Purchase price
A $10,000 price premium takes years to recover from a $1,257 annual energy saving, before finance and opportunity cost.
Charging changes the answer
Diesel vs PHEV ute running costs
Short answer: a PHEV ute can materially reduce weekly energy cost when most routine kilometres fit inside its usable electric range and it is charged cheaply at home or work. If it is rarely plugged in, driven mostly on long highways or used for heavy towing, the advantage can shrink or disappear.
Worked example
20,000km a year with a 50km weekday commute
| Input | Diesel ute | PHEV ute |
|---|---|---|
| Modelled energy use | 8.5L/100km diesel | 28kWh/100km electric; 8.5L/100km when engine-driven |
| Energy price | $2.00/L | $0.30/kWh electricity; $1.90/L petrol |
| Annual distance | 20,000km | 20,000km |
| Purpose | Compare energy sensitivity only. Purchase price, finance, insurance, servicing, tyres, charger and depreciation are excluded here. | |
Three charging behaviours
The same PHEV can produce three different answers
| Scenario | Electric share | Illustrative annual energy cost | Compared with diesel |
|---|---|---|---|
| Diesel baseline | 0% | $3,400 | Baseline |
| PHEV charged nightly | 70% | $2,143 | About $1,257 lower per year |
| PHEV charged occasionally | 35% | $2,883 | About $517 lower per year |
| PHEV never charged | 0% | $3,230 | Only $170 lower under the equal fuel-use assumption |
Formula: electric kilometres × kWh/100km × electricity price, plus engine-driven kilometres × L/100km × fuel price. Real depleted-battery use differs by vehicle, speed, temperature, load and route. A heavier PHEV may use more fuel than this equal-use illustration.
What the simple table leaves out
Energy is only one ownership cost
Depreciation
Future PHEV-ute resale is uncertain. A small change in retained value can outweigh several years of fuel savings.
Home charging
A standard outlet may suit some routines; others need electrical work or a wallbox. Renters and apartment residents need permission and access.
Towing
Electric range and efficiency fall with load, speed and aerodynamic drag. Model the holiday or work trip separately from weekday commuting.
Servicing and tyres
PHEVs retain an engine and fluids while also carrying a high-voltage system. High output and mass can affect tyre cost.
Tax treatment
Business and fringe-benefit outcomes depend on date, eligibility and individual circumstances. Obtain current professional advice.
Buyer fit
Who should choose which?
PHEV ute makes more sense when…
You can charge most nights; routine trips fit its electric capability; quiet, strong daily performance matters; and occasional long trips do not dominate total kilometres.
Diesel ute makes more sense when…
You cannot charge reliably; spend most kilometres towing or on remote highways; need maximum payload from a lighter powertrain; or prioritise a mature regional service and resale pattern.
Calculate your case
Use your own week, not the official headline
- Add your normal weekly kilometres and the share that can be driven after charging.
- Use your actual electricity tariff, including solar opportunity cost where relevant.
- Use a realistic engine-on fuel figure for highway and towing kilometres.
- Add purchase price, charger, insurance, servicing and depreciation.
- Stress-test fuel, electricity and resale assumptions before choosing.