EV Charging Cost Calculator UK
Calculate the cost of charging your electric vehicle at home with our free UK EV charging cost calculator. Enter your battery capacity, current and target charge levels, your electricity rate and annual mileage to see the cost per charge, cost per mile and projected annual charging costs. The calculator uses the current Ofgem cap rate of 24.5p per kWh by default.
Electric vehicles are significantly cheaper to run per mile than petrol or diesel cars. Charging at home overnight costs around 5-7p per mile, compared to 15-20p per mile for a typical petrol car. However, the exact cost depends on your electricity tariff, your car's efficiency and how much you drive. Many EV owners save further by switching to a specialist EV tariff with cheaper overnight rates. This calculator helps you model your specific situation so you know exactly what to budget.
Home Charging vs Public Charging in the UK
Home charging is by far the cheapest way to power your electric vehicle. At the current Ofgem cap rate of 24.5p per kWh, a full charge of a 60 kWh battery costs around £14.70, giving you approximately 200 miles of range. By contrast, public rapid chargers typically cost 60-79p per kWh, meaning the same charge could cost £36 to £47. If you can switch to an overnight EV-specific tariff, home charging costs can drop to as little as 7-10p per kWh.
The UK Government has supported the rollout of home chargepoints through the EV chargepoint grant, which provides up to £350 towards installation costs for eligible homeowners. For the latest information on EV grants and energy policy, visit the Ofgem consumer information page.
How Much Does It Cost to Run an EV Per Year?
The average UK driver covers around 7,400 miles per year. At a typical EV efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh and the standard Ofgem rate, that works out to roughly £518 per year in electricity. The same distance in a petrol car averaging 40 mpg at £1.40 per litre would cost around £1,183, saving the EV owner over £660 annually on fuel alone. On an overnight smart tariff at 7.5p per kWh, the EV cost drops to just £159 per year.
Beyond fuel savings, EVs also benefit from lower maintenance costs (no oil changes, fewer brake replacements thanks to regenerative braking) and zero vehicle excise duty for most models until 2025. For a complete view of your electricity costs, try our electricity cost calculator or explore whether solar panels could further reduce your charging costs.
Choosing the Right Charger for Your Home
A standard 3-pin plug delivers around 2.3 kW and can take over 24 hours for a full charge. A dedicated 7 kW wallbox, the most popular choice, charges a typical EV overnight in 6 to 8 hours. Some wallboxes offer smart features that automatically charge during off-peak hours, and solar-compatible models like the myenergi Zappi can use surplus solar energy for free daytime top-ups.
Standard public chargers typically cost around 60p per kWh, while rapid and ultra-rapid chargers cost 79p per kWh or more. Some supermarkets and workplaces offer free destination charging.
In most cases, yes. Home charging costs around 7p per mile, compared to roughly 16p per mile for petrol at 40 mpg. Over 7,400 miles (UK average), that is a saving of roughly £665 per year.
A 7 kW home wallbox charges a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% in about 5 hours. A 50 kW rapid charger does the same in roughly 45 minutes. A 150 kW ultra-rapid charger adds 100 miles in about 15 minutes.
Absolutely. Smart tariffs offer 7–10p/kWh overnight, cutting your per-mile cost to just 2–3p — around 80% cheaper than the standard Ofgem rate.
Yes. A typical 4 kW solar installation generates 10–15 kWh on a good summer day, enough for 35–50 miles of range at zero fuel cost. Smart chargers like the myenergi Zappi can automatically divert only surplus solar energy.
This calculator provides estimates for guidance only. Actual charging costs depend on your tariff, charger efficiency and driving style. This is not financial, legal or professional advice. For information on energy tariffs, visit Ofgem.