Petrol vs Hybrid vs EV Calculator
Compare petrol, hybrid and electric car running costs per km, per month and over 5 years at today’s SA fuel and electricity prices. Free, no sign-up.
Is an electric car or hybrid actually cheaper to run than petrol in South Africa? At October 2026 prices, usually yes. A typical compact SUV costs about R2.66 per km to run on petrol, R1.89 as a hybrid and R1.06 as an EV charged mostly at home. That’s fuel or electricity plus servicing. Your answer depends on how far you drive, where you charge and what you’d pay for the car. Use the calculator below to run your own numbers.
Why this question matters now
Inland 95 petrol hit R30.25 a litre on 7 October 2026, up R8.62 from a year ago. A 40-litre tank now costs about R345 more to fill than it did last October. Electricity hasn’t stood still either (Eskom’s direct tariffs rose 8.76% in April), but per kilometre it’s still far cheaper than petrol.
The catch is that hybrids and EVs cost more to buy. A lower running cost only helps if it pays back that premium while you own the car. That’s what this calculator is built to show.
Run your numbers
Your driving
Sets typical consumption below.
Energy prices
Check your municipal or Eskom bill (incl. VAT). Solar? Lower this.
Typical DC charger rate.
Advanced: future price increases
Total running cost
Cumulative cost over time
How we calculate this
- Energy cost = monthly km × consumption ÷ 100 × price. For the EV, the price is a blend of home and public charging based on your slider.
- EV energy use defaults include about 10% charging losses (energy drawn from the wall, not just what reaches the battery).
- Price increases compound once a year. Petrol in South Africa changes monthly, so treat long-range totals as a guide, not a forecast.
- Payback compares purchase price plus running costs month by month against the petrol car. It excludes finance interest, insurance, licence fees and resale value, which can shift the answer either way.
- Defaults are typical real-world figures, not any specific model. Use your car's actual consumption for the most accurate result.
Weighing up a vehicle purchase? How you finance it, and whether it runs through your business, can matter more than the fuel bill. Talk to Equity Group before you sign.
Speak to an adviserHow to read your results
- Cost per km is the cleanest comparison. It includes energy plus servicing and maintenance at today’s prices.
- Over X years adds yearly price increases (petrol 6%, electricity 9%, maintenance 5% by default). Open “Advanced” to change them.
- Payback appears once you enter all three purchase prices. It tells you how long the hybrid’s or EV’s higher price takes to earn back through lower running costs. If payback is longer than you’ll keep the car, the cheaper car is probably the better deal.
- The home-charging slider matters more than most people expect. An EV charged at home (about R4/kWh) costs roughly half as much per km as one that relies on public fast chargers (about R7.35/kWh).
What the calculator doesn’t include
To keep the comparison fair and simple, it leaves out finance interest, insurance, licence fees, tyres beyond normal servicing and resale value. Some of these can swing the result. Insurance on EVs is often higher, and resale values for newer technology are still uncertain in South Africa. Treat the result as a strong guide, not a final answer.
Intrigued?
- Keep your car payment inside your “Needs” bucket with the 50/30/20 Calculator.
- Thinking of a balloon payment to make the EV affordable? Read our balloon payment article first.
- See where a car purchase fits in your bigger picture with the Financial Health Tool.
- "Worried about the battery? Read our guide to battery warranties and the real costs of owning a hybrid or EV."
Weighing up a vehicle purchase?
The fuel bill is only part of the story. How you finance the car, whether it runs through your business and how you claim travel against SARS can matter more than the badge on the bonnet. Chat to Len before you sign.
Frequently asked questions
Is an EV cheaper to run than a petrol car in South Africa?
Yes, in most cases. At October 2026 prices, a compact EV charged mostly at home costs about R1.06 per km including servicing, compared with about R2.66 for an equivalent petrol car.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in South Africa?
Most Gauteng households pay roughly R3.50 to R4.20 per kWh including VAT. A compact EV using 18 kWh per 100 km costs about R72 to charge for every 100 km.
Is a hybrid worth it over petrol?
A hybrid typically uses 30–40% less fuel than a similar petrol car. Whether it’s worth it depends on the price premium and your mileage. Enter both purchase prices in the calculator to see your payback period.
How much does public EV charging cost in South Africa?
DC fast chargers typically cost around R7.00 to R7.35 per kWh, with some networks charging more. That’s roughly 75% more than charging at home.
Does the calculator include insurance and finance costs?
No. It compares energy and maintenance costs, and purchase price when entered. Finance interest, insurance and resale value aren’t included, and they can change the answer.
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