Charging an electric car can be far cheaper than filling a petrol tank — or surprisingly close to it, depending on where you plug in. Here's how UK EV charging costs really break down.
How EV charging is priced
Unlike petrol and diesel, which are sold per litre, electricity is sold per kilowatt-hour (kWh) — the unit of energy. The price you pay per kWh varies enormously depending on where and how you charge, from a few pence at home overnight to well over 80p at a public rapid charger.
Charging at home: the cheapest option
If you can charge at home, it's almost always the cheapest way to run an EV. On a standard energy tariff you'll pay your normal domestic electricity rate per kWh. But the real savings come from a dedicated EV tariff with a cheap overnight window — some offer a few hours of very low-rate electricity each night, often a fraction of the daytime price. Charging your car while you sleep on one of these tariffs is the single biggest way to cut EV running costs.
A typical family EV has a battery of around 60kWh. Filling it from near-empty on a cheap overnight rate can cost just a few pounds — the equivalent of pennies per mile, far less than petrol.
Public charging: convenient but pricier
Public chargers are graded by speed, and faster generally means dearer:
- Slow / fast (up to 22kW) — found at car parks, supermarkets and on-street. Cheaper per kWh, but slower; good for topping up while you're parked anyway.
- Rapid (50–99kW) — common at service areas and forecourts; adds a useful range in 30–60 minutes.
- Ultra-rapid (100kW and above) — the fastest public option, adding substantial range in 15–20 minutes, but usually the most expensive per kWh.
Public rapid and ultra-rapid charging can cost several times more per kWh than cheap home charging. For drivers who can only use public chargers, the cost per mile can approach — and occasionally exceed — that of an efficient petrol car, so it pays to compare charger prices just as you would pump prices.
Why VAT makes public charging dearer
There's a quirk in the tax system: electricity used at home is charged 5% VAT, but electricity from a public charger is charged the full 20%. That difference alone widens the gap between home and public charging, and it's one reason home charging is so much cheaper for those who have the option.
The bottom line
If you can charge at home — especially overnight on an EV tariff — running an electric car is dramatically cheaper than petrol or diesel. If you rely on public charging, the savings shrink, so comparing charger prices and choosing slower, cheaper options when you have time can make a real difference. PumpScout shows live public charging rates alongside petrol and diesel prices so you can compare them side by side.