EV Charging Cost Calculator
Find out how much it costs to run an EV charged at home in New Zealand compared to filling up with petrol. The maths includes Road User Charges, which light EVs have paid since April 2024, so the comparison with petrol is a fair one.
1
Choose your EV
15 popular NZ models with real charging specs
2
Set your driving habits
Daily km, electricity plan, and solar setup
3
See your savings
Annual savings (RUC included), charger payback, and CO2 reduction
How we calculate
- EV cost per km = (efficiency kWh/km x power price) + $0.076/km Road User Charges (NZTA: $76 per 1,000km for light EVs)
- Electricity: ~35c/kWh NZ residential average, 33-38c/kWh regional band
- Petrol: $2.60/L, 8.3L/100km. The petrol price is an editorial estimate (June 2026); pump prices vary, so check current local prices
- Diesel: pump price plus light-vehicle RUC (diesel cars also pay RUC in NZ)
- EV efficiency: vehicle-specific kWh/100km from manufacturer data
- Solar: reduces the electricity component only; RUC applies per km however you charge
- Charger payback: based on $3,000 typical installed cost (NZ installs usually run $2,500-$4,000)
EV Charging Cost Calculator
Compare EV charging costs vs petrol for your driving habits
10km80km150km