2026 Australia ute running cost comparison
30,000 km/year · April 2026 pricing
⚙️ Key assumptions (April 2026)
Diesel price (NSW)
$3.20/L
mid‑case ($3.10–$3.30 range)
Home charging (NSW)
$0.28/kWh
avg ($0.25–$0.30 range)
Fast charging
$0.40–0.60/kWh
public DC rapid chargers
🚗 Vehicle consumption assumptions (real‑world ute class)
Conservative, real‑world assumptions used consistently throughout this analysis.
Diesel ute — 8.5 L/100 km
Hilux / Ranger class. Mid‑case real‑world figure (not brochure‑optimistic, not worst‑case towing or heavy load). Fully aligned with ~2,550 L/year at 30,000 km.
Hybrid ute — ~6.5 L/100 km equivalent
Future BYD Shark or similar. Represents ~20–25% improvement over diesel, reflecting partial electrification and mixed urban driving — without assuming EV‑like behaviour. Aligns with ~1,950 L/year.
EV ute — 22 kWh/100 km
LDV eT60 / future Ranger EV class. Conservative real‑world assumption for heavier utility vehicles, accounting for mass, aero, tyres, and highway use. Matches 6,600 kWh/year at 30,000 km.
Note: Consumption increases with sustained towing, heavy payloads, or prolonged high‑speed travel. No WLTP or manufacturer‑optimised figures are used.
💰 Annual running cost @ 30,000 km
$9,400–$10,000
$5,100–$5,500
$2,200–$2,700
$3,400–$4,800
🏁 Bottom line
🏆 BEST COST
EV ute
⚖️ BALANCED
Hybrid ute
❌ GREATEST COST
Diesel ute
