EV running costs

What does an electric car cost to run in Australia?

Choose a car, then enter your own kilometres and electricity price. We compare it with a petrol and a hybrid SUV at today's Melbourne fuel prices. Every rate is sourced and dated.

Choose an electric car

What it costs to drive 100 km

Using the Atto 3 Evo Dynamic's official energy use of 14.4 kWh/100 km and today's Melbourne prices.

Home, standard rateiSource: Essential Services Commission – Victorian Default Offer 2026–27 (flat rates 26–32c/kWh across Melbourne networks) · checked 31 Oct 2026$4.03per 100 km at 28c/kWh

Home, overnight off-peakiSource: Essential Services Commission – Victorian Default Offer 2026–27 time-of-use off-peak (9pm–11am, 21–23c/kWh) · checked 31 Oct 2026$3.17per 100 km at 22c/kWh

Public fast chargeriSource: Canberra Times – cost of fast charging (Chargefox, Evie, NRMA, Tesla, BP Pulse: 59–79c/kWh, July 2026) · checked 31 Oct 2026$10.80per 100 km at 75c/kWh

Compared with petrol, hybrid and diesel

BYD Atto 3 · home chargingElectric · charged at home

$4.03

Toyota RAV4 Hybrid (2WD)Hybrid SUV · 4.5 L/100 kmiSource: CarsGuide – 2026 RAV4 hybrid official fuel use

$10.71

Mazda CX-5 G25Petrol SUV · 7.4 L/100 kmiSource: Cars24 – 2026 Mazda CX-5 price and specs

$17.60

Toyota HiLux SR5 2.8 dieselDiesel ute · 7.2 L/100 kmiSource: CarExpert – 2026 HiLux SR5 price and specs

$20.15

Your yearly fuel bill

Kilometres a year Your electricity (c/kWh) Petrol price (c/L)

This EV$605

Petrol SUV$2,641

Hybrid SUV$1,606

You save vs petrol$2,036$10,179 over 5 years

Electricity: Victorian Default Offer 2026–27iSource: Essential Services Commission – Victorian Default Offer 2026–27 (flat rates 26–32c/kWh across Melbourne networks) · checked 31 Oct 2026. Public charging: typical network pricesiSource: Canberra Times – cost of fast charging (Chargefox, Evie, NRMA, Tesla, BP Pulse: 59–79c/kWh, July 2026) · checked 31 Oct 2026. Fuel: Melbourne median prices, 29 Oct 2026iSource: FuelCrisis.com.au – Greater Melbourne median unleaded 91, 29 Oct 2026 · checked 31 Oct 2026. Energy and fuel use are official laboratory figures (WLTP for EVs, ADR 81/02 for petrol, hybrid and diesel). Real-world use is usually higher for every car, and EVs also lose a little energy while charging. Solar or an EV electricity plan can cost much less. Checked 31 Oct 2026.

Cheapest electric cars to run

Cost per 100 km charging at home at 28c/kWh, and per year at 15,000 km. "Est." means battery ÷ WLTP range, used where no official energy figure is published.

#	Car	Energy use	Per 100 km	Overnight off-peak	Per year
1	Tesla Model 3	10.1 kWh	$2.83	$2.22	$424
2	Honda Super-ONE Est.	11.7 kWh	$3.28	$2.57	$491
3	Toyota bZ4X	12 kWh	$3.36	$2.64	$504
4	Renault Megane E-Tech Est.	12 kWh	$3.36	$2.64	$504
5	Polestar 2	12.1 kWh	$3.39	$2.66	$508
6	Hyundai Kona Electric	12.3 kWh	$3.44	$2.71	$517
7	Mercedes-Benz CLA Electric	12.3 kWh	$3.44	$2.71	$517
8	Subaru Solterra	12.4 kWh	$3.47	$2.73	$521
9	Alfa Romeo Junior Elettrica	12.6 kWh	$3.53	$2.77	$529
10	Kia EV4 Est.	12.7 kWh	$3.56	$2.79	$533
11	BYD Atto 2	13.1 kWh	$3.67	$2.88	$550
12	BYD Dolphin	13.2 kWh	$3.70	$2.90	$554
13	MG MG4 Est.	13.3 kWh	$3.72	$2.93	$559
14	Hyundai Inster	13.3 kWh	$3.72	$2.93	$559
15	MINI Aceman Est.	13.3 kWh	$3.72	$2.93	$559
16	GWM Ora	13.5 kWh	$3.78	$2.97	$567
17	Kia EV3	13.5 kWh	$3.78	$2.97	$567
18	BMW iX3	13.5 kWh	$3.78	$2.97	$567
19	Fiat 500e Est.	13.5 kWh	$3.78	$2.97	$567
20	Peugeot e-308 Est.	13.5 kWh	$3.78	$2.97	$567
21	GWM Ora 5	13.6 kWh	$3.81	$2.99	$571
22	BYD Atto 1	13.7 kWh	$3.84	$3.01	$575
23	Geely EX2	13.7 kWh	$3.84	$3.01	$575
24	Kia EV6	13.7 kWh	$3.84	$3.01	$575
25	Mazda 6e	13.8 kWh	$3.86	$3.04	$580

Petrol SUV comparison: Mazda CX-5 G25 at 7.4 L/100 km costs $17.60 per 100 km (about $2,641 a year). 85 of 110 cars listed; the rest don't have enough confirmed figures yet.