{"id":102337,"date":"2026-10-20T06:03:39","date_gmt":"2026-10-19T20:33:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/?p=102337"},"modified":"2026-10-19T14:04:37","modified_gmt":"2026-10-19T04:34:37","slug":"ditching-diesel-ute-for-electric","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.solarquotes.com.au\/blog\/ditching-diesel-ute-for-electric\/","title":{"rendered":"Diesel Price Surge Fuels The Case For Electric Utes"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As wars overseas push fuel costs higher at home, diesel prices in particular have been skyrocketing – up by more than a third since February to over 280c a litre at the time of writing.<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

An electric or plug-in hybrid ute can now do the job for many tradies and weekend warriors at a fraction of the cost – provided you get the charging situation right. Here are the main challenges, some practical solutions, and honest advice on who should make the switch now.<\/p>\n

Is An Electric Ute Cheaper To Drive?<\/h2>\n

The cost savings from switching over from diesel to electric are stark – especially if you do most your charging at home.<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s a quick look at the costs, based on our EV charging cost guide<\/span><\/a>: about 30c per kWh from the grid, around 3c per kWh if you use your own solar (the feed-in tariff you give up), and 40\u201375c per kWh at public fast chargers.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s say a diesel ute uses 9 L per 100 km and an electric ute uses 28 kWh per 100 km. (These are illustrations, not promises. Load, speed and the weight of your right foot all move them.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
How you fuel it<\/th>\nCost per 100 km<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n
Diesel at $2.85\/L<\/td>\nabout $25.65<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Grid electricity<\/td>\nabout $8.40<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Your own solar<\/td>\nunder $1<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
Public fast charging<\/td>\nabout $11-$21<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

If you drive 20,000 km a year, you\u2019d spend about $5,130 on diesel, compared to around $1,680 for charging from the grid. Even if diesel dropped to $2 a litre, it would still cost $18 per 100 km.<\/p>\n

You\u2019ll see the biggest savings with an electric ute if most of your charging happens at home.<\/p>\n

What Electric Utes Are Available?<\/h2>\n

There are two main types of electrified utes, and the difference is especially important when it comes to charging.<\/p>\n

Fully electric utes<\/b> run on the battery alone. Options include:<\/p>\n