Petrol vs hybrid vs EV running costs (2026)

Compare petrol, hybrid and EV running costs in Australia.

By the FuelRadar teamUpdated 15 August 20262 min read

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 factors: 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.

Cost per km tool Check fuel prices

Common questions

Is an EV always cheaper to run than petrol?

Usually when you can charge at home or at low-cost chargers. The gap narrows when you rely mostly on public fast charging.

Do hybrids still need fuel price timing?

Yes. A hybrid uses fewer litres, but every litre still costs the current pump price. Compare stations and cycle timing before a large fill.

What is the fairest way to compare cars?

Use cost per 100km with your actual fuel economy, pump price or charging tariff, then add ownership costs such as servicing, insurance, tyres and purchase price.