EV charging is getting cheaper, while petrol prices increase

9 Sep 2026 Bright, Victoria post 1580

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After a picturesque day exploring Mount Buffalo, I picked up dinner from Mimi’s Tuck Shop in Bright. While parked, I plugged the car in to charge, opportunistically. I happened to glance at my iPhone to see that my EV charging is now cheaper, while oil prices continue to increase.

The price to charge at the Tesla supercharger is now 43c/kWh. I recall it being above 60c/kWh. So, it has dropped significantly in the past year. The price of wholesale electricity in general has dropped, due to renewables in the grid. I know that first hand since my energy retailer, Amber Electric, passes on wholesale pricing for my home electricity. Of course, at home, I charge mainly from free solar hitting my roof, but that’s another story.

Charging

As usual, whenever I park the car, I aim to plug it in. Bright conveniently has Tesla Superchargers at one end of town, and an Evie Networks charger at the other end. I plugged in only long enough to pick up my take away dinner, and take some photos. No need to fill up to 100%. Charging speed was slower today, since I neglected to tell the car that I was heading to an EV charger, so it could precondition (warm up) the battery. About 90kW today, compared to 180kW yesterday when I had informed the car of my intent.

The day on Mount Buffalo, just before this charge: Bright to Mount Buffalo 9 Sep 2026
The 180 kW charge in Bright the day before: Bright idea for a road trip 8 Sep 2026
Letting Amber charge the car on wholesale prices: Amber's new Ready-By EV charging 22 May 2026
Petrol at about $16 per 100 km, electricity at about $2: Thinking about an EV? Here's what surprised us 19 Jun 2026
The night wholesale power went over $10 a kWh: Why grid electricity is so expensive tonight 13 Jun 2025
An earlier charge in Bright, at the Evie end of town: Charging in Bright while we eat at the Alpine pub 8 Feb 2024
Packing up and leaving Bright the next morning: Bye bye Bright 10 Sep 2026
Lunch and a 183 kW charge in Holbrook: Bright to Holbrook, with FSD interventions 10 Sep 2026
The next charge, at Yass that afternoon: Yass Superchargers, in search of services 10 Sep 2026
The night after, at a motel whose nearest charger was down: Bargain motel in Marulan 11 Sep 2026
What the Bankstown charge actually cost, on Tesla's receipt: Bankstown Superchargers 11 Sep 2026
Charging at Tuggerah while the shopping got done: Northern Central Coast 12 Sep 2026
Leaving on 30%, and why that was plenty: Norah Head Lighthouse 14 Sep 2026

14 comments

Kylie Gilroy via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago

We have been on many road trips this year, up here and to Brisbane we pay between 42c and 48c, Wollongong was 55c, Coffs Harbour was 52c, Robina 63c just to name a few.

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1. Tesla Tripping eTripping.au 1 week ago
  
  Kylie Gilroy Wow, you’ve been everywhere! 😉
  
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  1. Kylie Gilroy via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago
    
    Tesla Tripping we were in Rockhampton last weekend and will be in Cairns again next month for the umpteenth time and in Wollongong in November 🤣
    
    I still refuse to subscribe for EAP, I’ll just patiently wait for FSD.
    
    It’s the best car to take on road trips.
    
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2. Gary March via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago
  
  Hi. Moonee Beach just north of Coffs Harbour was 48 cents yesterday.
  
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Christopher Aynsley via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago

Yes we went to Sydney and back and it cost $100

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Rodney Clark via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago

It's a great area for Tesla tripping

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1. Tesla Tripping eTripping.au 1 week ago
  
  Rodney Clark Yes indeed. We’ve tripped here a few times.
  
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  1. Rodney Clark via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago
    
    Tesla Tripping As have we, love the whole area
    
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Darek Margas via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago

Amber is very problematic and certainly not worth to use unless someone has gambling addiction and wants to move off casinos. Evie costs nearly 80c, also worth to avoid in favor of SC and some inexpensive type2 (or even free).

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Tim Forcey via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago

Re "It was slower today, since I neglected to tell the car that I was heading to an EV charger."
What's that mean?

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1. Scott Cassidy via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago
  
  Tim Forcey I assume the car battery wasn't at optimum temperature to charge at its max rate.
  
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2. Tesla Tripping eTripping.au 1 week ago
  
  Tim Forcey Sorry for the confusion. Let me clarify. Yesterday I entered the charging destination into the car's navigation, with enough time for the car to precondition (warm up) the battery, to maximise the charging speed when we arrived. Today, I failed to do that, so the charging was slow, as shown in the notification on the Tesla's screen. Max charging speed of 180 kW yesterday vs about 95 kW today.
  
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3. Tesla Tripping eTripping.au 1 week ago
  
  Tim Forcey I have edited the post to hopefully clarify. Thanks for the feedback/question.
  
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Gary March via Facebook ↗ 1 week ago

Mt Sheridan near Cairns was $0.32 and Mackay Qld was 35 cents last week. Most other superchargers between Newcastle and Cairns were between 41 and 51 cents per kWh.

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