⚡ EV vs Petrol — What Does It Really Cost?

A New Zealand cost comparison for everyday drivers

🚦 Updated with current NZ fuel prices · March 2026
⚠️ Fuel Market Alert — March 2026 Strait of Hormuz tensions are disrupting global oil markets. NZ petrol prices are surging — economists warn prices could reach $4/L if the crisis continues. EVs are immune to these supply shocks.

Choose the driving profile that best fits you:

🏙️
City Commuter
Short daily trips, mostly urban driving
~150 km/week
🚗
Typical Driver
Mix of urban and regional driving
~300 km/week
🛣️
High Mileage
Long commutes or frequent regional travel
~550 km/week
🛢️ Petrol Car
$0
per year in fuel
—
⚡ Electric Vehicle
$0
per year in electricity
—
You could save each year by switching to EV
$0
Based on current NZ petrol prices
$0
3 years
$0
5 years
$0
10 years
⚡
$1.60
EV equiv. cost per litre
📉
—
cheaper per 100km vs petrol
🌿
~80%
of NZ electricity is renewable

Based on: petrol $2.90/L (current spiking price) · EV 18kWh/100km · electricity $0.37/kWh · petrol car 11.1L/100km (NZ average). For detailed inputs use Advanced mode.

🚗 Driving & Petrol

Weekly kilometres 300 km/wk
Petrol price/litre SPIKING $2.90 /L
Petrol car efficiency 11.1 L/100km

⚡ EV Settings

Home electricity rate $0.37 /kWh
EV efficiency 18 kWh/100km
% charged at home 85 %
🛢️ Petrol Car
$0
per year in fuel
—
⚡ Electric Vehicle
$0
per year in electricity
—
Annual savings by switching to EV
$0
That's money staying in your pocket, not at the pump
$0
3 years
$0
5 years
$0
10 years

📊 Cost per 100km comparison

Petrol car
$—
EV (home)
$—
EV (public DC)
$—

📋 Annual cost breakdown

CategoryPetrol carEVEV saves
Fuel / electricity———
Servicing (est.)~$900~$350~$550
Road User Chargesincl. in fuel tax——
Total running cost———

Defaults: NZ avg petrol car 11.1L/100km · EV 18kWh/100km · electricity $0.37/kWh (NZ avg Nov 2025: 39.3c/kWh) · Public DC fast charging ~$0.82/kWh · EV RUC $76/1,000km · Servicing estimates only. Actual costs vary by vehicle, region, and driving patterns.