EV vs petrol — Total Cost of Ownership
Compare the 5-year cost of an electric car against an equivalent petrol car using your own driving and tariff numbers. All calculation runs in your browser — nothing is sent to a server.
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Tick this if you can salary-package an FBT-exempt EV. Adds an estimate of the FBT-exemption tax saving as a separate line — does not change running costs.
Estimated saving over 5 years
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Breakeven
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when EV total drops below petrol
+ — additional FBT-exemption saving over the same period via novated lease.
Electric
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Petrol
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Cost breakdown over 5 years
Total cost is purchase price plus running costs minus the residual value at the end of the period.
Cumulative cost over time
The crossover point is when the EV's running-cost savings have paid back the higher purchase price.
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Assumptions & sources
EV running costs. Energy use derived from each model's WLTP range and battery, multiplied by a real-world factor of 1.1×. Public DC fast charging defaults to $0.55/kWh (Chargefox / Evie peak average).
Fixed costs (per year). Registration $900, insurance $1,400 EV / $1,300 petrol, servicing $200 EV / $750 petrol. Tyres pro-rated from a 5-year baseline of $1,200 EV / $800 petrol.
Depreciation. Both vehicles retain a residual value at the end of the period — 50% of MSRP for the EV / 45% for the petrol at 5 years (RedBook 2026). Shorter or longer horizons scale geometrically.
FBT bonus (when ticked). Estimated as ~20% of vehicle value × marginal tax rate (37% default), capped at $18,000/year. Eligibility requires the EV is FBT-exempt (battery-electric, below the LCT fuel-efficient threshold of $91,387) and you can salary-package via your employer. See full incentive details on the Deals page.
Sources. RACV running-cost guide · AEMC residential electricity rates · AIP fuel-price benchmarks · FCAI Green Vehicle Guide (petrol fuel consumption) · RedBook (depreciation). All sources →
This is an estimator, not financial advice. Your actual costs will differ — verify with your insurer, dealer and accountant before purchase.