Free Tool
EV Charging Cost Calculator
Compare what it costs to run your EV on home charging, an off-peak tariff or public rapid chargers, and see how much you save against petrol every year.
The cost to charge an EV at home is the energy added in kWh multiplied by your electricity unit price. On an off-peak EV tariff of roughly 7 to 9p per kWh, a full charge can cost only a few pounds, far cheaper than petrol or public rapid charging. This calculator compares all three.
Interactive Tool
EV Charging Cost Calculator
Cost per mile, home charging vs petrol
8.3p vs 15.4p
Save £569 a year charging at home
Based on 8,000 miles a year at 3.5 mi/kWh
| Per mile | Full charge / tank equiv. | Per year | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home | 8.3p | £17.33 | £660 |
| Public rapid | 25.1p | £52.67 | £2,006 |
| Petrol | 15.4p | £32.28 | £1,230 |
Electric costs include roughly 10 percent charging losses. Real-world figures vary with driving style, weather and battery temperature.
How this is calculated
Electric cost per mile is your tariff rate divided by your car's efficiency in miles per kWh, with a 10 percent uplift to cover energy lost between the plug and the battery during AC charging. A full charge is your battery size multiplied by the rate, adjusted for the same losses.
The petrol comparison converts the pump price per litre into a price per gallon (4.546 litres), then divides by your car's mpg to get a cost per mile. The tank equivalent shows what petrol would cost to cover the same miles as one full charge. Annual figures multiply each cost per mile by your yearly mileage.
Tariffs and fuel prices change frequently, so treat these figures as a guide rather than a quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Multiply the kWh you add by your unit rate. Charging a 60kWh battery from near-empty on an 8p off-peak rate costs under £5, versus roughly three to four times that on a standard daytime rate.
How much can an off-peak EV tariff save?
Dedicated overnight EV tariffs are often a fraction of the standard unit rate, so shifting charging to those hours can cut charging costs by two-thirds or more compared with charging at the day rate.
Is home charging cheaper than public charging?
Almost always. Public rapid chargers cost considerably more per kWh than home electricity, especially off-peak. Home charging is the cheapest option for most drivers, with public charging best kept for longer trips.
How much cheaper is an EV than petrol per mile?
On an off-peak home tariff, per-mile energy cost is typically a small fraction of petrol. The calculator shows your pence-per-mile for each charging option next to a petrol equivalent.
