EV vs petrol in Cambodia: what it really costs to charge

One of the biggest reasons Cambodians switch to electric is running cost. But is an EV really cheaper than petrol once you factor in charging? The short answer is usually yes — especially if you charge smartly. Here's how to think about it.

Cost per kilometre: the honest comparison

The fairest way to compare is cost per kilometre driven, not the price of a "full tank" versus a "full charge". Let's walk through an illustrative example. (Plug in your own current electricity tariff and fuel price — these are round assumptions to show the method, not fixed figures.)

Petrol car: if a car uses about 8 litres per 100 km and petrol is around $1.20/litre, that's roughly $9.60 per 100 km.

Electric car: a typical EV uses about 16 kWh per 100 km. Charging at home at an assumed $0.15/kWh, that's about $2.40 per 100 km.

Where the savings really add up

Fuel is only part of the story. EVs also tend to be cheaper to maintain:

• Fewer moving parts — no oil changes, no timing belts, no exhaust system, far less to service.
• Regenerative braking — brake pads last much longer because the motor does a lot of the slowing.
• Predictable "fuel" cost — electricity prices are far more stable than petrol prices at the pump.

The nuances to keep in mind

To keep this balanced: public fast charging is more expensive than charging at home, so a driver who relies only on DC chargers will save less than one who charges overnight. Upfront purchase prices can also be higher, though incentives are narrowing that gap. And battery health matters over the long term, though modern EVs are proving very durable.

The bottom line

For most Cambodian drivers — particularly those who can charge at home or at their building — an EV costs meaningfully less per kilometre than an equivalent petrol car, and less to maintain on top of that. The more you drive, the faster those savings stack up.