Australians who switched to electric vehicles during the recent fuel crisis are collectively saving 10s of millions of dollars in petrol costs, according to new analysis from the National Automotive Leasing and Salary Packaging Association (NALSPA).
NALSPA estimates working Australians who purchased a new battery electric vehicle through a novated lease using the Federal Government’s Electric Car Discount between January and June 2026 will collectively save around $76 million on fuel by the end of this year.
Those annual savings are forecast to rise to $103.6 million from 2027, based on an unleaded petrol price of $2.10 a litre.
The association estimates workers who acquired an EV through novated leasing and the Electric Car Discount between July 2022 and June 2026 will have collectively saved $609 million on fuel by the end of this year.
Victoria leads the latest group, with drivers who purchased EVs during the first half of 2026 expected to save $22.21 million by Christmas. NSW follows at $22.02 million and Queensland at $16.03 million.
NALSPA’s analysis also points to strong EV uptake in outer-suburban areas. Drivers in the nation’s top 10 postcodes for Electric Car Discount uptake during the first half of 2026 are estimated to collectively save $4.64 million by year’s end.
Those postcode areas include Tarneit, Werribee, Kellyville, Marsden Park, Coombs, Springfield Lakes, Craigieburn, Clyde North, Cranbourne and Baulkham Hills.
NALSPA chief executive Rohan Martin said the savings were particularly important while households faced cost-of-living pressures.
“Everyday working Australians are together saving tens of millions of dollars this year by swapping petrol pumps for EV chargers during the fuel crisis, and they’re strengthening our national energy security,” Martin said.
“These savings mean more money stays in local economies instead of flowing to overseas energy suppliers.”
Martin said outer-suburban communities were among the biggest beneficiaries, with lower fuel expenditure potentially leaving households with more money to spend locally.
NALSPA argues the Electric Car Discount has helped make EVs accessible to more working households while allowing motorists to benefit from lower running costs.
“The Electric Car Discount is working for Australia – it’s saving Australian households money, it’s helping reduce emissions, it’s reducing exposure to volatile petrol prices and it’s supporting our national energy security,” Martin said.