WE’RE NOT SUGGESTING there might be an ulterior motive here (!), but a survey conducted by Polestar has indicated Australians can save nearly $100 on fuel costs per month by making the switch to an electric vehicle.
A survey of 1015 motorists in Australia reveals 62 percent of electric vehicle owners spend well under $100 per month charging their cars, with a median monthly cost of $60 compared to the $150 petrol, diesel, and hybrid drivers spend on fuel.
Research commenced in December 2025 and was completed in mid-January, prior to the current global conflict inflating the price of petrol and diesel, to better understand the habits of Australian motorists.
Polestar Australia Managing Director Scott Maynard said, “With lower running costs, improved performance, and simpler servicing, the benefits of going electric are clear. Electric vehicles were saving Australian drivers money even before the current fuel crisis.”
“Even with the recent federal government cuts to the fuel excise, the availability and security of Australia’s fuel supply remain a critical focus. Our vulnerability has been exposed, and won’t magically improve when the current conflict ends.”
“There’s no time like the present to make the switch.”
Electric vehicle drivers take ownership of how they power their vehicle, with 79 percent charging at home where rooftop solar and batteries, energy plans tailored to EV charging, and the ability to charge off-peak offer control over cost.
It’s not just Australia where making the switch to electric power brings greater freedom and security from fuel prices.
Polestar CEO Michael Lohscheller said, “High oil prices are not the problem, they are the reality of a volatile system. Electric cars change that. The cost base is lower, more stable and increasingly local. What used to be range anxiety is quickly becoming pump anxiety. People are moving away from unpredictable fuel costs to predictable electricity.”
Data reveals electric vehicles exceed the needs of Australian new car buyers
Real-world road trips are comfortably within reach of the average range of modern electric vehicles. Polestar averages a WLTP range of 605km across its models in Australia, with up to 678km of range on offer in Polestar 5.
The median weekly driving distance from respondents was 158km, and 84 percent of drivers cover up to 300km per week.
The longest single journey taken by 72 percent of respondents in the last 12 months was less than 500km.
The idea of range anxiety isn’t exclusive to electric vehicle owners, with 36 percent of petrol, diesel, hybrid, and electric vehicle owners reporting some form of ‘pump anxiety’ even prior to the recent uncertainties around the availability of fuel.
About the research
The research was conducted via an online survey of 1015 Australian adults, including 810 internal combustion engine drivers and 205 electric vehicle owners. Fieldwork took place between 22 December 2025 and 20 January 2026 and was conducted through PureProfile Australia.