EV Trip Cost Calculator
Calculate the electricity cost of any EV journey — a short trip, a long road trip, or a leg charged at public rates. Compare the cost across every price tier and see how many charging stops you need along the way.
EV trip cost
Typical EV road trip cost in New Zealand
Road trips typically use public DC fast chargers, which cost more per kWh than home charging. The table below shows estimated costs across common charging price tiers for a range of distances.
| Charging type | Price per kWh | 250 km | 500 km | 1,000 km |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EV off peak | $0.12 | $5 | $10 | $19 |
| Home solar | $0.13 | $5 | $10 | $21 |
| Home off peak | $0.25 | $10 | $20 | $40 |
| Home standard rate | $0.39 | $16 | $31 | $62 |
| Public AC | $0.45 | $18 | $36 | $72 |
| DC fast | $0.68 | $27 | $54 | $109 |
| Ultra rapid DC | $0.95 | $38 | $76 | $152 |
Based on a typical EV (16 kWh per 100 km). Long trips usually mix charging types, so a real road trip normally falls between the home and fast charging rows.
How this calculator works
This calculator estimates the total electricity cost of a road trip and how many charging stops you are likely to need. It uses your vehicle's efficiency and battery size to estimate usable range per charge, then calculates the number of stops based on the trip distance.
Formulas
Total energy = Distance (km) ÷ 100 × EV efficiency (kWh per 100 km)
Trip cost = Total energy × Electricity price ($ per kWh)
Usable range per charge = Battery size × 0.7 ÷ EV efficiency × 100
Charging stops = Distance ÷ Usable range, rounded up, minus 1
Worked example
Distance: 500 km
EV efficiency: 16 kWh per 100 km
Battery size: 100 kWh
Electricity price: $0.68 per kWh (DC fast)
Total energy: 500 ÷ 100 × 16 = 80.0 kWh
Trip cost: 80.0 × $0.68 = $54.40
Usable range: 100 × 0.7 ÷ 16 × 100 = ~438 km per charge
Charging stops: 500 ÷ 440 = 1.14, rounded up = 2 legs, minus 1 = 1 stop
Charging stops assume a usable charge window of 10% to 80% (70% of battery capacity) per stop, which is the most practical range for DC fast charging. Actual range per charge depends on driving conditions, speed, temperature and vehicle.
Price preset guide
This calculator defaults to DC fast charging at $0.68 per kWh, the most common charger type for long distance travel. Use the rate cards below to compare costs at other price tiers. Home rates are included so you can see the cost difference between pre-charging at home and relying on public chargers.
Home solar is charging from your own rooftop generation. The cost shown is not a bill — it is the feed-in credit you give up by using that energy yourself instead of exporting it, which is what makes solar charging the cheapest option here.
EV off peak refers to very low EV specific overnight pricing offered by some electricity retailers.
Home off peak refers to a more typical off peak residential rate.
Home standard rate refers to a flat residential electricity tariff.
Public AC, DC fast and Ultra rapid DC refer to common public charging categories. Prices vary between networks and locations.
These labels are shorthand for the tiers used across this site. Set your own rate for any of them in the My EV panel and every figure here recalculates. A long trip usually mixes tiers: cheap charging at home before departure, dearer DC charging along the way.
Frequently asked questions
How should I plan a long EV road trip in New Zealand?
Planning around available charging infrastructure is the key difference compared with petrol travel. Before departing, check charging locations along your route. Aim to arrive at each charging stop with at least 10 to 20 percent battery remaining. DC fast chargers are the most practical for long distance travel. Use the charging stops estimate above to get a rough idea of how many stops to expect.
How much does an EV road trip cost compared to petrol?
Even on public DC fast chargers at $0.68 per kWh, an EV road trip costs well under half what the same trip costs in a petrol car. A 500 km trip costs around $54 in an EV using 16 kWh per 100 km versus around $120 for a petrol vehicle doing 8 litres per 100 km at $3.00 per litre.
Does EV efficiency change on a road trip?
Yes. Highway driving at 100 to 110 km/h uses more energy per kilometre than urban driving. Actual road trip efficiency may be 10 to 25 percent higher than the rated figure. This means fewer kilometres per charge and potentially more stops than the calculator estimates. Adjust the efficiency input upward if you want a more conservative estimate.
Why does the calculator assume 10% to 80% per charge?
DC fast charging is fastest between about 10% and 80% state of charge. Above 80%, charging speed drops significantly to protect the battery. Most road trippers charge to 80% at each stop and drive to the next charger, arriving at around 10 to 20%. The calculator uses this 70% usable window to estimate realistic stops.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at a public charger in New Zealand?
Public AC chargers in New Zealand typically cost around $0.40 to $0.50 per kWh. DC fast chargers range from around $0.95 to $1.15 per kWh depending on the network and location. For a typical EV using 16 kWh per 100 km, a 100 km trip costs roughly $7.20 on a public AC charger and around $10.88 on a DC fast charger.
Do I need an account or app to use public EV chargers in New Zealand?
It depends on the network. Some public chargers in New Zealand allow contactless payment by credit or debit card, while others require a network account or app to activate. ChargeNet, Z Energy and bp charge are among the major networks operating in New Zealand, each with their own pricing and payment methods. Our EV charging apps guide has more detail on the main networks and how to access them.
