EV Road Trip Cost Calculator Australia

Road trip cost

EV efficiency

kWh/100km

Battery size

kWh

Distance

Electricity price

$/kWh

Rate category

⚡ Public AC

Road trip cost $36.00 80.0 kWh used

Charging stops 1 stop ~438 km per charge

Rate comparison

Typical EV road trip cost in Australia

Road trips typically use public DC fast chargers, which cost more per kWh than home charging. The table below shows estimated costs across common charging price tiers for a range of distances.

How this calculator works

This calculator estimates the total electricity cost of a road trip and how many charging stops you are likely to need. It uses your vehicle's efficiency and battery size to estimate usable range per charge, then calculates the number of stops based on the trip distance.

Formulas

Total energy = Distance (km) ÷ 100 × EV efficiency (kWh per 100 km)

Road trip cost = Total energy × Electricity price ($ per kWh)

Usable range per charge = Battery size × 0.7 ÷ EV efficiency × 100

Charging stops = Distance ÷ Usable range, rounded up, minus 1

Worked example

Distance: 500 km
EV efficiency: 16 kWh per 100 km
Battery size: 100 kWh
Electricity price: $0.65 per kWh (DC fast)

Total energy: 500 ÷ 100 × 16 = 80.0 kWh

Road trip cost: 80.0 × $0.65 = $52.00

Usable range: 100 × 0.7 ÷ 16 × 100 = ~438 km per charge

Charging stops: 500 ÷ 438 = 1.14, rounded up = 2 legs, minus 1 = 1 stop

Charging stops assume a usable charge window of 10% to 80% (70% of battery capacity) per stop, which is the most practical range for DC fast charging. Actual range per charge depends on driving conditions, speed, temperature and vehicle.

Price preset guide

This calculator defaults to DC fast charging at $0.65 per kWh, the most common charger type for long distance travel. Use the rate cards below to compare costs at other price tiers. Home rates are included so you can see the cost difference between pre-charging at home and relying on public chargers.

Frequently asked questions

How should I plan a long EV road trip in Australia?

Planning around available charging infrastructure is the key difference compared with petrol travel. Before departing, check charging locations along your route. Aim to arrive at each charging stop with at least 10 to 20 percent battery remaining. DC fast chargers are the most practical for long distance travel. Use the charging stops estimate above to get a rough idea of how many stops to expect.

How much does an EV road trip cost compared to petrol?

Even using public DC fast chargers at $0.65 per kWh, an EV road trip typically costs less per kilometre than a petrol vehicle. A 500 km trip costs around $52 in an EV using 16 kWh per 100 km versus around $80 for a petrol vehicle using 8 litres per 100 km at $2.00 per litre.

Does EV efficiency change on a road trip?

Yes. Highway driving at 100 to 110 km/h uses more energy per kilometre than urban driving. Actual road trip efficiency may be 10 to 25 percent higher than the rated figure. This means fewer kilometres per charge and potentially more stops than the calculator estimates. Adjust the efficiency input upward if you want a more conservative estimate.

Why does the calculator assume 10% to 80% per charge?

DC fast charging is fastest between about 10% and 80% state of charge. Above 80%, charging speed drops significantly to protect the battery. Most road trippers charge to 80% at each stop and drive to the next charger, arriving at around 10 to 20%. The calculator uses this 70% usable window to estimate realistic stops.