The short answer
Charging an EV at home in Australia costs about $4.10 to $6.60 per 100 km on a standard flat-rate plan. That's for a Tesla Model Y on 2026–27 default electricity prices. Charge off-peak or in the midday solar window and it can fall to about $1.10 to $3.80. The same 100 km in a petrol SUV costs about $17.70.
Key takeaways
- Cost per 100 km = your car's kWh per 100 km × your price per kWh.
- Default flat rates in 2026–27 run from 26.0c/kWh (CitiPower, VIC) to 41.9c/kWh (SA).
- Time-of-use plans make the timing matter. In SE QLD, 11am to 4pm is capped at 7.0c/kWh.
- Solar Sharer and Victoria's Midday Power Saver give up to 24 kWh a day free, about 150 km of range in a Model Y.
- A smart charger matters because it charges in the cheap window for you, every night or every sunny day.
If you've just bought an EV, or you're about to, the running cost is probably the first thing you want pinned down. The good news is it's simple maths. The less good news is that the answer depends on where you live and when you plug in.
We've used the regulated default prices for 2026–27 and official energy-use figures for popular EVs. That gives you a fair, checkable baseline. Your own plan may be cheaper, so we'll show you how to run your numbers too.
Tesla Model Y AWD (15.8 kWh per 100 km) vs Mazda CX-5 AWD (7.4 L/100 km). 2026–27 default electricity prices; ACCC five-city petrol average, 7 October 2026.
How do you calculate the cost to charge an electric car at home?
Multiply your car's energy use by your electricity price. That's it.
Energy use is listed in kWh per 100 km, or Wh per km. To find your price per kWh, check the usage charge on your latest power bill. If you're on a time-of-use plan, you'll see a different rate for each time window. That's where the real savings are, and we'll get to them below.
Worked example: Tesla Model Y
The Australian Government's Green Vehicle Guide rates a Tesla Model Y AWD at 158 Wh/km, which is 15.8 kWh per 100 km. On a plan charging 33.1c/kWh, that's 15.8 × $0.331 = $5.24 per 100 km.
Quick tip
Your bill lists your usage charge in c/kWh or $/kWh. That's the number to use in the calculator below. On a time-of-use plan, use the rate for the hours you usually charge.
EV charging cost calculator
EV charging cost calculator
Work out your cost to charge at home
Estimate only. Uses usage charges, not daily supply charges, and official test energy figures. Defaults: 2026–27 default electricity prices, ABS average of 11,100 km a year, ACCC petrol average of 239.0c a litre on 7 October 2026.
How much does it cost to charge an EV in NSW, QLD, SA and Victoria?
On a standard flat-rate plan, it costs about $4.10 to $6.60 to add 100 km of range to a Model Y. Victoria and South East Queensland sit at the cheaper end. South Australia is the most expensive.
These are the government-set default prices: the Default Market Offer (DMO) in NSW, SE QLD and SA, and the Victorian Default Offer (VDO). They act as a price cap for standard plans, so many market offers come in lower. If you're in WA, Tasmania, the ACT or the NT, use the rate on your bill with the same maths.
Cost per 100 km by network area
| Network area | Flat rate per kWh | Cost per 100 km (Model Y) |
|---|---|---|
| NSW: Ausgrid | 33.1c | $5.24 |
| NSW: Endeavour Energy | 33.7c | $5.33 |
| NSW: Essential Energy | 35.0c | $5.53 |
| SE QLD: Energex | 28.0c | $4.42 |
| SA: SA Power Networks | 41.9c | $6.62 |
| VIC: all five zones | 26.0c to 32.0c | $4.10 to $5.05 |
Flat-rate usage charges from the AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 (NSW, SE QLD, SA) and the ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27. Model Y uses 15.8 kWh per 100 km on the official Green Vehicle Guide test. Daily supply charges are not included.
Cost per 100 km, Tesla Model Y AWD, 2026–27 flat-rate usage charges (AER DMO, ESC VDO). Petrol: Mazda CX-5 AWD at 239.0c a litre (ACCC, 7 October 2026).
How much does it cost to charge a Tesla or BYD at home?
Your car makes a difference too. A more efficient EV costs less per kilometre on the same plan.
| Car | Energy per 100 km | Flat rate (Ausgrid 33.1c) | Off-peak (Ausgrid 24.0c) | Midday (Energex 7.0c) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 RWD Long Range | 12.5 kWh | $4.14 | $3.00 | $0.87 |
| BYD Seal Dynamic | 13.8 kWh | $4.57 | $3.32 | $0.96 |
| Tesla Model Y AWD | 15.8 kWh | $5.24 | $3.80 | $1.10 |
| BYD Sealion 7 Performance | 17.9 kWh | $5.93 | $4.30 | $1.25 |
Energy use from the Green Vehicle Guide (Wh/km on the official test). Rates are 2026–27 Default Market Offer caps. Your car's real-world use will vary with speed, weather and driving style.
Not sure if your car is a good match for home charging? See our guides for charging a Tesla at home and charging a BYD at home.
How much does a full charge cost?
Driving a Model Y its full rated range of 551 km uses about 87 kWh on the official test. That's about $28.85 at the Ausgrid flat rate, or about $36.49 at the SA flat rate. In practice, most drivers top up a little each night rather than charging from empty.
How much cheaper is off-peak EV charging?
Off-peak and midday charging can cut the cost by roughly a quarter to three quarters, depending on your network. On a time-of-use plan, the same 100 km in a Model Y costs between $1.10 and $3.81 in the cheapest regular window.
| Network area | Cheapest regular window | Rate per kWh | Cost per 100 km (Model Y) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW: Ausgrid | All times outside 3pm to 9pm (in Nov to Mar and Jun to Aug) | 24.0c | $3.80 |
| NSW: Endeavour Energy | Solar soak, 10am to 2pm | 12.3c | $1.95 |
| NSW: Essential Energy | Off-peak, 10am to 3pm and 10pm to 7am | 24.1c | $3.81 |
| SE QLD: Energex | 11am to 4pm | 7.0c | $1.10 |
| SA: SA Power Networks | Solar soak, 10am to 4pm | 17.0c | $2.69 |
| VIC: all five zones | Solar soak, 11am to 4pm | 16.6c to 17.7c | $2.62 to $2.79 |
| VIC: all five zones | Off-peak, 9pm to 11am | 21.2c to 22.6c | $3.34 to $3.57 |
Time-of-use caps from the AER Default Market Offer 2026–27 and the ESC Victorian Default Offer 2026–27. Peak rates are much higher: up to 60.2c/kWh in the Ausgrid area.
When is electricity cheapest during the day?
2026–27 default time-of-use windows (AER DMO, ESC VDO) and Solar Sharer free windows. *Ausgrid peak applies November to March and June to August; other months are off-peak all day. Endeavour Energy not shown.
What does peak-time charging cost?
The flip side is peak. In the Ausgrid area, the peak cap is 60.2c/kWh, from 3pm to 9pm between November and March, and June and August. Plug in at 6pm and charge straight away, and you'd pay $9.51 for that same 100 km. Timing matters more than most people expect.
For more ways to pay less, read how to charge your EV for free at home.
