This New Zealand calculator compares the real running costs of an electric vehicle against a petrol car, helping drivers see beyond the purchase price to the cost of actually owning and running each. You enter your annual distance and the relevant electricity and fuel prices, and the tool compares the cost of charging against the cost of fuel, while accounting for road user charges that now apply to EVs, servicing differences, and other running costs. The breakdown shows the annual energy or fuel cost, other running costs, and the total for each vehicle, helping New Zealanders make an informed comparison based on their own driving rather than headline claims, with current prices used as inputs so the result stays accurate over time.
Electric vehicle
Petrol car
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.
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.
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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