric and a petrol vehicle. Choose your country to see annual costs, cost per mile or kilometre, and how the totals stack up over five years.
Last Updated: June 2026
Driving & energy
Running cost comparison
Petrol annual cost
$2,400
$0.16 / km
EV annual cost
$720
$0.05 / km
Annual saving with EV
$1,680
10-year saving
$16,800
Cumulative EV savings over 10 years
How This Calculator Works
This calculator works out the running cost of each vehicle from its energy use and your local prices, then projects the totals over five years to find the break-even point.
Petrol cost = (litres per 100 ÷ 100) × distance × fuel price
EV cost = (kWh per 100 ÷ 100) × distance × electricity price
Example:driving 15,000 km a year, a petrol car using 8 L/100km at $1.90/L costs about $2,280 per year, while an EV using 16 kWh/100km at $0.30/kWh costs about $720 per year — a saving of roughly $1,560 each year before maintenance.
The break-even methodologycompares the cumulative cost of each option over time, including any upfront price difference. The break-even point is the moment the EV's lower running costs have offset its higher purchase price, after which it becomes the cheaper vehicle to own.
Are EVs cheaper to run?
For most drivers, electric vehicles cost less to run than petrol cars. Electricity is typically cheaper per kilometre than petrol, especially when charging at home on an off-peak or solar-powered tariff. EVs also have fewer moving parts, which usually means lower servicing and maintenance costs over time.
The size of the saving depends on how far you drive, your local fuel and electricity prices, and the efficiency of each vehicle. Use the calculator above to model your own numbers.
Fuel vs electricity costs
Petrol cars are measured in litres per 100km, while EVs are measured in kilowatt-hours per 100km. To compare fairly, multiply each by its energy price. A petrol car using 8L/100km at $1.90 per litre costs about $15.20 per 100km, while an EV using 16 kWh/100km at $0.30 per kWh costs about $4.80 per 100km.
That gap adds up quickly across a year of driving, which is why the five-year comparison chart can show substantial cumulative savings.
EV ownership considerations
Running cost is only part of the picture. Before switching, think about charging access at home and on your regular routes, the vehicle's range relative to your typical trips, upfront price and incentives, insurance, battery warranty, and expected resale value. Weighing these alongside the running-cost savings gives you the full ownership story.