Cheapest EVs to own in Australia (2026)
Over 5 years, the cheapest electric car to own in Australia is the BYD Atto 1 Essential at about $37,424, followed by the Leapmotor B03X ($38,741) and the Geely EX2 ($39,802). That counts the price with on-road costs, a home charger, charging, servicing and tyres, driving 250 km a week in NSW.
The 15 cheapest EVs to own
Each car's lowest-cost version, ranked by total cost over 5 years. 250 km a week in NSW, 90% of charging at home on the 2026–27 default rate.
| # | Car | On the road* | Running / yr | 5-year cost | Per week, all in |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | BYDAtto 1 Essential | $27,990 | $1,487 | $37,424 | $144 |
| 2 | LeapmotorB03X Style | $29,990 | $1,350 | $38,741 | $149 |
| 3 | GeelyEX2 Complete | $30,490 | $1,462 | $39,802 | $153 |
| 4 | MGMG4 Urban 43 | $31,990 | $1,753 | $42,753 | $164 |
| 5 | BYDDolphin Essential | $33,990 | $1,506 | $43,522 | $167 |
| 6 | GACAion UT Premium | $35,990 | $1,490 | $45,439 | $175 |
| 7 | JaecooJ5 EV Track | $36,990 | $1,321 | $45,593 | $175 |
| 8 | BYDAtto 2 Dynamic | $35,990 | $1,608 | $46,031 | $177 |
| 9 | GWMOra 5 Lux | $37,990 | $1,539 | $47,686 | $183 |
| 10 | GWMOra Standard Range | $39,990 | $1,491 | $49,445 | $190 |
| 11 | LeapmotorB05 Style | $39,990 | $1,501 | $49,494 | $190 |
| 12 | CheryE5 Ultimate | $41,990 | $1,379 | $50,886 | $196 |
| 13 | LeapmotorB10 Style | $42,990 | $1,472 | $52,348 | $201 |
| 14 | HyundaiInster Standard Range | $43,600 | $1,351 | $52,355 | $201 |
| 15 | ForthingTaikon 5 Luxury | $43,000 | $1,557 | $52,784 | $203 |
Cost to own = price (plus about $4,000 on-road costs where the price is before on-roads) + a home wallbox for EVs (about $2,000, one-off) + charging or fuel + scheduled servicing + tyres. It leaves out insurance, registration and resale value, which vary too much by person and car to estimate fairly. Resale value is the biggest unknown, especially for newer brands.
Cheapest by body type
- Cheapest SUV: Leapmotor B03X Style, $38,741 over 5 years
- Cheapest hatch: BYD Atto 1 Essential, $37,424 over 5 years
- Cheapest sedan: BYD Seal Dynamic, $61,342 over 5 years
Cheapest to run week to week
If you only care about running costs, these use the least electricity. Small, efficient cars win here, but a low running cost doesn't always make up for a higher price.
- Hyundai Ioniq 6 2WD Standard Range: $11.82 a week to charge (12.6 kWh/100 km)
- Polestar 2 Long Range Single Motor: $12.38 a week to charge (13.2 kWh/100 km)
- Volvo EX30 Plus: $12.47 a week to charge (13.3 kWh/100 km)
- Volkswagen ID.4 Pro: $12.57 a week to charge (13.4 kWh/100 km)
- Volkswagen ID.5 Pro: $12.57 a week to charge (13.4 kWh/100 km)
How hybrids and plug-ins compare
The cheapest hybrid to own is the MG3 Hybrid+ Excite at $37,304, and the cheapest plug-in hybrid is the BYD Sealion 5 Essential at $46,154. 0 of the 94 EVs we track cost less to own than that hybrid. See EV vs hybrid vs plug-in hybrid for the full comparison.
Common questions
What is the cheapest EV to own in Australia?
On our numbers it's the BYD Atto 1 Essential, at about $37,424 over 5 years including the price, on-road costs, a home charger, charging, servicing and tyres (250 km a week in NSW).
What is the cheapest EV to buy in Australia?
The lowest on-the-road price among the cars we track is the BYD Atto 1 Essential, at about $27,990 including estimated on-road costs (October 2026).
Is the cheapest EV to buy also the cheapest to own?
Usually, because the purchase price is by far the biggest cost over five years. Charging, servicing and tyres can change the order between cars that are close in price.
Does this include insurance and resale value?
No. Insurance, registration and resale value vary too much by person and car to estimate fairly. Resale is the biggest unknown, especially for newer brands.
More guides
How we work it out
Weekly cost is the car's claimed energy use (kWh per 100 km) × your distance × your electricity price. "Per week" figures on this site assume 250 km a week with 90% of charging at home. Petrol comparisons use the fuel use and price you choose. Prices are list prices at October 2026 and change often; check with the dealer.
- Electricity: 2026–27 default or regulated flat rates from the AER Default Market Offer (NSW, SE QLD, SA), Victorian Default Offer, Aurora Energy (TAS), Jacana Energy (NT), Synergy (WA) and ActewAGL (ACT).
- Public charging: Sydney survey of Chargefox, Evie, NRMA, Tesla and BP Pulse prices, July 2026.
- Car specs and prices: manufacturer figures as published by CarExpert, AEVA EV fact sheets, Drive and EV Central's car guide. Some prices are the publisher's estimates; check with a dealer.
- Servicing: published capped-price schedules (BYD Sealion 7, BYD Seal, Geely EX5, Jaecoo J5 EV, Kia EV5, Zeekr 7X). Tesla has no fixed service schedule and CarExpert's EV servicing comparison. Where a model's pricing isn't published yet we use the brand's nearest model and mark it as an estimate.
- Tyres: RACV puts EV tyre life at 20,000–40,000 km; replacement set prices from Gridly's 2026 EV tyre cost guide.
- Petrol and diesel: ACCC average retail unleaded and diesel prices in each capital city, 21 October 2026 (ACCC weekly fuel price monitoring).
- Plug-in hybrids: prices, battery sizes and claimed electric range from CarExpert, Cars24, Zecar and The Beep. Real-world electric range is taken as 80% of the claim; plug-ins charged at home each night are assumed to do up to 85% of driving on electricity. Petrol use with a flat battery is our estimate from reviews where makers don't publish one.
- Diesel utes and SUVs: claimed combined fuel use and prices from CarExpert, 4X4 Australia and CarSauce. The HiLux automatic and Prado are 48-volt mild-hybrid diesels; their small battery assists the engine but can't drive the car on its own.
- Hybrids: claimed fuel use, prices and capped-price servicing as published by CarExpert and CarsGuide. Petrol and hybrid tyres usually last 40,000–60,000 km (RACV); we use 50,000 km.
- Home chargers: typically $1,000–$3,000 installed, about $2,000 typical (What's the Damage, October 2026).
- Novated lease rules: PwC summary of the May 2026 FBT changes.