Running Costs
Petrol vs Hybrid vs EV Running Costs (2026)
Compare petrol, hybrid and EV running costs in Australia. Use cost per 100km, local fuel prices, electricity rates and real driving patterns before choosing.
Key points
Key takeaways
Cost per 100km is the cleanest way to compare petrol, hybrid and EV running costs.
A hybrid still buys petrol, so pump-price timing and station choice still matter.
EVs are cheapest when you can charge at home or at low-cost destination chargers.
Public fast charging can narrow the EV advantage, especially on road trips.
Using this guide
Before you act on the guide
Check the station price, report time and distance before changing your route.
The comparison number that matters
Compare petrol, hybrid and EV running costs on cost per 100km. For petrol and hybrid cars, multiply litres per 100km by the price per litre. For EVs, multiply kWh per 100km by the electricity price per kWh. That puts every drivetrain on the same basis.
Example running-cost comparison
| Vehicle type | Assumption | Cost per 100km |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol car | 8.0L/100km at $1.85/L | $14.80 |
| Hybrid | 4.5L/100km at $1.85/L | $8.33 |
| EV home charging | 16kWh/100km at $0.30/kWh | $4.80 |
| EV public fast charging | 16kWh/100km at $0.70/kWh | $11.20 |
Petrol: the pump price is the lever
A petrol car has two big running-cost inputs: how much fuel it uses and what you pay per litre. You cannot change the car efficiency much day to day, but you can change the price paid. Timing the price cycle and choosing a cheaper nearby station can reduce the cost per 100km without changing cars.
Hybrid: lower litres, same petrol discipline
A hybrid lowers fuel use by doing more low-speed work electrically and recovering braking energy. That can make city driving much cheaper than a normal petrol car. But a hybrid still buys petrol, so fuel grade, price cycle timing and station choice still affect the final cost.
EV: charging location decides the saving
EV running costs depend heavily on where you charge. Home off-peak, solar and low-cost AC destination charging can be much cheaper than petrol. Public DC fast charging is convenient but dearer, and exclusive fast-charger use can shrink the EV running-cost advantage.
What to include before choosing a car
Running cost is not the whole ownership cost. Include purchase price, insurance, servicing, tyres, registration, resale value, home-charger installation if relevant, and whether your usual driving pattern suits the drivetrain. For fuel-cost decisions, use your actual kilometres, local fuel price and electricity tariff rather than a brochure average.
How FuelRadar helps the maths
Use FuelRadar to check current petrol and diesel prices near you, then plug those figures into the trip-cost, monthly-budget or cost-per-km tools. For a hybrid, use the same pump price with your expected lower fuel use. For an EV comparison, use your real electricity tariff or public-charger rate.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Usually when you can charge at home or at low-cost chargers. The gap narrows when you rely mostly on public fast charging.