Hybrid Fuel Saving Calculator

Work out hybrid fuel saving instantly with clear inputs, formula shown and shareable results.

About Hybrid Fuel Saving Calculator

Hybrid saving is the consumption difference times annual distance. Hybrids gain most in urban driving where regenerative braking recovers energy that would otherwise become heat, and gain almost nothing at steady motorway speed.

Formula

Hybrid saving

litres saved = (petrol - hybrid consumption) x distance / 100; payback = premium / annual saving

Worked example

With the default values below, Hybrid Fuel Saving Calculator returns Annual fuel saving of $829.44. Change any input above and every figure here is recalculated in your browser.

Inputs used

Annual distance: 16,000 km
Petrol consumption: 7.8 L/100km
Hybrid consumption: 4.6 L/100km
Fuel price: 1.62

Results

Annual fuel saving: $829.44
Fuel saved: 512.00 L
Consumption reduction: 41.03% %
Payback on a 3000 premium: 3.62 years

Step by step

1Values used
2Hybrid saving
3Annual fuel saving= 829.44
4Fuel saved= 512.00 L
5Consumption reduction= 41.03 %
6Payback on a 3000 premium= 3.62 years

Assumptions and limits

The result is derived only from the 4 inputs listed above. Anything not among them is not part of the calculation.
In particular, this calculator does not take inflation, tax or fees or charges into account.
Figures are rounded for display to 2 decimal places, so totals built from several rounded parts can differ slightly from the unrounded arithmetic.

How these calculators are built and tested is described on the Methodology page. If a figure looks wrong, please report it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do hybrids save most?

Stop-start urban driving. Regenerative braking recovers kinetic energy and the engine shuts off at rest, both of which are irrelevant on a motorway cruise.

Is a plug-in hybrid better?

Only if charged regularly. Uncharged, a PHEV carries battery weight without the benefit and can use more fuel than a conventional hybrid.