EV running costs · 2026
If you drove electric
Start with what you already know: what you put in at the pump and where you drive. We turn it into what the same life would cost in an electric car.
Part 1
Your usual top up
How much do you usually put in?
£30 of petrol gets you about 170 miles.
The same 170 miles in an EV costs:
Charging at home overnight is where the savings come from. Rapid chargers paid by card are handy on long trips but cost far more, so a home charger matters more than the car's price tag.
Part 2
Your big trip
The drive to family or a holiday you do once or twice a year.
Next step
Ready to charge at home?
Every home charger adds roughly 30 miles of range an hour. The real choice is your parking, your electricity tariff and how you want to plug in.
Help me choose a chargerA cheap lease or used EV looks great on paper. Where you charge decides the rest. Home overnight charging costs a few pence a mile, while relying on rapid chargers paid by card can cost about the same as petrol.
Street lamppost chargers, supermarket chargers and chargers at work, gyms or golf clubs cost more than home overnight but usually less than motorway rapids. Check what is near you before you sign for a car.
Home charger installs are often booked a few weeks ahead. Getting a quote early means you start on cheap overnight charging from day one. Who should install it.
Built for a typical home with no solar or home battery. If you have a battery, see our battery guide. All figures are guide estimates.