Home charging is where most Australian EV owners do 80–90% of their charging — and it's by far the cheapest way to fuel an electric car. But the actual cost varies significantly depending on your state, your electricity tariff, and whether you have solar panels. Here's a detailed breakdown of what it really costs to charge an EV at home in Australia in 2026.
Electricity Rates by State (2026)
Your charging cost depends on what you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh). Here are typical residential rates across Australian states:
| State | Average Rate (c/kWh) | Off-Peak Rate (c/kWh) | Cost per 100km |
|---|---|---|---|
| QLD | 30c | 16–20c | $4.80 |
| NSW | 32c | 17–22c | $5.12 |
| VIC | 33c | 18–22c | $5.28 |
| SA | 35c | 19–24c | $5.60 |
| WA | 31c | 15–18c | $4.96 |
| TAS | 28c | 16–19c | $4.48 |
| ACT | 29c | 16–20c | $4.64 |
These costs assume a typical EV consumption of 16kWh per 100km, which is representative of popular models like the Tesla Model 3, BYD Dolphin, and MG4.
Cost to Charge Popular EVs
Here's what a full charge costs for Australia's best-selling EVs, using an average grid rate of 32c/kWh:
| Model | Battery Size | Range (real-world) | Full Charge Cost (Grid) | Full Charge Cost (Solar) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Dolphin Dynamic | 44.9kWh | 280km | $14.37 | $3.59 |
| BYD Dolphin Premium | 60.4kWh | 360km | $19.33 | $4.83 |
| MG4 Excite 51 | 51kWh | 290km | $16.32 | $4.08 |
| MG4 Excite 64 | 64kWh | 380km | $20.48 | $5.12 |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | 60kWh | 430km | $19.20 | $4.80 |
| BYD Atto 3 Extended | 60.5kWh | 350km | $19.36 | $4.84 |
| Tesla Model Y RWD | 60kWh | 400km | $19.20 | $4.80 |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 72.6kWh | 400km | $23.23 | $5.81 |
Monthly Cost: EV vs Petrol
The average Australian drives 12,600km per year, or about 1,050km per month. Here's how monthly fuel costs compare:
| Fuel Method | Monthly Cost | Annual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol (9L/100km @ $1.90/L) | $180 | $2,155 |
| EV — peak grid (32c/kWh) | $54 | $645 |
| EV — off-peak grid (19c/kWh) | $32 | $383 |
| EV — solar (~8c/kWh effective) | $13 | $161 |
Even at peak grid rates, an EV costs less than one-third of what you'd spend on petrol. With off-peak or solar charging, the savings are even more dramatic.
Solar vs Grid Charging: The Real Difference
If you have rooftop solar panels, charging your EV from solar is essentially charging at the cost of your foregone feed-in tariff — typically 5–10c/kWh rather than the 30–35c/kWh you'd pay from the grid. That's because every kWh you use from solar is a kWh you're not exporting for 5–10c.
The effective cost of solar charging depends on your feed-in tariff:
| Feed-in Tariff | Effective Solar Charging Cost | Cost per 100km |
|---|---|---|
| 5c/kWh | 5c/kWh | $0.80 |
| 8c/kWh | 8c/kWh | $1.28 |
| 10c/kWh | 10c/kWh | $1.60 |
| 12c/kWh | 12c/kWh | $1.92 |
How to Minimise Your Charging Costs
- Switch to a time-of-use tariff — if you can charge overnight, off-peak rates of 15–22c/kWh roughly halve your charging cost
- Charge from solar — if you work from home or can schedule daytime charging, solar is the cheapest option at 1–2c/km
- Use scheduled charging — most EVs and smart chargers let you set charging to start automatically during off-peak hours
- Don't charge to 100% daily — charging to 80% is faster, better for battery health, and covers most daily driving needs
- Shop around for electricity plans — some retailers offer EV-specific plans with lower off-peak rates
Whether you charge from the grid, off-peak, or solar, home EV charging is dramatically cheaper than petrol. For the average Australian driver, switching from petrol to home EV charging saves $1,500–$2,000 per year — and if you have solar, that saving jumps to $2,000+. Our comparison of single-phase and three-phase EV chargers covers whether faster home charging is worth the switchboard upgrade. It's the single biggest financial reason to go electric.