EV Charging Cost Calculator
Charging an electric car can cost as little as 2p per mile at home on an off-peak tariff — or over 25p per mile at a motorway rapid. The cost depends entirely on where you plug in.
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A common shock for new EV owners is just how much public rapid charging costs. At 79–89p per kWh, a public-only charging strategy can cost more per mile than petrol, while a smart EV tariff at home can drop your fuel bill by 80%.
This calculator works out your real-world annual EV charging cost based on your mileage, vehicle efficiency (miles per kWh), and the split between home and public charging. It also compares the result to an equivalent petrol car so you can see your real saving.
Your EV & Driving
UK average is around 7,400 miles/year.
Most UK drivers with home chargers do 80–90% at home.
Charging Tariffs
Petrol Comparison
Your Annual Charging Cost
Annual cost
£757
£63 / month
Cost per mile
10.2p
£10.23 per 100 miles
Energy used
2,114 kWh
41 kWh / week
Where your money goes
vs an equivalent petrol car
Petrol annual cost
£1,219
16.5p / mile
EV saves you
£463 / yr
38% cheaper than petrol
What this means for your motoring budget
The single biggest variable in your EV running cost isn't the car — it's your tariff. A driver on Octopus Go or a similar overnight EV tariff pays roughly 2–3p per mile, while the same car on a standard cap costs around 7p, and rapid-only charging pushes you to 15–25p per mile.
If you can install a home charger and switch to an EV-specific tariff, the savings vs petrol are usually £700–£1,200 a year for an average driver. Without a home charger, the economics are much tighter — public-only EV ownership is sometimes more expensive than running a petrol car. Use the fuel cost calculator to model the petrol comparison in detail, or the True Cost of Car Ownership Calculator for the full picture including depreciation, tax and insurance.
UK EV Charging Rates 2026
EV charging costs in the UK vary dramatically depending on where and when you plug in. Here are typical rates for April 2026:
| Charging type | Typical rate |
|---|---|
| Home — EV off-peak tariff | 7–9p/kWh |
| Home — standard (Ofgem cap) | ~25p/kWh |
| Workplace charging | 0–30p/kWh |
| Public slow/fast (7–22kW) | 45–55p/kWh |
| Public rapid (50kW) | 70–80p/kWh |
| Ultra-rapid (100kW+) | 79–89p/kWh |
*Cost per mile based on a typical 3.5 mi/kWh efficiency.
How to Cut Your EV Charging Costs
- •Switch to an EV tariff. Octopus Go, Intelligent Octopus, and EDF GoElectric drop your overnight rate to under 9p/kWh — cutting home charging costs by 60–70% versus the standard cap.
- •Install a smart 7kW charger. A wall charger pays for itself within 18 months for most drivers and lets you schedule charging into off-peak windows automatically.
- •Use rapid chargers only on long trips. Top up at home daily and treat public rapids as motorway emergencies — not your default.
- •Pre-condition your battery in winter. Cold batteries lose 20–30% range. Warming the battery while plugged in (free electricity) saves a chunk of your range.
- •Drive at 60mph instead of 70mph on motorways. Aerodynamic drag rises sharply with speed; this single change can extend range by 15–20%.
EV vs Petrol — Lifetime Fuel Savings
Over a typical 10-year ownership period at 7,400 miles/year, the fuel-cost gap is significant:
- •Petrol car (40 MPG, 145p/L): ~£12,000 in fuel
- •EV on standard tariff (80% home): ~£4,800 in electricity — saving £7,200
- •EV on off-peak tariff (80% home): ~£2,200 in electricity — saving £9,800
That's before you factor in lower servicing costs (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements due to regenerative braking) and lower Vehicle Excise Duty for most older EVs. New EVs from April 2025 onwards now pay standard VED.
Frequently Asked Questions
Illustrative fuel costs by car
Arithmetic examples at 10,000 miles a year using illustrative prices (petrol 142p/L, diesel 148p/L). Click a car for full breakdowns at 8k–15k miles.
| Car | Fuel | Assumed MPG | Annual @10k mi | Per mile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toyota Yaris | petrol | 58 | £1,113 | 11.1p |
| Škoda Octavia | diesel | 58 | £1,160 | 11.6p |
| Vauxhall Astra | diesel | 56 | £1,201 | 12.0p |
| Volkswagen Passat | diesel | 55 | £1,223 | 12.2p |
| Audi A4 | diesel | 53 | £1,269 | 12.7p |
| Vauxhall Corsa | petrol | 50 | £1,291 | 12.9p |
| BMW 3 Series | diesel | 52 | £1,294 | 12.9p |
| Volkswagen Polo | petrol | 49 | £1,317 | 13.2p |
| Ford Fiesta | petrol | 48 | £1,345 | 13.4p |
| Mercedes-Benz C-Class | diesel | 50 | £1,346 | 13.5p |
| Mini Cooper | petrol | 47 | £1,373 | 13.7p |
| Ford Focus | petrol | 47 | £1,373 | 13.7p |
| Volkswagen Golf | petrol | 46 | £1,403 | 14.0p |
| Nissan Qashqai | petrol | 42 | £1,537 | 15.4p |
| Land Rover Range Rover Evoque | diesel | 40 | £1,682 | 16.8p |
| Ford Transit | diesel | 35 | £1,922 | 19.2p |
MPG inputs are generic illustrations, not verified model-year, engine or trim figures. Prices are not live national averages. Use measured MPG and your actual price for a personal estimate.
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