How much does it cost to charge and run an electric car?
From charging at home to at work and in public, find out the most cost-effective way to run your EV.
As you roll up to the petrol station, filling up your petrol or diesel car is relatively straightforward. Moving from understanding petrol litres to kilowatts, however, may feel like an (electric) shock.
And whether you’re looking to switch from petrol or diesel to electric, it’s important to know some of the costs involved.
In this article, you'll find:
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
This depends on
- the size of the car battery
- where you charge the car
- how quickly you need it charged.
The slower the charge, for the most part, the cheaper the cost.
Is charging an electric car cheaper than filling a car with fuel?
“Charging a medium-sized electric car at home,” says GOV.UK “can cost around half the price of filling up an equivalent petrol vehicle.” Footnote [1] And while a diesel or petrol car can cost around 13p to 17p per mile to fuel, charging an EV at home costs around 8p per mile. Footnote [1]Compared to petrol or diesel cars (cars known as ICE or ones with internal combustion engines), EVs can be cheaper to run because of the lower cost of electricity (more on this below). Footnote [2]
But, there are cost differences based on where and when you might decide to feed your car some kilowatts.
Where and when can I charge my electric car?
Being strategic by planning when and where to charge your EV could bring you the most savings. It can also lessen your range anxiety, or fear that an EV’s battery will run out of power before reaching your destination or a charging point. Footnote [3]
And part of this is also understanding a few points on, well, charge points.
The basics on charge points
Charge points are categorised based on how much power they conduct in kilowatts (kW). The higher the kW, the faster they charge. As you’re researching EVs, you may want to bookmark this table on charge points: Footnote [4]
| Type of Chargepoint | Slow or standard | Fast | Rapid | Ultra-rapid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kilowatt | 7kW or lower | Between 7kW and 22kW | Between 43kW and 50kW | Over 50kW |
| Available kW power | Typically between 3.5kW and 7kW | 22kW | 50kW | 100kW or 150kW, but more powerful units are available |
| Average Recharge Time | 4-8 hours to fully recharge | 2-4 hours to fully recharge | 25-40 minutes for 80% recharge | Currently, few EV models can accept an ultra-rapid charge |
| Miles of Range (per hour) | Around 10-25 miles You’ll need to find an approved electric vehicle chargepoint installer to redeem an OZEV grant. | Around 75 miles | Around 100 miles (in half an hour) | Around 200 miles (in half an hour) |
| Where to Find | Locations where EVs are parked for a long time or overnight, like a home. Some workplaces offer this type of chargepoint. | Places where EVs are parked for a few hours, like shopping centres. | Areas where EVs are parked for a quick break, like service stations. | Public charging locations across the UK. |
| Cost (1 lowest; 5 highest) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 5 |
| Worth Noting | For home installations, check out Gov.UK on grants that may be available towards your chargepoint installation. This grant will come from the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV). You’ll need to find an approved electric vehicle chargepoint installer to redeem an OZEV grant. | Many EVs on sale from 2020 and after are likely to accept 100kW charging. |
So, although you have options at shopping centres and service stations, the most cost-effective way to charge your EV car is usually at home.
And, as you’re filling your belly with supper, the best time to feed your EV car with kilowatts may be at the same time.
Charging your EV at home
Most drivers charge at home overnight and, to help encourage more of this, the UK government brought in regulations in 2022 to make sure charging infrastructure is available where there’s parking for:
- new homes
- new non-residential buildings
- buildings undergoing major renovations. Footnote [1]
The cheapest and most convenient way to charge your EV, if your home has a driveway or garage, is by installing a dedicated charge point. Footnote [2]But it’s worth noting that installing a charge point can range in price.
From the brand of the charge point to its installation costs, it’s important to do your research. And it may be worth exploring charge point grants from the UK government.
1. EV charge point grant for renters and flat owners – if you are an EV driver who rents or owns a flat, this grant gives you money towards the cost of buying and installing an EV charge point socket at your property.
“You can get 75% off the cost to buy and install a socket,” according to GOV.UK, “up to a maximum of £350.” Footnote [5] And you can apply for the grant if you:
- own and live in a flat
- rent any residential property (including those under the shared ownership scheme)
- have dedicated, off-street parking.
Check out GOV.UK for more details on closing dates, vehicle requirements, property requirements, and finding OZEV-approved models and installers. And make sure to check out the eligibility criteria.
2. Electric Vehicle Charge point Grant for Households with On-Street Parking – if you’re an EV driver living in a residential area with on-street parking, this grant could give you 75% off the cost of buying and installing a charge point socket (up to a maximum of £350). Footnote [6] For this grant, you’ll need to:
- own or rent a residential property in which you live
- have on-street parking, based on your local planning and highways authorities
- have permission from your local planning and highways authorities to install a charge point between your home and your parking space.
