Electric or hybrid car - when does it pay for itself?

The extra purchase price against the fuel and servicing it saves over the petrol car, year by year and kilometre by kilometre.

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Example data - to be completed. These numbers belong to a sample household. Move the sliders to your own car →

Breaks even in year 3

The R 70 000 extra for the electric car saves about R 25 585 in year 1 and is R 239 324 ahead after 10 years.

Breaks even
year 3
The year the savings have covered the extra price
Break-even distance
47 510 km
Kilometres driven by then
Net gain at 10 years
R 239 324
Savings less the extra price and interest
Saved in year 1
R 25 585
Fuel and servicing, less the electricity

What this means

  • The savings cover the R 70 000 extra price in about 2.6 years - roughly 47 510 km.
  • Year 1 saves about R 25 585 (R 2 132 a month) against the petrol car.
  • After 10 years you are R 239 324 ahead, in rand as spent.
  • Figures are calculations, not advice - no car or dealer is recommended.

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Assumptions

  • The electric car costs R 70 000 more than the petrol car, paid in cash.
  • 18 000 km a year; the petrol car uses 5.5 L/100 km at R 30.00 a litre, rising 6% a year.
  • The electric car uses 12.9 kWh/100 km.
  • Electricity at R 3.40 a kWh in year 1, rising 9% a year.
  • Servicing saves R 0.21 a km.
  • Rand as spent (not adjusted for inflation); insurance, tyres, resale value and a battery replacement are left out.

Where the typical figures come from

  • Small hatch: VW Polo Vivo 1.4 Life R271 900, 5.5 L/100 km; BYD Dolphin Surf Comfort R341 900, 12.9 kWh/100 km claimed. cars.co.za prices, TopAuto, 2026, cars.co.za Dolphin Surf review, VW Polo Vivo spec sheet 2026.
  • SUV: Toyota Corolla Cross 1.8 XS R458 400 (6.8 L/100 km), 1.8 Hybrid XS R501 100 (4.3 L/100 km); BYD Atto 3 Standard R699 900 (15.6 kWh/100 km WLTP). cars.co.za Corolla Cross, TopAuto hybrid savings, cars.co.za Atto 3.
  • Sedan: Toyota Corolla 1.8 Hybrid XR sedan R584 400 - the petrol 2.0 XR (last listed R570 800) has been dropped; BYD Seal Lux R999 900. cars.co.za, Corolla goes hybrid-only, TopAuto, BYD Seal.
  • Bakkie: Toyota Hilux 2.8 GD-6 SRX double cab 4x2 auto R658 500 (diesel); BYD Shark 6 Premium plug-in hybrid R989 900, 29.6 kWh battery, 85 km electric range (WLTP) = about 34.8 kWh/100 km. No fully electric bakkie is on sale in SA. cars.co.za Hilux 2026, TopAuto Shark 6, Shark 6 battery and range.
  • Servicing: R0.34 a km for a petrol Polo against R0.13 for a BYD Dolphin - the R0.21 a km the electric presets save; 18 000 km a year and R3.40 a kWh are from the same comparison. cars.co.za, 5-year cost of ownership, 2026.
  • Fuel price R30 a litre: inland 95 projected at R29.98-R30.04 from 7 October 2026. Fuel increases (Low 3%, Moderate 6%, High 9%): High is the 2016-2026 average (R11.74 in February 2016 to ~R30), Low the SARB's 3% inflation target. BusinessDay, 2026, GlobalPetrolPrices.
  • Electricity increases (Low 6%, Moderate 9%, High 13%): the same NERSA figures as the solar calculator. Engineering News, 2026.
  • Estimates, not sourced: the Corolla 2.0 (6.3 L/100 km), Corolla Hybrid sedan (4.0), Seal (16 kWh/100 km) and Hilux (8.0) consumption, the Shark 6's 60% of km on electricity and 9.0 L/100 km on fuel, the Moderate fuel increase, and no servicing saving for a hybrid. Real driving usually uses more than the claimed figures, on both sides. Use your own figures.

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