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§ 04 — Vehicle · NSW

EV vs petrol in New South Wales — 2026 numbers.

New South Wales home electricity averages 28.5¢/kWh. Petrol is $1.89/L. On a typical 15,000 km/year, that means an EV saves you roughly $1,421/year at home charging. Plug in your numbers below to see your personal result.

Updated · May 2026·Source: AER · FuelCheck · RACQ·Read · 5 min

Your inputs

km / year

Petrol car

e.g. Corolla, Camry

Electric vehicle

e.g. BYD, Tesla, MG

Home rate; fast charging averages ~55¢/kWh.

5 years

Inputs local. Nothing sent anywhere.

The result

EV saves you · over 5 years

$7,104

in fuel/energy costs alone · 67% cheaper to "fill"

Petrol car

$10,631

Electric vehicle

$3,527

Cost per 100km
Petrol
$14.17
Cost per 100km
EV (home)
$4.70
Annual saving
$1,421
CO₂ saved · year
0.6 t

Calculation excludes purchase price difference, depreciation, insurance, servicing, and tyres. EVs typically have lower servicing (~$300/year less) but higher insurance and tyres. Add purchase price and depreciation for total cost of ownership.

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When the EV maths works in New South Wales

In New South Wales, a typical petrol car (7.5 L/100km) costs $14.17/100kmat the current bowser price. The equivalent EV (16.5 kWh/100km) charged at home costs $4.70/100km — a saving of $9.47 per 100km.

At 15,000 km/year that compounds to roughly $1,421/year in fuel savings. Over a typical 5-year ownership period: around $7,105 — enough to meaningfully offset a higher EV purchase price.

The wildcard is public fast charging: at 50–60¢/kWh the EV running cost rises to $9.08/100km — still cheaper than petrol, but the gap narrows. Apartment dwellers or frequent long-distance drivers should weigh the charging mix carefully.

§ Letters & replies

EVs in New South Wales, answered.

Common questions about electric vehicles in New South Wales.

What is the cheapest EV charging rate in NSW?+ open

NSW home electricity averages around 28.5¢/kWh, making home charging the cheapest option at roughly $1/year for a typical 15,000 km driver. Off-peak rates (10–11pm to 7am with some plans) can drop to 15–20¢/kWh, cutting that bill further.

Does NSW have an EV rebate or stamp duty exemption?+ open

NSW has ended its $3,000 EV rebate (it closed when uptake targets were hit). However, EVs under $68,750 (drive-away) are exempt from stamp duty in NSW — saving up to $2,800 on purchase. Check the NSW Revenue Office for current eligibility thresholds.

How does NSW electricity rate compare to other states for EV charging?+ open

At 28.5¢/kWh, NSW sits in the mid-range. SA is the most expensive at 34.8¢/kWh; QLD and TAS are cheaper. The ACT has the lowest rate at 21.1¢/kWh, reflecting its high renewable energy procurement.

Next: the rest of the running-cost picture

§ 05 — Vehicle

Fuel cost · NSW

Petrol spend per trip, week and year at New South Wales's current bowser price.

§ 06 — Home

Solar panel ROI

Charge your EV from your own solar — near-zero marginal cost.

§ 04 — Vehicle

All-state EV comparison

See how New South Wales's rates compare to every other state.