Petrol vs Grid vs Solar: How Much Can Melbourne EV Drivers Save by Charging at Home?
Melbourne homeowners switching to electric vehicles are driving down their fuel costs significantly. Here is how home EV charging costs compare to petrol — from the grid, from solar and from a home battery.
The Real Cost of Filling Up in Melbourne
The average Melbourne petrol price is currently around $2.10 per litre. A standard passenger car with a 55-litre tank costs roughly $115.50 to fill — covering approximately 520 kilometres at Australia's average fuel consumption of 10.6 litres per 100km.
That works out to around $22.26 per 100 kilometres in fuel costs.
At an average of 15,000 kilometres per year — the Australian benchmark — a typical petrol car costs roughly $3,339 a year just in fuel. That figure rises quickly with larger engines, SUVs or frequent highway driving.
Home EV charging costs are substantially lower across every scenario.
Charging from the Grid
Charging your EV overnight from the standard electricity grid in Victoria costs around $0.30 per kWh on a typical retail electricity plan.
Most electric vehicles consume around 18 kWh per 100 kilometres. At $0.30 per kWh:
• Cost per 100km: $5.40
• Cost for the equivalent of a full tank (520km): approximately $28
• Saving per equivalent tank: approximately $87
• Estimated annual saving (15,000km): approximately $2,530
If you charge on an off-peak tariff — typically available overnight between 11pm and 7am — at around $0.22 per kWh, that cost drops further:
• Cost per 100km: $3.96
• Estimated annual saving vs petrol: approximately $2,745
Charging overnight while you sleep is the most common approach for Melbourne EV owners, and even at standard grid rates the saving over petrol is substantial.
Charging from Solar
For homes with rooftop solar panels, charging an EV during the day using surplus solar generation is where costs drop dramatically.
Victoria's solar feed-in tariff — what you receive for electricity exported back to the grid — has fallen to as low as 1–3 cents per kWh in 2025–26. That means surplus daytime solar is worth very little when exported. Redirecting it into your EV instead is far more valuable.
Using a smart solar-integrated charger such as the Zappi, your EV automatically draws from surplus solar first, reducing grid imports to near zero during daylight hours.
The effective cost of surplus solar electricity is around $0.05 per kWh when accounting for the marginal value of what you would otherwise export:
• Cost per 100km: approximately $0.90
• Cost for the equivalent of a full tank (520km): approximately $4.70
• Saving per equivalent tank: approximately $111
• Estimated annual saving (15,000km): approximately $3,200
For Melbourne homeowners who drive during the day or can schedule workplace and weekend charging to coincide with solar generation, this represents an exceptional reduction in running costs.
Charging from a Home Battery
A home battery system stores surplus solar during the day and delivers it overnight — allowing you to charge your EV from solar-generated power even when the sun is not shining.
With battery storage factored in, the effective cost of electricity rises slightly compared to direct solar use, but remains far below grid rates. Using battery-stored solar at approximately $0.08 per kWh:
• Cost per 100km: approximately $1.44
• Cost for the equivalent of a full tank (520km): approximately $7.50
• Saving per equivalent tank: approximately $108
• Estimated annual saving (15,000km): approximately $3,120
A battery also provides energy independence from grid price fluctuations and gives you a full overnight charge available regardless of weather or daytime driving commitments.
How the Costs Compare at a Glance
Fuelling method — cost per 100km — equivalent cost to a full tank:
• Petrol ($2.10/L): $22.26 — $115.50
• Grid (standard rate, ~$0.30/kWh): $5.40 — $28.00
• Grid (off-peak rate, ~$0.22/kWh): $3.96 — $20.55
• Home battery (solar stored, ~$0.08/kWh): $1.44 — $7.50
• Solar direct (surplus, ~$0.05/kWh): $0.90 — $4.70
Based on 15,000km per year, the estimated annual saving compared to petrol:
• Grid (standard): approximately $2,530 saved per year
• Grid (off-peak): approximately $2,745 saved per year
• Home battery: approximately $3,120 saved per year
• Solar direct: approximately $3,200 saved per year
Making the Most of Your Home Charging Setup
At Carlin Co Electrical, we install home EV chargers throughout Albert Park, South Melbourne, Middle Park, Port Melbourne and surrounding Melbourne suburbs. We can advise on the right charger for your vehicle and property, including solar-integrated options such as the Zappi that automatically prioritise surplus solar over grid power.
If you have an existing solar system — or are planning one — the combination of rooftop solar, a home battery and a smart EV charger represents one of the most effective ways to reduce your household energy costs in Melbourne.
Contact Carlin Co Electrical today to arrange an EV charger assessment or installation quote.
Servicing Albert Park, South Melbourne, Port Melbourne, St Kilda, Elwood, Middle Park and surrounding Melbourne suburbs.
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Important Disclaimers
The figures used in this article are based on averages and estimates only and are provided for general comparison purposes. They do not constitute financial, energy or personal advice.
Petrol price: Based on an approximate Melbourne average of $2.10 per litre as of early April 2026. Petrol prices fluctuate regularly and vary between service stations, locations and fuel grades. The Melbourne average at time of writing has been affected by a temporary federal fuel excise reduction (1 April – 30 June 2026). Typical prices outside this period may differ.
Vehicle fuel consumption: Based on the Australian average of 10.6 litres per 100km for petrol passenger vehicles, sourced from industry data. Actual consumption varies significantly depending on vehicle make, model, age, engine size, load and driving conditions.
EV energy consumption: Based on an average of 18 kWh per 100km, typical for mid-range popular electric vehicles in Australian conditions. Actual consumption varies depending on vehicle model, speed, climate control use, terrain and load.
Electricity rates: Grid rates are based on approximate Victorian retail electricity rates and do not represent any specific retailer, plan or tariff. Off-peak rates vary by retailer and tariff structure. Not all households qualify for time-of-use tariffs. Solar and battery cost figures are approximations based on marginal and amortised costs and do not account for system purchase price, installation costs, battery degradation or individual system performance.
Annual kilometres: Based on 15,000km per year, the commonly cited Australian passenger vehicle average. Individual driving distances vary considerably.
All figures should be verified against your own vehicle specifications, energy plan and driving patterns before making any purchasing decisions. Carlin Co Electrical does not guarantee any specific savings outcome.