is an electric car cheaper to run

Short answer: yes—most EVs are cheaper to run in Australia, unless you do all your charging on pricey fast DC juice.

A typical EV uses about 15–20 kWh/100 km; at 25–35 c/kWh home rates, that’s roughly AUD 3.75–7.00 per 100 km. A comparable petrol car at 7–10 L/100 km and around AUD 1.90/L will sting you about AUD 13–19 per 100 km. Public fast chargers (60–80 c/kWh) bump an EV to about AUD 9–16 per 100 km—still competitive, just less smug. Maintenance is usually lower—no oil changes, fewer moving bits—though tyres and insurance can be a touch dearer, and battery packs are long‑warranty but not magic. Some states shave costs with reduced stamp duty or rego perks, and off‑peak smart charging makes the maths look even rosier. So yes, cheaper to run day to day; just mind where you plug in and how heavy your right foot is.