EV vs Petrol Running Cost Calculator NZ

This calculator works out whether an electric vehicle or a petrol car is cheaper to run for your own driving in New Zealand, rather than relying on general claims about EV savings. You enter your annual distance, then figures for each vehicle: for the EV, its efficiency in kWh per 100km, your electricity price, the road user charges you pay per 1000km, and annual servicing; for the petrol car, its fuel use in litres per 100km, the petrol price, and annual servicing. Road user charges are included because EVs now pay these directly, while petrol cars cover the equivalent through fuel excise tax, so leaving RUC out would skew the comparison. As you type, the calculator shows the annual running cost for each vehicle, the saving between them, and a plain verdict on which is cheaper to run at your numbers. A worked example shows a typical 12,000km-a-year driver comparing a 17kWh per 100km EV against an 8L per 100km petrol car. Use it with your actual driving distance and current local power and petrol prices, updating the figures whenever prices move, since the outcome is sensitive to both. This tool covers running costs only; it does not include purchase price, depreciation, finance costs or battery replacement, all of which matter for a full ownership comparison. Treat the results as an indicative running-cost estimate rather than financial advice.

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Electric vehicle

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$
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Petrol car

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The EV is cheaper to run
annual running cost comparison
Electric vehicle$1,883
Petrol car$3,488
Saving$1,605

Road user charges apply to electric vehicles and are included here; petrol cars pay tax through fuel instead. This compares running cost only, not purchase price, depreciation or battery replacement. Prices change, so use current figures. Estimate only, not financial advice.

How it works

For the EV, the calculator works out the electricity used over the year from your efficiency and distance, multiplies by your power price, then adds road user charges and servicing. For the petrol car, it works out the litres used, multiplies by the petrol price, and adds servicing. Comparing the totals shows which is cheaper to run for your specific driving, prices and efficiency.

Worked example

Driving 12,000 km a year, an EV using 17 kWh per 100 km at 28 cents costs about $571 to charge, plus around $912 of road user charges and $400 servicing, roughly $1,883. A petrol car at 8 litres per 100 km at $2.80 costs about $2,688 in fuel plus $800 servicing, roughly $3,488. The EV is cheaper to run here.

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Data sources: the rates and thresholds on this page are maintained against NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi. Figures are checked twice monthly.

Frequently asked questions

Is an EV cheaper to run than petrol in New Zealand?

Charging an EV is usually much cheaper per kilometre than petrol, but EVs now pay road user charges, and the gap depends on your power price, petrol price and how far you drive. This calculator compares them for your own driving.

Do EVs pay road user charges in New Zealand?

Yes, electric vehicles now pay road user charges based on distance, which petrol cars cover through fuel tax instead. The calculator includes RUC so the comparison is fair.

What costs differ between EVs and petrol cars?

Energy or fuel is the main one, but servicing is often lower for EVs with fewer moving parts. Purchase price, depreciation and battery considerations also differ and are worth weighing alongside running cost.