EV vs Petrol Running Costs: The UK Driver's Guide
Last updated: May 2025
Fuel prices, electricity tariffs, real-world efficiency, and charging behaviour all affect whether switching to an EV saves you money. This guide explains the key factors for UK drivers.
Skip the reading — run the numbers for your car
Use the EV vs Petrol Cost CalculatorThe single biggest factor: where you charge
Home charging and public charging are priced very differently in the UK, and this single factor often determines whether an EV is economically worthwhile for you.
Home charging on a standard tariff costs around 24–32p/kWh in 2025. On a dedicated EV overnight tariff (like Octopus Go), this can fall to 7–10p/kWh during off-peak hours. At 28p/kWh and 3.5 miles/kWh, home charging costs about 8p per mile.
Public rapid chargingon networks like Pod Point, Osprey, or Gridserve typically costs 60–80p/kWh. At 75p/kWh, that's 21p per mile — more expensive than most petrol cars at current UK pump prices.
Petrol and diesel running costs
A petrol car doing 45 MPG at 143.9p/litre costs approximately 14.4p per mile in fuel. A diesel at 55 MPG and 151.9p/litre costs around 12.6p per mile.
Annual fuel costs for a 10,000-mile driver at these figures:
Petrol — 45 MPG
~£1,450/yr
Diesel — 55 MPG
~£1,253/yr
EV — 80% home charging
~£549/yr
EV — 50% home charging
~£857/yr
Based on defaults: 10,000 mi/yr, 3.5 mi/kWh EV efficiency, 28p/kWh home, 60p/kWh public.
Real-world EV efficiency
Official WLTP efficiency figures for EVs, like official MPG for petrol cars, are measured under test conditions. Real-world efficiency is typically lower.
- Small EVs (e.g. Fiat 500e, Renault Zoe): 3.5–4.5 miles/kWh real-world
- Mid-range EVs (e.g. Tesla Model 3, Hyundai Ioniq 6): 3.0–4.0 miles/kWh
- Large SUVs / performance EVs (e.g. Audi e-tron, BMW iX): 2.0–3.0 miles/kWh
Cold weather significantly reduces EV range and efficiency — factor in 15–25% lower efficiency in winter months, particularly at motorway speeds.
What this calculator doesn't cover
Running costs are only part of the picture. A full cost comparison should also consider:
- ⚠Purchase price and EV premium over an equivalent petrol car
- ⚠Vehicle Excise Duty (road tax) — EVs are currently exempt from the standard rate
- ⚠Servicing and maintenance — EVs have fewer moving parts and lower routine maintenance costs
- ⚠Insurance — varies between models and insurers; EVs can be more expensive to insure
- ⚠Depreciation — varies widely; EVs are depreciating faster than expected on some models
- ⚠Home charger installation — typically £750–£1,200 including the unit, sometimes grant-subsidised
- ⚠Congestion charge and ULEZ — EVs are exempt in London's zones
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost per mile to run an EV in the UK?
At typical UK home charging rates of around 28p/kWh and an EV efficiency of 3.5 miles/kWh, the electricity cost is roughly 8p per mile. If you rely heavily on public rapid charging at 70p/kWh, that rises to around 20p per mile — comparable to a petrol car.
Is it cheaper to run an electric car than a petrol car?
For most drivers who can charge at home overnight, yes — often significantly cheaper. A typical 10,000-mile-per-year driver charging 80% at home can save £700–£1,200 per year compared to a petrol car. Drivers who rely on public charging see much smaller savings, or in some cases higher costs.
What is the break-even point for buying an EV?
The break-even point depends on the price difference between the EV and your petrol car, and your annual running cost saving. With a £2,500 premium and £900/year saving, break-even is around 2.8 years. With a larger £10,000 premium, it could be 10+ years.
Does public charging make EVs more expensive than petrol?
Yes, it can. Rapid charging on public networks typically costs 60–80p/kWh. At 80p/kWh with an EV doing 3.5 miles/kWh, the electricity cost is 22.9p/mile — higher than many petrol cars. Home charging overnight is essential for EVs to be economically competitive.