Running cost · EV vs petrol

EV vs Petrol Running Cost Calculator

Compare what an electric car and a petrol car really cost to drive. Enter your local electricity and petrol prices to see the cost per km, the yearly bill and how much you save by going electric.

/kWh
/L
kWh/100km
L/100km
km/year
How it works

How to compare EV and petrol running costs

01

Enter your energy prices

Type your electricity price per kWh and petrol price per litre, then pick your currency. Use your latest bill and the pump price for accuracy.

02

Set efficiency and distance

Enter the EV's consumption (kWh/100km), the petrol car's use (L/100km) and how far you drive each year.

03

Read the cost and savings

See the cost per km and per year for each car, plus how much an EV saves you annually.

Why it matters

What changes your EV vs petrol savings

Running cost isn't fixed — it moves with prices and how you charge. The biggest levers:

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Home vs public charging

Charging at home overnight is far cheaper than public fast charging, which can erase much of the saving.

💡

Local energy prices

Cheap electricity and pricey petrol make EVs win big; the gap narrows where power is expensive.

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How far you drive

The more kilometres per year, the faster an EV's lower per-km cost pays off.

❄️

Real-world efficiency

Cold weather, motorways and a heavy right foot raise consumption for both cars.

Questions

EV vs petrol cost FAQ

Is an electric car cheaper to run than petrol? +
Almost always, yes — if you can charge at home. Electricity per km typically costs a fraction of petrol, so most drivers save money each year. The exact saving depends on your local power and fuel prices and how far you drive.
How much can I save per year by switching to an EV? +
Enter your prices, efficiency and yearly distance above and the calculator shows your annual saving. For an average driver charging at home, savings of several hundred to over a thousand per year are common.
How do I work out EV cost per km? +
Multiply your electricity price (per kWh) by the EV's consumption (kWh/100km) and divide by 100. The calculator does this for you and compares it to petrol cost per km.
Does public fast charging change the result? +
Yes. Public DC fast charging can cost several times more than home charging, so enter a higher electricity price to see how it narrows the gap with petrol.
Are these running-cost figures exact? +
No — they're estimates based on the prices and efficiency you enter. Real costs vary with charging habits, weather, driving style and price changes. Use the result for comparison, not as a guarantee.
Does the calculator store my data? +
Nothing is sent anywhere. The math runs entirely in your browser, so whatever you type stays on your device.