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EV vs Petrol Cost Calculator

Compare electric and petrol car running costs side by side.

How it is calculated

The tool compares yearly running cost of an electric car and a petrol car. For each: cost = distance ÷ 100 × consumption × price. Distance is in km per year, EV consumption in kWh per 100 km with electricity price per kWh, and petrol consumption in litres per 100 km with fuel price per litre. All prices must be in the same currency. The saving is the petrol cost minus the electricity cost, shown as a positive number together with which option is cheaper. The comparison covers energy only: purchase price, insurance, servicing, tyres and charger installation are not included.

Worked example

You drive 15000 km a year. EV: 15000 ÷ 100 = 150 blocks of 100 km × 18 kWh × 0.25 = $675.00. Petrol: 150 × 7 L × 1.8 = $1,890.00. Difference: 1890 − 675 = $1,215.00 a year, so the electric car is cheaper by that amount.

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Common mistakes

  • Using the dealer's lab figure for consumption. Real use, especially in winter or on motorways, is higher; use your own average.
  • Entering mpg or kWh per mile. The fields expect litres or kWh per 100 km.
  • Using the cheap home night rate for all charging while much of it happens at public fast chargers at a higher price.
  • Concluding the EV pays off from this number alone. The difference in purchase price and other costs is not counted.

About this calculator

This calculator compares the annual running cost of an electric vehicle (EV) against a comparable petrol (gasoline) car, using annual mileage, electricity price per kWh, EV efficiency (kWh/100km or miles), petrol price, and the petrol car's fuel economy. It converts both into a cost-per-distance figure and multiplies by yearly mileage to show the total fuel/energy spend for each.

Car shoppers weighing an EV purchase, and current EV owners wanting to quantify their savings, use it to see the yearly and multi-year difference in running costs — separate from purchase price, incentives, or maintenance. Enter your driving habits and local energy/fuel prices to compare the two side by side.

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