Guide · 14
EV running cost per mile vs petrol in the UK
Charge at home and an EV costs roughly 2p to 9p a mile. A typical petrol car costs about 16p to 20p. Lean heavily on public rapid chargers, though, and most of that gap disappears.
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The short version: charged at home, an EV costs about 7.5p a mile at the standard capped rate, or around 2p a mile on an overnight EV tariff. A petrol car costs about 16–20p a mile. Rely on rapid public chargers, though, and the EV can end up dearer.
Cost per mile is the simplest fair comparison, because it ignores tank and battery sizes. We use official prices only: the Ofgem price cap, supplier tariff pages and the government's weekly pump prices. For your own car, mileage and tariff, try the EV Cost Comparison.
Two simple sums
- EV: price per kWh ÷ miles per kWh = pence per mile.
- Petrol or diesel: price per litre × 4.546 ÷ mpg = pence per mile (there are 4.546 litres in a UK gallon).
If you can, use miles per kWh measured from the socket, as that includes charging losses. Most family EVs manage 3 to 4 miles per kWh over a year, less in winter.
Electric: pence per mile
At home it ranges from about 2p a mile on the cheapest night tariffs to 7.5p at the price cap. Public chargers at 50p–75p per kWh push it to roughly 14p–21p.
See the numbers
| Electricity price | p/kWh | 3.0 mi/kWh | 3.5 mi/kWh | 4.0 mi/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price cap average | 26.32p | 8.8p | 7.5p | 6.6p |
| OVO Charge Anytime (pay as you go) | 13.33p | 4.4p | 3.8p | 3.3p |
| British Gas EV Power | 9.5p | 3.2p | 2.7p | 2.4p |
| EDF GoElectric | 6.66p | 2.2p | 1.9p | 1.7p |
| Intelligent Octopus Go (from, checked 31 Oct 2026) | 6.5p | 2.2p | 1.9p | 1.6p |
| Public charger, example 50p | 50p | 16.7p | 14.3p | 12.5p |
| Public charger, example 75p | 75p | 25.0p | 21.4p | 18.8p |
Home rates checked 24 October 2026. Public rates vary by network and site, so the 50p and 75p rows are examples only.
Petrol and diesel: pence per mile
At UK average pump prices for the week starting 26 October 2026 (174.07p a litre for petrol, 199.22p for diesel), most cars cost about 15p–20p a mile.
See the numbers
| Car | Fuel economy | Pence per mile |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | 40 mpg | 19.8p |
| Petrol | 50 mpg | 15.8p |
| Diesel | 50 mpg | 18.1p |
| Diesel | 60 mpg | 15.1p |
Over a year
See the numbers
The EV does 3.5 miles per kWh, so it uses about 2,286 kWh. Overnight EV tariffs: 6.66p to 9.5p per kWh.
Where you charge is what matters most. Mostly at home overnight? An EV is far cheaper per mile. Mostly on public rapids? The gap shrinks and can reverse. Our public charging reality check digs into this.
Free EV facts poster
The numbers on this page, on one A4-shaped poster: what 10,000 miles costs in an EV charged at home, at the price cap and on rapid chargers, compared with petrol and diesel. Free to print, share or pin up at work.
Download PDF (3.7 MB) Download PNG, 2480×3508 (3.0 MB)
Licence: the poster is shared under CC BY-SA 4.0 because it uses CC BY-SA photos. Photo credits, as shown on the poster (Wikimedia Commons): Tesla Model Y and MG4 © M 93 (CC BY-SA 3.0 DE); Volvo EX30 Alexander-93 (CC BY-SA 4.0); Kia EV3 Alexander Migl (CC BY-SA 4.0); VW ID.3 Vauxford (CC BY-SA 4.0). Figures: Ofgem price cap Oct–Dec 2026, DESNZ pump prices w/c 26 Oct 2026, Intelligent Octopus Go from 7.9p/kWh (8.0p used).
What cost per mile leaves out
Fuel is only part of the story. Depreciation, insurance, servicing and car tax matter too. Since April 2025 electric cars pay vehicle excise duty, and expensive ones pay the supplement as well: see EV car tax explained. The EV Cost Comparison includes all of these.
Prices with and without VAT
See the numbers
| Price | Incl. VAT | Excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Unleaded, UK average, DESNZ (week of 26 Oct 2026) | 174.07 p/litre | 145.06 p/litre |
| Diesel, UK average, DESNZ (week of 26 Oct 2026) | 199.22 p/litre | 166.02 p/litre |
| Ofgem price cap unit rate, GB (1 Oct–31 Dec 2026) | 26.32 p/kWh | 26.32 p/kWh |
| IONITY Direct | 83 p/kWh | 69.17 p/kWh |
Petrol, diesel and public charging: VAT 20%. Home electricity in Great Britain: 0% VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (normally 5%; Northern Ireland stays at 5%), so the price cap figure is the same with or without VAT (HMRC VAT Notice 701/19). Households always pay the VAT-inclusive price.
Frequently asked questions
What is the cost per mile of an electric car in the UK?
Charged at home at the October to December 2026 price cap of 26.32p per kWh, an EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh costs about 7.5p a mile. On an overnight EV tariff at 6.66p to 9.5p per kWh, it is about 1.9p to 2.7p a mile.
What is the cost per mile of a petrol car?
At the government's average pump price of 174.07p a litre for the week starting 26 October 2026, a 40 mpg petrol car costs about 19.8p a mile, and a 50 mpg car about 15.8p a mile.
Is an EV always cheaper to run than petrol?
Not always. If you rely on public rapid chargers at 75p per kWh, an EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh costs about 21.4p a mile, which is more than an efficient petrol car.
Related guides
- EV vs petrol: what actually drives cost
- How much does it cost to charge a Tesla in the UK?
- Intelligent Octopus Go vs other UK EV tariffs
- Public charging reality check
Sources (all checked 24 October 2026)
- Department for Energy Security and Net Zero: Weekly road fuel prices (week commencing 26 October 2026, published 27 October 2026: petrol 174.07p, diesel 199.22p a litre)
- Ofgem: Energy price cap unit rates and standing charges (1 October to 31 December 2026: 26.32p/kWh, 54.83p/day, Direct Debit average)
- OVO: Charge Anytime (13.33p/kWh pay as you go from 1 October 2026, or monthly mileage plans)
- British Gas: EV Power (9.5p/kWh, 00:00–05:00; 25% off with Hive Power+)
- Octopus Energy: Intelligent Octopus Go (from 6.5p/kWh, 23:30–05:30, £50 exit fee; checked 31 October 2026)
- EDF: GoElectric (6.66p/kWh, 23:00–06:00, £75 exit fee)
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Compare public charger prices: Prices change, check before you charge. The price shown in the operator’s app or on the charger is the one you pay.