Are Electric Cars
Cheaper to Run?
On home electricity, a UK EV costs roughly 2 to 4p per mile to charge against 15 to 18p per mile for an equivalent petrol car. Servicing is cheaper too. Once you add in road tax, fuel duty and the maintenance gap, the running cost case for EVs is clear.
Yes. A UK EV charged at home on a standard tariff costs around 7 to 8p per mile in electricity. On an off-peak EV tariff like Octopus Go that drops to 2 to 3p per mile. A typical petrol hatchback costs 15 to 18p per mile in fuel. Servicing is also significantly cheaper because EVs have fewer moving parts. Total annual savings for the average UK driver run to £900 to £1,500.
Off-Peak Charging Cost
Charging on Octopus Go or similar overnight tariffs at 7.5p per kWh works out to around 2p per mile for a typical EV.
Petrol Cost Per Mile
Typical UK petrol hatchback at 45 mpg with petrol around £1.45 per litre costs around 16p per mile in fuel alone.
Servicing Cost
EV annual servicing typically runs 50 to 60 percent less than petrol equivalents thanks to fewer moving parts and no oil changes.
Typical Annual Saving
Average UK driver doing 8,000 miles saves around £900 to £1,500 per year switching from petrol to EV (excludes purchase price gap).
What this page covers
How EV running costs compare to petrol
The headline saving in EV ownership comes from the cost of energy. UK electricity from a home wall socket costs around 25p per kWh on a standard tariff. Off-peak EV tariffs (Octopus Go, Intelligent Octopus, OVO Charge Anytime) drop the overnight rate to as low as 7.5p per kWh. A typical EV uses around 3.5 to 4 miles per kWh in real world driving.
Do the maths and that means standard tariff charging works out to around 6 to 7p per mile. Off-peak charging works out to around 2p per mile. A petrol hatchback at 45 mpg burning £1.45 per litre fuel costs 16p per mile. The difference is significant.
Public charging is more expensive
The picture changes if you cannot charge at home. UK public rapid chargers cost 60 to 80p per kWh which works out to around 16 to 22p per mile. That is similar to or slightly above petrol cost. The UK EV cost case relies heavily on home charging being available. Drivers without driveways need to weigh this carefully.
Servicing savings
EV servicing is genuinely cheaper because there is less to service. No oil and filter changes. No spark plugs. No timing belts. No exhaust system. Brake pads last 2 to 3 times longer thanks to regenerative braking. The main service items on an EV are tyres, cabin filter, brake fluid every couple of years and battery coolant flushes at longer intervals.
Most EV manufacturers quote service costs around 40 to 60 percent below petrol equivalents over the first 5 years of ownership. Tesla and several others have moved to condition-based servicing rather than fixed annual intervals.
Road tax and incidentals
From April 2025 EVs pay standard rate VED at £190 per year. EVs costing over £40,000 also pay the expensive car supplement. ULEZ and most clean air zones still exempt EVs. Many UK employers still offer salary sacrifice schemes that further cut the cost of a company-car EV. Some local authorities also offer free or discounted parking for EVs.
Cost per mile comparison (UK 2026)
How EV running cost stacks up over a year
Energy cost (8,000 mi/year)
EV on off-peak tariff: around £160. EV on standard tariff: around £560. Petrol equivalent: around £1,280.
Servicing (annual)
EV typical annual service: £80 to £150. Petrol equivalent: £200 to £350. Savings of £100+ per year.
Road tax (VED)
From April 2025 EVs pay £190 standard VED. Petrol cars pay similar or slightly more depending on emissions band.
Total annual saving
Off-peak charging EV vs petrol hatchback: roughly £900 to £1,500 per year for average UK mileage.
Where EV running cost wins and loses
Wins on home charging
Off-peak overnight charging is the killer feature. Tariffs as low as 7.5p per kWh make per-mile cost a third of petrol.
Wins on servicing
No oil changes, no spark plugs, no timing belts. Fewer wear items means lower routine service costs across ownership.
Wins on brakes
Regenerative braking does most of the slowing. Brake pads and discs last 2 to 3 times longer than petrol equivalents.
Loses on public charging
UK public rapid chargers at 60 to 80p per kWh cost similar to or above petrol per mile. Home charging access matters.
Petrol hatchback (45 mpg)
- Fuel cost: 15 to 18p per mile
- Annual fuel: £1,200 to £1,500
- Annual service: £200 to £350
- Brake pads: every 25,000 to 35,000 mi
- Oil and filters every 12,000 mi
- Standard VED rate
Equivalent UK EV
- Energy cost: 2 to 7p per mile
- Annual electricity: £160 to £560
- Annual service: £80 to £150
- Brake pads: every 60,000 to 80,000 mi
- No oil or spark plugs
- Standard VED from April 2025
Running cost is one piece of the EV decision. The full EV Charger Guidance hub covers home charger install, battery longevity, the buying decision and the practical questions that go alongside the financial side.
If running cost is your priority, our guide on how much does it cost to run an electric car drills into the annual numbers. The charging side is in how much does it cost to charge an electric car. For the free charging angle see is it free to charge an electric car.
Common questions
How much do EVs cost to charge per mile in the UK?
Do EVs really need less servicing than petrol cars?
What about EV insurance premiums?
Can I really save £1,000+ per year switching to an EV?
What if I cannot charge at home?
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