EV vs Petrol · running cost
Does an electric car actually cost less to run?
Compares the real cost of energy and servicing — electricity (home, public or a mix) vs petrol/diesel — over the years you keep the car. Purchase price and depreciation are handled in the running-costs tool.
Your driving
Same distance for both cars, so it's a fair comparison.
Petrol / diesel car
L
$/L
$
Electric car
kWh
$/kWh
$/kWh
$
Electric is cheaper to run
+$1,750 / year
Over 5 years that's $8,750 saved on running costs alone.
Electric
$1,090/yr$840 energy + servicing
Petrol / diesel
$2,840/yr$2,340 fuel + servicing
| EV electricity (2,400 kWh @ 0.35/kWh) | $840 |
| Petrol fuel | $2,340 |
| Energy saving (EV vs petrol) | $1,500 |
This is running cost only.It excludes what the car costs to buy and how it depreciates — an EV often costs more up-front. Put both sides together in the total cost of ownership tool, and if you're salary-packaging, the novated lease tool.