EV Charging Cost by Time-of-Use Tariff Calculator 2026
Pick your state and tariff type to see the real cost per charge and what you save against petrol each year. Default rates reflect 2026 Australian electricity pricing.
(7 L/100km at $2.05/L)
All three tariffs, side by side
Same state (New South Wales), same kilometres (15,000/yr). The cheapest row is your target.
| Tariff | Rate | Per charge | Annual cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat rate | 31 c/kWh | $18.48 | $739 |
| Time-of-use (off-peak) | 20 c/kWh | $12.24 | $490 |
| Rooftop solarcheapest | 8 c/kWh | $4.80 | $192 |
Rates are indicative 2026 state averages; your actual tariff depends on your retailer and plan. Confirm the off-peak window hours with your provider before scheduling charging.
How the numbers are built
- Effective rate. Flat uses the all-day rate directly. Time-of-use blends 85% off-peak with 15% peak, assuming you schedule charging overnight. Solar uses the foregone feed-in tariff as the effective cost of self-consumed surplus.
- Cost per charge. Effective rate × 60 kWh (a typical EV battery). A real charge from 20% to 80% will be lower.
- Annual EV cost. 16 kWh/100 km × your kilometres × effective rate.
- Petrol baseline. 7 L/100 km × your kilometres × $2.05/L — a comparable petrol SUV. Savings = petrol cost − EV cost.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a time-of-use (TOU) electricity tariff for EV charging?
A time-of-use (TOU) tariff charges different electricity rates depending on when you draw power: a peak rate during high-demand hours (typically 4-10 pm), an off-peak rate overnight and midday, and sometimes a shoulder rate in between. Australian networks increasingly offer an off-peak window that lines up with overnight EV charging, which is why a TOU plan can cut charging cost by 40-60% versus a flat rate for EV owners who charge at night.
Is off-peak EV charging cheaper than a flat tariff?
Usually yes. A flat tariff blends peak and off-peak into one rate (typically 27-41 c/kWh depending on the state), while an off-peak window can be as low as 15-20 c/kWh. If you can schedule charging into the off-peak window, the per-charge cost drops materially — for a 60 kWh battery the difference between a flat and off-peak charge can be $8-12 per full charge.
How much does it cost to charge an EV from solar?
If you charge from excess rooftop solar you would otherwise export, the effective cost is the opportunity cost of the feed-in tariff you give up — typically 6-10 c/kWh in Australia. That makes solar the cheapest way to run an EV, often under $4 for a full 60 kWh charge. The catch is you can only charge when the sun is generating more than the house uses, which favours home battery storage or a daytime charging window.
How much does a full EV charge cost in my state?
A typical 60 kWh EV battery costs roughly $16-25 to fully charge on a flat tariff in most Australian states, $9-15 on a time-of-use off-peak rate, and $4-6 from excess solar. South Australia is the most expensive state on flat rates; Tasmania and the ACT are the cheapest. Use the calculator above with your state and tariff type for an exact figure.
How are annual savings vs petrol calculated?
The calculator compares the annual energy cost of an EV (16 kWh/100 km at your selected state and tariff) against a comparable petrol car (7 L/100 km at $2.05/L), both over 15,000 km a year — the Australian average. It does not include the EV purchase premium, rego, insurance or servicing; for the full five-year picture including those, use the main EV running cost calculator.
Which tariff should I choose for my EV?
If you can charge overnight every night, a time-of-use plan with a cheap off-peak window is almost always cheapest. If your charging is unpredictable or happens in the evening peak, a flat rate is safer. If you have rooftop solar and are home during the day, a solar-aligned plan (or simply charging on your own surplus) beats both.
Want the full five-year picture?
This tool isolates the tariff effect. For the complete EV vs petrol comparison — including purchase price, rego, insurance, servicing and depreciation — open the main EV running cost calculator.
Open the EV Running Cost Calculator →