How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home? (Australia 2026)
The per-model answer for Australian home EV charging in 2026. Full-charge cost and cost per 100km for the BYD Atto 3, BYD Dolphin, BYD Seal, Tesla Model 3 and MG4 — at peak, off-peak and solar rates, by state. All figures in AUD, benchmarked to retailer tariffs observed in the first half of 2026.
Peak home rate
$0.32/kWh
National avg of state peak tariffs.
Off-peak / controlled load
$0.18/kWh
Roughly half of peak; the biggest easy win.
Rooftop solar
$0.05/kWh
Export-offset value; effectively free midday charging.
Cost to fully charge popular EVs at home
From empty to 100% at the national average peak and off-peak rates. Solar column assumes charging from your own panels at the $0.05/kWh export-offset value.
| Model | Battery (kWh) | Full charge (peak) | Full charge (off-peak) | Full charge (solar) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 3 | 60.5 | $19.35 | $10.74 | $3.02 |
| BYD Dolphin | 44.9 | $14.37 | $7.97 | $2.25 |
| BYD Seal | 82.5 | $26.40 | $14.64 | $4.13 |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | 60.0 | $19.20 | $10.65 | $3.00 |
| MG4 Essence | 64.0 | $20.48 | $11.36 | $3.20 |
National average peak rate $0.32/kWh; off-peak $0.18/kWh. State rates vary — see the per-state table below.
Home electricity rates by state ($/kWh)
Peak = standard residential tariff. Off-peak = controlled-load / time-of-use overnight tariff. Solar = effective cost when charging from your own rooftop PV (export-offset value).
| State / Territory | Peak ($/kWh) | Off-peak ($/kWh) | Solar ($/kWh) |
|---|---|---|---|
| NSW | $0.33 | $0.18 | $0.05 |
| VIC | $0.30 | $0.16 | $0.05 |
| QLD | $0.31 | $0.17 | $0.05 |
| SA | $0.40 | $0.20 | $0.05 |
| WA | $0.32 | $0.18 | $0.05 |
| ACT | $0.27 | $0.15 | $0.05 |
| TAS | $0.28 | $0.16 | $0.05 |
| NT | $0.35 | $0.22 | $0.05 |
Cost per 100km & annual saving vs petrol
Per-100km home charging cost at the national average peak rate, versus a comparable petrol car (7.5 L/100km at $1.92/L). Annual saving assumes 15,000 km/year.
| Model | EV / 100km (home peak) | Petrol equiv / 100km | Saving / year (peak) | Saving / year (off-peak) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYD Atto 3 | $5.12 | $14.40 | $1,392 | $1,734 |
| BYD Dolphin | $4.48 | $14.40 | $1,488 | $1,787 |
| BYD Seal | $5.28 | $14.40 | $1,368 | $1,721 |
| Tesla Model 3 RWD | $4.64 | $14.40 | $1,464 | $1,774 |
| MG4 Essence | $5.28 | $14.40 | $1,368 | $1,721 |
Off-peak roughly doubles the annual energy saving versus peak; solar pushes it higher again. Servicing and brake-wear savings are on top of these energy figures.
Three ways to cut home charging cost
- Switch to an off-peak / controlled-load tariff. Most retailers offer a time-of-use or dedicated EV circuit at roughly half the peak rate. Scheduling the car to charge overnight alone cuts the energy line by about 45%.
- Charge from rooftop solar where possible. At the export-offset value of $0.05/kWh, solar charging is roughly a quarter of the off-peak rate. The constraint is timing — you can only use surplus PV, which in most states means 10am-3pm.
- Right-size the charger.A 7 kW single-phase wallbox covers overnight top-ups for any popular EV and avoids the slow 10A “granny” charger that stretches a full charge past 24 hours.
Methodology & sources
Battery capacities are usable figures from manufacturer specification sheets. State peak and off-peak rates are blended residential tariffs from the dominant retailers (AGL, Origin, EnergyAustralia, Red Energy, Synergy, Aurora, Power and Water) observed in the first half of 2026. Solar cost reflects the export-offset value of self-generated PV. The petrol comparator uses 7.5 L/100km at $1.92/L (AAA-affiliated pump average). Tariffs change frequently — confirm current rates with your retailer.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home in Australia?
A full home charge of a typical 60 kWh EV (BYD Atto 3 or Tesla Model 3) costs about $18-20 at the average Australian peak residential rate (around $0.32/kWh), dropping to roughly $10-11 on an off-peak controlled-load tariff (about $0.18/kWh). With rooftop solar, the effective cost falls to about $3 (around $0.05/kWh, the export-offset value). Per 100km, home charging costs about $4.50-5.50 at peak versus $2.50-3.00 off-peak.
How much does it cost to fully charge a BYD Atto 3, Tesla Model 3 or MG4 at home?
At the average Australian peak rate: BYD Atto 3 (60.48 kWh) about $19.35, Tesla Model 3 RWD (60 kWh) about $19.20, MG4 Essence (64 kWh) about $20.48. On off-peak those drop to roughly $10.89, $10.80 and $11.52 respectively. The larger BYD Seal (82.5 kWh) costs about $26.40 at peak or $14.85 on off-peak for a full charge.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home off-peak or with solar?
Solar is cheapest wherever you have it, because charging from your own panels costs only the export-offset value of roughly $0.05/kWh — about a quarter of the off-peak rate. Off-peak controlled-load tariffs (around $0.15-0.22/kWh) are the next best option and work for any household without solar. The catch with solar is timing: you can only charge for free while the panels are producing more than the house is using, which in most of Australia means the middle of the day.
How much does home EV charging save versus petrol per year?
At 15,000 km/year, a typical EV charged at the average peak home rate saves roughly $1,350-1,500 a year on energy versus a comparable petrol car (7.5 L/100km at $1.92/L). Charging off-peak roughly doubles that saving to about $2,000-2,200; charging on solar pushes it to about $2,400-2,600. Over five years the energy saving alone covers a good chunk of the price premium of going electric.
Which Australian state is cheapest for home EV charging?
The ACT is the cheapest at peak residential rates (around $0.27/kWh), followed by Tasmania (around $0.28/kWh) and Victoria (around $0.30/kWh). South Australia has the highest headline peak rate (around $0.40/kWh) but also the highest rooftop-solar penetration, so SA households charging from their own panels effectively pay the least of any state. Off-peak controlled-load rates follow the same ranking.
Do I need a special charger to charge an EV at home?
You can start with the portable "granny charger" that ships with the car from a standard 10A power point — it adds about 2 kWh/hour, or roughly 10-12 km of range per hour of charging, which is enough for most daily driving. A dedicated 7 kW wallbox (single-phase) cuts a full charge of a 60 kWh EV to about 8-9 hours and needs a dedicated circuit installed by a licensed electrician, typically $1,000-1,500 supplied and fitted. Three-phase 11-22 kW wallboxes are only worth it if your home has three-phase power.