EV Trip Cost Calculator Australia

EV trip cost

EV efficiency

kWh/100km

Distance

Electricity price

$/kWh

Rate category

⚡ EV off peak

Trip cost $1.28

Cost per 100 km $1.28 16.0 kWh used

Rate comparison

Typical EV trip charging cost in Australia

Trip cost depends on distance, vehicle efficiency and your electricity price. Most short to medium trips can be covered by home charging, which is the cheapest option per kilometre.

How this calculator works

This calculator estimates the electricity cost of a single trip in an electric vehicle. It uses the trip distance, vehicle efficiency and electricity price to calculate the energy cost for that journey. It shows costs at every common price tier so you can compare charging options at a glance.

Formula

Energy used = Distance (km) ÷ 100 × EV efficiency (kWh per 100 km)

Trip cost = Energy used × Electricity price ($ per kWh)

Worked example

Distance: 100 km
EV efficiency: 16 kWh per 100 km
Electricity price: $0.30 per kWh (Home standard rate)

100 ÷ 100 × 16 = 16 kWh used

16 × $0.30 = $4.80 trip cost

That works out to $4.80 per 100 km, or $0.05 per km.

Price preset guide

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost to drive an EV 100 km?

At a standard home electricity rate of $0.30 per kWh and a typical EV efficiency of 16 kWh per 100 km, the electricity cost works out to around $4.80 per 100 km. Charging at an off peak rate reduces this further. Using public DC fast chargers increases the cost but is still often cheaper than petrol.

Is EV charging cheaper than petrol?

EVs often cost less per kilometre to run than petrol vehicles because electric motors use energy more efficiently. The exact savings depend on electricity prices, charging location and the vehicle's efficiency. Even when using public fast chargers, the cost per kilometre can still be lower than petrol for many vehicles, especially when fuel prices are high.

Does electricity price affect EV running cost significantly?

Yes. Electricity price is one of the two main factors that determines EV running cost, along with vehicle efficiency. Charging at an EV off peak rate of $0.08 per kWh instead of a standard rate of $0.30 per kWh can reduce fuel cost by around 70 percent. This is why charging behaviour has a large impact on the true running cost of an EV.