Plenty of Australian households are asking whether the second car is worth it. A big chunk of what a second car costs is just petrol and parking for short trips an e-bike could do easily. Enter your commute below and see the annual running cost of driving versus charging an e-bike, how quickly the bike pays for itself, and the models that suit your distance.
- Car running cost a year$2,746
- Fuel$666
- Parking$2,080
- E-bike charging a year$12
- You save a year$2,733
Running costs only. This ignores car rego, insurance, servicing and depreciation, which all push the saving higher. Charging assumes 10 Wh per km at 0.30 dollars per kWh.
Bikes that suit a 8km each-way commute
Common questions
Is an e-bike cheaper than a car for commuting?
For short and medium commutes, usually yes, and often by a wide margin. Petrol, parking, servicing and depreciation on a second car add up to thousands a year, while charging an e-bike costs a few dollars a week. The calculator above compares running costs; once you add rego, insurance and depreciation, the gap grows further.
How much does it cost to charge an e-bike in Australia?
Very little. A 500Wh battery holds half a kilowatt-hour, so a full charge is roughly 15 cents at typical Australian electricity prices. Even riding every day, most people spend only a few dollars a week on charging.
Can an e-bike really replace a second car?
For a household whose second car mostly does school runs, short commutes and local trips, an e-bike or a cargo e-bike can replace most of those journeys. It will not replace a long highway commute or big loads, but many families find the second car sits idle once they have a capable e-bike.
How long until an e-bike pays for itself?
It depends on your commute, fuel price and parking, but for a typical daily commuter replacing car trips, a mid-priced e-bike often pays back within one to two years on running costs alone. Enter your own numbers above to see your figure.