EV Savings Calculator
Compare EV vs petrol running costs in South Africa. Calculate monthly savings, 5-year TCO, break-even point, and solar charging benefits.
Quick Calculator Get a fast estimate
km
R/L
L/100km
R/kWh
kWh/100km
Most EVs use 15–20 kWh/100km
Monthly Fuel Saving
R 2 064
Petrol Monthly Cost
R 2 820
EV Electricity Cost
R 756
Annual Fuel Saving
R 24 768
Est. Maintenance Saving
R 400/month
Total Monthly Saving
R 2 464
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EV vs Petrol Costs in South Africa
At current rates (petrol ~R23.50/L, electricity ~R2.80/kWh), an EV costs approximately 75% less per kilometre for fuel. Add in lower maintenance costs (no engine oil, fewer brake replacements, no fuel filter) and the monthly savings can be significant.
Enter your monthly kilometres, petrol price, and EV details to see your personalised savings.
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Extended Calculator More options, charts, and scenario comparison
km
R/L
L/100km
R/kWh
kWh/100km
Monthly Saving (EV vs Petrol)
R 2 464
Petrol fuel cost
R 2 820
EV electricity cost
R 756
Fuel saving
R 2 064
Maintenance saving
R 400
EV vs Petrol Cost Comparison (South Africa 2025)
| Cost Category | Petrol Car | Electric Vehicle |
|---|---|---|
| Fuel/electricity per km | R 1.88 (8L/100km @ R23.50) | R 0.50 (18kWh @ R2.80) |
| Monthly (1,500 km) | R 2,820 | R 756 |
| Annual maintenance | R 8,000–R 15,000 | R 3,000–R 6,000 |
| Depreciation (year 1) | ~15–20% | ~20–25% |
| Insurance | Similar | Often 5–15% higher |
Need full precision?
Professional Calculator Complete parameters, sensitivity analysis, and detailed breakdown
Detailed TCO Settings
km
R/L
L/100km
R/kWh
kWh/100km
R
R
yrs
%
%
5-Year Net Benefit
R 8 889
EV premium
R 250 000
Total savings
R 258 889
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Year | Petrol Fuel | EV Electricity | Annual Saving | Cumulative |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | R 50 760 | R 12 096 | R 43 464 | R -206 536 |
| Year 2 | R 54 821 | R 12 338 | R 47 283 | R -159 253 |
| Year 3 | R 59 206 | R 12 580 | R 51 427 | R -107 826 |
| Year 4 | R 63 943 | R 12 822 | R 55 921 | R -51 905 |
| Year 5 | R 69 058 | R 13 064 | R 60 795 | R 8 889 |
Frequently Asked Questions
At R2.80/kWh and 18 kWh/100km, an EV costs R0.50/km. At R23.50/L and 8 L/100km, petrol costs R1.88/km. The EV fuel cost is ~75% cheaper per kilometre.
If an EV costs R250,000 more and you save R2,400/month, break-even is approximately 8–9 years. With petrol price inflation and solar charging, the break-even can be significantly shorter.
Yes. Charging 60% from solar at near-zero marginal cost reduces EV running costs by over 50%, making EVs exceptionally economical to run in South Africa where solar resources are excellent.