Explore all the relevant details of this grant on GOV.UK. And check out our article on government grants for electric cars.
As you’re discovering the options for chargepoint models and installation costs, you may also check out which energy providers give the best tariffs for EV households. Energy companies may have tariffs for EV owners who use electricity from home to charge their car.Footnote [7]
What is smart charging?
Smart charging is a way to charge your EV at times when the demand for electricity is low. This is usually in the evenings and when there’s lots of renewable energy on the grid. Footnote [8]
Charging your EV at home during these off-peak hours could not only reduce costs by using cheaper energy rates, but it may also prevent unwanted gaps of high demand for electricity from the grid. And by delaying charging times at peak periods until overnight, smart charging could save an average driver up to £200 and a high mileage driver up to £1,000 a year.Footnote [8]
There are different ways of smart charging, including:
- having a non-smart chargepoint, but charging your EV at off-peak times by plugging in your car during low-cost periods
- some EVs having an internal feature to schedule charging at off-peak times
- a smart chargepoint with an app or interface allows you to set when your EV charges
- signing up to an energy supplier with EV energy tariff that allows them to manage your smart charging remotely
- V2X, although not widely available yet, means ‘vehicle-to-everything’ and involves technology that allows for the energy stored within your EV battery to be used in your home.
Getting a government grant for the chargepoint model and installation, signing up to the most cost-effective energy tariff and using smart-charging are all positive steps to saving on running your EV.
Charging your EV at work
While you’re working hard in the office, grabbing your energy from the team coffee machine, your EV could use that time to zap up some energy too. With numerous UK government grants helping businesses install charge points, it’s worth chatting with your line manager or HR about what options are available for your EV car.
And while some employers may choose to charge staff for plugging in their cars at work, or offer a certain time amount for free, others may offer charging as a free perk. Some businesses may also see free on-site charging as an incentive to increase EV drivers among their workforce.
“In addition to helping our employees go green with our Electric Car Salary Sacrifice Scheme,” says Stuart Wright, Aviva’s Operations Net Zero Delivery Director, “we’re also delighted to provide on-site charging points in some office locations. As part of our COP declaration, alongside governments and other businesses, we hope to encourage the global goal of new cars and vans being zero emission by 2040. And, within Aviva, have set the ambitious target for our UK and Irish company vehicles to be EVs by the end of 2025, and in Canada by end of 2027.”
Charging your EV at a public charging point
This means charging your EV at a station that is accessible to and usable by all. There are charging points across the UK, including (some):
- retail car parks
- supermarkets
- motorway service station
- public parking garages
One way to find a public charge point is by installing a charging station app on your smartphone.
There are four main steps to follow when using a public chargepoint:
- Charging cable – find the charging cable
- Connect your car – connect the charging cable to your car’s charging port
- Authenticate to start – once you’re all connected, you may need to authenticate yourself so the charging station can sort out the payment. You may need a keycard, fob or smartphone app
- End the session – when you’re ready to end the charging session, either use the app to stop charging to swipe your card/fob again. Once all done, unplug the cable and pop it back on the charger (unless it’s yours and lives in the boot).
What if my car runs out of charge?
If your car runs out of charge:
- if possible, pull over somewhere safe, turning your wheels away from the road
- use your parking brake and turn your hazard lights on so others can see you
- leave your vehicle and move to safety
- once you’re safe, contact a recovery service and your insurance company.
Most importantly, try not to panic. It’s the same feeling as staring at the petrol tank line as it hovers precariously on ‘E’ while you’re scanning the horizon for petrol stations. We’ve all (most of us) been there.
To help ease range anxiety, make sure to have car insurance that covers your EV if it runs out of charge. With our car insurance, if your electric car runs out of charge an RAC mechanic will come out and either:
- charge your battery to get you to a working charge point
- transport you, your vehicle, and passengers to a working charge point or your home (whichever is closer).Footnote [9]
How much could it cost to maintain and service an electric car?
While ICE cars have hundreds of moving parts, many of which will need maintaining throughout their lifetime, EVs don’t have the same concern. Yes, EVs have some moving parts (around 20) but servicing an EV may be cheaper. |
Do I have to pay road tax on my electric car?
Nope. Currently, until April 2025, electric cars are free to tax. Plus, EVs aren’t included in the surcharge that applies to cars costing more than £40,000 new. But for new EVs with a list price over £40,000, you'll need to pay the expensive car supplement from the second payment going forward (applies to cars registered on or after 1 April 2024).
And you can learn more on whether electric cars need MOT & tax.
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