EV vs Petrol Cost UK 2026: The Honest Comparison
The EV purchase grant is long gone and electric cars now pay road tax like everyone else. So is an electric car still cheaper to run in the UK? We price home charging at the Ofgem cap average, petrol at the pump, and let the pence-per-mile maths answer the question.
How the playing field works in the UK
There are no per-mile road charges in the UK. Since April 2025, EVs pay standard-rate Vehicle Excise Duty of about £195 a year, and petrol cars pay a similar annual VED plus fuel duty built into the pump price.
Because the annual VED position is broadly similar on both sides, the fair like-for-like comparison is energy: the EV's electricity cost against the petrol car's pump cost. Every figure below is energy only, with VED noted where it matters.
Running Cost per Mile: EV vs Petrol
Typical EV at 16kWh/100km charged at home (25p/kWh Ofgem cap average; the cap changes quarterly). Petrol car at 8.3L/100km (about 34mpg) with petrol estimated at £1.45/L (editorial estimate; pump prices vary).
| Cost component | EV (home charging) | Petrol |
|---|---|---|
| Energy per mile | 6.4p | 19.4p (fuel duty included at the pump) |
| Road tax (VED) | ~£195/yr standard rate (since April 2025) | Similar annual VED, plus fuel duty at the pump |
| Energy per year (8,000 miles) | £515 | £1,549 |
| Energy over 5 years | £2,575 | £7,745 |
On energy, the EV works out about 67% cheaper per mile at cap-average home charging rates: roughly £1,034 a year at 8,000 miles, or £5,170 over five years. EV tariffs with cheap overnight windows and rooftop solar both push the EV column lower still. This table deliberately excludes servicing, insurance and depreciation; servicing generally favours the EV, while insurance and resale vary by model, so compare those for your shortlisted cars.
What Moves the EV Per-Mile Number
| How you charge | Cost per mile | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Home, standard tariff | ~6.4p | At the Ofgem cap average of about 25p/kWh (changes quarterly) |
| Home, EV overnight tariff | Lower | Several UK suppliers sell EV tariffs with cheap overnight windows; rates vary by supplier, so compare before switching. Smart chargers like the Ohme follow the cheap windows automatically. |
| Home, rooftop solar | Near zero at the meter | A solar-diverting charger (Zappi, Hypervolt) sends surplus generation into the car instead of exporting it |
| Public rapid charging | Several times the home rate | Fine for long trips, expensive as a daily habit; the savings case rests on home charging |
EV efficiency assumption: 16kWh/100km. Petrol: 8.3L/100km at an estimated £1.45/L; pump prices vary by week and forecourt.
The purchase maths has a cheat code: salary sacrifice
Running costs are only half the story. If your employer offers an EV salary sacrifice scheme, the car comes out of gross pay before income tax and National Insurance, with Benefit-in-Kind at just 4% in 2026/27. Typical savings are £5,000-15,000 a year versus buying the same car privately, and many schemes bundle a home charger.
How EV salary sacrifice worksCheapest EVs in the UK (2026)
GWM Ora
261 miles range (WLTP) | 63kWh
BYD Dolphin
265 miles range (WLTP) | 60.4kWh
MG4
280 miles range (WLTP) | 64kWh
Volvo EX30
214 miles range (WLTP) | 51kWh
Cupra Born
318 miles range (WLTP) | 77kWh
BYD Atto 3
261 miles range (WLTP) | 60.5kWh
Indicative UK pricing, June 2026. Verify current pricing with the dealer. Every fully electric model can also be leased through an employer salary sacrifice scheme.
Calculate Your Savings
Use our calculator to compare running costs for your specific situation. Select your vehicle, daily driving distance, and solar setup.
For someone driving an illustrative 8,000 miles a year, petrol at an estimated £1.45/L and 8.3L/100km comes to about £1,549 a year. An EV covering the same distance on home charging costs about £515 a year at the cap average, and less again on an EV overnight tariff.
With rooftop solar, the electricity share of your charging drops toward zero, so solar households see the lowest running costs of all. There is no per-mile road charge to add back on either side.
EV Charging Cost Calculator
Compare EV charging costs vs petrol for your driving habits
EV vs Petrol FAQ
Is an EV cheaper to run than a petrol car in the UK?
On energy, usually by a wide margin. Home charging a typical EV (16kWh/100km) at the Ofgem cap average of about 25p/kWh costs around 6.4p per mile. A petrol car using 8.3L/100km at an estimated £1.45/L costs about 19.4p per mile. That makes the EV roughly 67% cheaper per mile at cap-average home charging rates, before you even look at an EV tariff. Overnight EV tariffs and rooftop solar widen the gap further.
Do electric cars pay road tax (VED) in the UK?
Yes. Since April 2025, EVs pay standard-rate Vehicle Excise Duty of about £195 a year, the same annual charge regime petrol cars sit in. There are no per-mile road charges in the UK for either side: petrol cars contribute extra through fuel duty built into the pump price, while an EV charged at home pays only its electricity bill. Because both vehicle types pay a similar annual VED, the per-mile comparison on this page is energy only.
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home vs filling up with petrol?
A typical EV uses about 15-18kWh per 100km. At the Ofgem cap average of around 25p/kWh, a full charge of a 60kWh battery costs about £15 of electricity, and the per-mile cost works out near 6.4p. Petrol costs about 19.4p per mile at an estimated £1.45/L (check current pump prices). Charging on an EV tariff with cheap overnight rates, or from rooftop solar, lowers the EV figure further; public rapid charging costs several times more per kWh than home charging, so the savings case rests on charging at home.
What about EV servicing costs?
EVs have far fewer moving parts (no engine oil, spark plugs, exhaust, or conventional transmission) and regenerative braking means brake pads last much longer. The main service items are tyres, cabin filter, brake fluid and coolant checks, so scheduled servicing is generally simpler and cheaper than for a petrol car. Exact pricing varies by model and dealer, so compare service plans for the specific cars you are weighing up.
Are there any EV grants in the UK?
There is no purchase grant; the plug-in car grant ended in 2022. The tax system route is salary sacrifice through an employer: lease any electric car out of gross pay, pay Benefit-in-Kind at just 4% of the car's value in 2026/27, and typical savings run £5,000-15,000 a year versus buying privately. EV tariffs with cheap overnight rates cut the running cost further. The per-mile advantage shown on this page exists without any subsidy at all.
Ready to Go Electric? Start with a Home Charger
Home charging is where EVs deliver their cost advantage; public rapid charging costs several times more per kWh. PumpSwap connects you with local electricians for free, obligation-free quotes.
Get Free Charger Install QuotesMethodology & Sources
- Road tax: EVs pay standard-rate Vehicle Excise Duty (about £195 a year) since April 2025; petrol cars pay a similar annual VED plus fuel duty at the pump. There are no per-mile road charges in the UK, so the tables compare energy cost only.
- Electricity: Ofgem price cap direct-debit average of about 25p/kWh (the cap changes quarterly). EV tariffs with cheap overnight windows are available from several suppliers; rates vary, so compare tariffs.
- Petrol price: £1.45/L is an editorial estimate for June 2026, used only to illustrate the comparison. Pump prices change weekly; check current local prices.
- Consumption assumptions: EV 16kWh/100km; petrol 8.3L/100km (medium SUV averages). Annual mileage of 8,000 miles is illustrative.
- Salary sacrifice: Benefit-in-Kind on fully electric cars is 4% for 2026/27, rising to 5% in 2027/28 and stepping up to 9% by 2029/30. Accurate as at June 2026.
- This page compares energy costs only. Servicing, insurance, depreciation and purchase price differ by model and are not included in the tables.