EV vs petrol running costs in Australia

Same annual mileage — what it actually costs per 100 km and per year

EV · per 100 km

$6.43

BYD Atto 3 · 16.5 kWh/100 km

Petrol · per 100 km

$20.74

8.5 L/100 km · $2.44/L

Annual energy difference

$1860.19

less than petrol · 13,000 km/yr

EV total$836.01

Petrol total$2696.20

EV to compare

Annual mileage13,000 km

2,00040,000

Petrol consumption8.5 L/100 km

416

Priced at the local Unleaded 91 pump price of $2.44/L. Typical family cars run 6–9 L/100 km (26–39 MPG); SUVs 8–12 L/100 km.

Home electricity rate$0.30/kWh

$0.12$0.75

AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 and Finder network averages: typical residential usage rates sit ~25–35c/kWh, with a separate daily supply charge.

Share of mileage on public fast chargers30%

All homeAll public

Public fast-charge rate$/kWh

Annual cost breakdown

Item	EV	Petrol
Energy cost	$836.01	$2696.20
Road charges	$0.00	—
Total	$836.01	$2696.20
Per km	$0.064	$0.207
Annual consumption	2144 kWh	1105 L

Sources (checked October 2026)

· Unleaded 91: $2.44/L — ACCC national average ULP 91, October 2026 — capitals range $2.36 (Adelaide) to $2.52 (Hobart)
· Residential electricity: AER Default Market Offer 2026-27 and Finder network averages: typical residential usage rates sit ~25–35c/kWh, with a separate daily supply charge.
· Road charges: Australia has no separate EV road-user charge as at 2026 — registration costs the same for an EV and a petrol car, and both pay fuel excise (EVs only through grid electricity, which is not excised).
· Vehicle consumption: BYD Atto 3 — 15.5 kWh/100 km (WLTP class, blended)

Why does an EV usually cost less to run?

An electric motor converts 85–95% of its energy into motion; a petrol engine manages 20–35% and wastes the rest as heat. Over 100 km the EV pulls far less energy off the grid than the petrol contains in its tank.

Home charging is where the saving lives: overnight rates are often a third to a half of public DC rates. Cutting your public-charging share from 100% to 30% typically removes a third or more from the annual bill.

Road funding differs and is worth knowing: New Zealand EVs pay road user charges per kilometre (currently $76 per 1,000 km for a light EV) while petrol cars pay fuel excise inside the pump price. Australia charges EVs no extra road fee as at 2026.

EV vs petrol questions

Is it cheaper to run an EV than a petrol car in Australia?

On energy alone, yes. A petrol car at 8.5 L/100 km and $2.44/L costs about $20.74 per 100 km. An EV at 16.5 kWh/100 km charged at $0.30/kWh at home costs about $6.43 per 100 km.

Do EVs pay road user charges in Australia?

Australia has no separate EV road-user charge as at 2026 — registration costs the same for an EV and a petrol car, and both pay fuel excise (EVs only through grid electricity, which is not excised).

How much of my charging should I count at public rates?

Most owners do 70–90% of their charging at home and use public fast chargers for long trips. The slider below lets you set that split — it is the single biggest lever on your annual bill, because public DC rates are two to three times home rates.

What does this comparison leave out?

Insurance, depreciation, tyres and servicing. Servicing generally favours the EV (no oil, no exhaust, much longer brake life) but insurance and depreciation are model-specific and change with the used market, so they are deliberately excluded here.

This comparison covers energy and road charges only — not insurance, depreciation, tyres or servicing (servicing usually favours the EV, but insurance and depreciation are model-specific). Prices move with the market; confirm the live price in each operator’s app.