Is an EV actually cheaper to run than petrol?
EVs usually win on energy and maintenance per km, but this compares running cost only. It does not include upfront price or depreciation, which can change the overall answer.
Distance and running costs
Live estimateEV assumptions
Petrol assumptions
Running-cost comparison
Rounded linesEV saves about $172/month. EV running cost $276. Petrol running cost $448. Annual equivalent $2,064.
Monthly difference
EV saves about $172/month
Annual equivalent $2,064.
EV per month
$276
Petrol per month
$448
EV breakdown
$276| Cost line | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Charging energy | $84 |
| Road tax | $150 |
| Maintenance | $42 |
| Total | $276 |
Petrol breakdown
$448| Cost line | Monthly |
|---|---|
| Petrol | $311 |
| Road tax | $62 |
| Maintenance | $75 |
| Total | $448 |
This is running cost only. It excludes upfront price and depreciation, which often favour petrol. For the full picture, use the total cost of ownership calculator and the car cost calculator.
Home versus public charging is usually the biggest swing in the EV number, so try both prices. The EV road-tax line already includes the $700/year Additional Flat Component.
For a market check before you buy or sell, value the car, or read the Singapore car cost guide.
How the comparison is built
The EV side adds charging energy, road tax and maintenance. Charging is your monthly distance, energy use per 100 km, and price per kWh. The road-tax line uses the current EV power-rating method and already includes the $700/year Additional Flat Component.
The petrol side adds fuel, road tax and maintenance. Fuel is your monthly distance divided by km per litre, then multiplied by petrol price per litre. Road tax comes from engine capacity using the same formula as the road tax calculator.
Each line is rounded to whole dollars first, then each side total is the sum of those displayed lines. The monthly difference is computed from the rounded EV and petrol totals, so the breakdown adds up exactly.
This is not a full ownership comparison. To include the purchase price, depreciation, insurance, parking and ERP, use the total cost of ownership calculator and the car cost calculator. The Singapore car cost guide explains where each number sits.