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EV Charging Cost Calculator

Work out what charging an EV actually costs you. Enter your efficiency and your own power rates to see the cost per 100km and per year, charging at home, on a night rate, or at a public fast charger, against what the same distance costs in petrol.
Updated 3 June 2026
Our View: Home charging and a power plan offering a cheap overnight rate are the proven ways to achieve the lowest EV running costs. We see public fast charging as an occasional convenience for road trips, but it's not cost-effective for ongoing charging. A leading EV plan night rate does more to lower your running costs than which EV you buy. And if you cannot charge at home at all, it's arguable that the running-cost case for an EV is much weaker.
EV Charging Cost Calculator
Cost to drive 100km, and a year
Charging on a night ratethe cheapest way to run an EV
Home charging, day rate
Public fast charging
Petrol carsame distance
Know This
One thing this leaves out This is charging cost only. A full EV also pays road user charges of $76 per 1,000km, the same as a diesel, which you pay whether you charge at home or in public. For the full running-cost picture, including RUC and finance, use our EV Transition Calculator.
Compare EV power plans Should I switch to an EV?

Default rates are starting points, not your prices. Public charging fees (idle and service charges) are not included and can add to a small or interrupted charge.

Know This:
  • The cost is your charging rate (cents per kWh) multiplied by the energy your EV uses per 100km. Public charging fees, such as idle and service charges, are not included and can add a lot to a small or interrupted charge.
  • The default rates are starting points, not your prices. Check a recent bill, or compare power companies and EV power plans for your real numbers.
  • This does not include road user charges, which a full EV pays separately at $76 per 1,000km. For the full cost of switching, use our EV Transition Calculator.
  • The public fast (DC) rate is what a roadside charger charges; it is usually three to six times your home night rate, which is why the calculator splits them out.
  • Our EV charging guide lists every public charging network, power-company charging deals, and where to find a charger.
  • This is a guide only, not financial advice. Prices change constantly, so confirm current rates before you commit.

Why the gap is so large?
  • Charging at home, especially overnight, is the cheapest electricity you can buy. Public fast charging carries the cost of the hardware and the site, so it is far more expensive per kWh delivered. That is the whole point - an EV is cheap to run if you charge at home and expensive if you live off public chargers.
  • The full picture is more than charging: A full EV also pays road user charges of $76 per 1,000km, plus any car finance and insurance, which this tool does not include. For the complete running-cost comparison against your current car, use our EV Transition Calculator.
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