How much money can I save by switching to an EV?

It depends on how much you drive, your electricity price and your current fuel costs. Because an EV uses cheaper energy and needs far less maintenance, most drivers save a significant amount per year — enter your numbers above to see your estimate.

How much CO₂ does an EV save compared to petrol?

Petrol emits about 2.31 kg of CO₂ per litre burned. An EV's emissions depend on how clean your electricity is, but because the drivetrain is far more efficient, EVs cut lifetime CO₂ versus petrol on almost any grid — and the saving grows as the grid gets greener.

Free tool

EV Savings & CO₂ Calculator

Thinking of going electric? Enter how much you drive and what you pay for fuel and electricity to see how much money and CO₂you'd save each year — and per kilometre — compared with a petrol car.

Your numbers

Currency

Distance you drive per yearkmElectricity price$/kWhWhat you pay per kWh to chargeEV energy usekWh/100kmTypical 14–20 kWh per 100 kmFuel price$/LPetrol car fuel useL/100kmTypical 6–9 L per 100 km

You'd save about

$1,215

per year · $6,075 over 5 years

CO₂ you'd cut

1.35 t

per year · like planting ~64 trees

Saving per km

90 g

CO₂ cut per km

2,400 kWh

EV energy / year

1,050 L

Petrol used / year

Annual running cost

Electric

Petrol

Fuel / energy

$360

$1,575

CO₂ / year

1.08 t

2.43 t

Estimates only. Money saving = your petrol fuel cost minus your EV charging cost. CO₂ uses ~2.31 kg per litre of petrol and your grid's carbon intensity per kWh (default ~450 g). Real figures vary with your car, driving and electricity source — adjust the inputs to match yours.

Why EVs cost less to run

An electric motor turns roughly 85–90% of its energy into motion, while a petrol engine converts only around 20–30% and loses the rest as heat. That efficiency, plus cheaper electricity (especially charging at home overnight) and far lower maintenance — no oil changes, fewer moving parts, and brakes that last longer thanks to regenerative braking — is why the running-cost gap in the calculator is usually so large.

How the CO₂ saving is worked out

Burning a litre of petrol releases about 2.31 kg of CO₂. An EV's emissions come from the electricity it uses, so they depend on your grid's carbon intensity (set it under "Advanced"). Because EVs are so much more efficient, they cut CO₂ versus petrol on almost any grid — and the same EV keeps getting cleaner every year as more renewables come online, while a petrol car never does.

Benefits of owning an EV →Cost to charge an EV →All guides & articles →