THE SOUTH AFRICAN EV VS PETROL COST CALCULATOR — 2026 EDITION

See what an electric car would really cost you to run — with your own numbers.

Before you spend R500,000 or more on an EV, spend R150 finding out whether it actually saves you money.

Every EV ad promises big savings. But your saving depends on your kilometres, your electricity tariff, where you charge and the cars you're actually comparing. This calculator works it out for you — in minutes, using South African tariffs and fuel prices.

Type in your numbers and instantly see your monthly fuel saving, your payback period and the full 5-year cost of each car, side by side.

What's inside

• Your headline result — how much you could save (or spend) every month by going electric
• Cost per 100 km — EV vs petrol or diesel, based on your tariff and fuel price
• Charging mix — see the difference between home, solar, public AC and fast charging
• Payback period — how long the savings take to cover the extra upfront cost
• 5-year cost of ownership — purchase, home charger, energy, servicing, insurance and resale value
• Year-by-year comparison with charts, including rising electricity and fuel prices
• South African reference figures — current Cape Town tariffs, public charging rates and fuel prices, with sources

Who this is for

You, if you're:

• Deciding between an EV and a petrol or diesel car
• Wondering whether an EV makes financial sense for your driving
• Comparing the cost of charging at home, on solar or at public chargers
• Making the case for an EV to your partner, your boss or your finance department
• Simply trying to avoid an expensive mistake

Created by Drive Electric

We run electric vehicles every day — chauffeur services, tours, corporate mobility, rentals. We track what they really cost to charge and run. This calculator is built on that experience, not a manufacturer's marketing claims.

Bonus: R100 Drive Electric voucher

Every purchase includes a R100 voucher toward your next Drive Electric chauffeur, tour or rental booking — valid for 12 months, revealed inside the calculator.

What you receive

An Excel spreadsheet, instant download. Works in Microsoft Excel, Google Sheets and Apple Numbers. Best used on a laptop or tablet — on a phone, open it in the free Excel or Google Sheets app.