How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home compared to public charging or petrol? Enter your mileage, electricity rate, and driving habits below to see an instant annual cost comparison across five charging scenarios.
| Scenario | Annual Cost | Cost per Mile | vs Petrol |
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How We Calculate EV Charging Costs
The formula is simple. Divide your annual mileage by your EV’s efficiency (miles per kWh) to get total kWh needed. Then multiply by the electricity rate for each scenario. For petrol, we convert MPG to litres per mile using the 4.546 litres-per-gallon factor. Then we multiply by the price per litre.
The solar scenario assumes 60% of your charging comes from free solar generation. This reflects a typical 4kW system in southern England. Most generation happens in spring and summer. The remaining 40% charges at your standard home rate. Your actual split depends on panel size, orientation, and how often the car is home during daylight. For a detailed breakdown, see our solar panels and EV charging guide.
All default values reflect Q2 2026 pricing. The Ofgem price cap sets the standard rate at 24.5p/kWh. Off-peak rates are based on Octopus Go at 7.5p between midnight and 5:30am. Public rates use the Zap-Map rapid charger average (50kW+). These range from 55p to 79p/kWh depending on network and speed.
- Home charging costs 5-7p per mile - charging a typical EV at home on a standard tariff costs around £515 per year for 7,400 miles
- Off-peak tariffs cut costs by 70% - switching to an EV-specific tariff like Octopus Go drops charging to 2p per mile, saving over £350 annually
- Public charging costs 3x more than home - rapid chargers at 65p/kWh work out at 18.6p per mile, closer to petrol than home electricity
- Petrol costs £1,575 per year - a 40 MPG car at 145p/litre costs 21.3p per mile, making even public EV charging slightly cheaper
- Solar panels can reduce EV charging to near zero - excess solar generation during summer months can charge your EV for free, cutting annual costs to £200-300
Home Charging Costs Explained
Home charging is the cheapest way to run an EV. It costs 5-7p per mile on a standard tariff and as low as 2p per mile on an off-peak deal. Our calculator covers the three options available to most UK homeowners: standard rate, off-peak smart tariff, and solar-assisted charging.
Standard Tariff Charging
Plugging in on your normal rate costs around 7p per mile at the Q2 2026 Ofgem cap of 24.5p/kWh. For the average UK driver doing 7,400 miles per year, that is roughly £515 annually. That is less than a third of what a 40 MPG petrol car costs for the same distance. The advantage is simplicity: plug in when you get home, unplug in the morning, and your car is full every day.
A 7kW home charger adds 25-30 miles of range per hour. An overnight 8-hour charge delivers 200+ miles, more than enough for most commutes. If your mileage is below average, standard tariff charging may suit you best. The £350 annual saving from an off-peak tariff may not justify the higher daytime rate. See our cheapest EV chargers UK guide for hardware costs.
Off-Peak Smart Tariff Charging
EV-specific tariffs slash charging costs by 70%. Octopus Go offers 7.5p/kWh from midnight to 5:30am. Intelligent Octopus Go adds smart scheduling at the same rate. At 7.5p/kWh, 7,400 miles costs just £159 per year – roughly £13 per month to fuel your car. The trade-off is a higher daytime rate of 27-30p/kWh, adding a penny or two per unit to other household electricity.
Intelligent Octopus Go requires a compatible smart charger (Ohme, Hypervolt, or Indra) and a smart meter. The tariff schedules your charging during the cheapest window automatically. Your car still reaches your target charge by morning. For most EV owners who charge overnight at home, this is the single biggest cost reduction available.
Solar-Assisted Charging
If you have solar panels and charge during daylight, much of your EV energy is effectively free. A 4kW array in southern England generates roughly 3,400 kWh per year. A typical EV needs around 2,100 kWh for 7,400 miles. The challenge is timing: solar peaks between 10am and 3pm, when many cars are at work rather than plugged in at home.
For home workers or households with a second car, solar charging is transformative. Our calculator assumes 60% solar coverage. That is realistic for a home-based worker with a 4kW system in the Midlands or further south. Annual charging drops to around £200 – less than £17 per month.
A solar battery can push coverage above 80% by storing excess daytime generation. However, battery costs of £4,000-6,000 extend the payback period. For a full analysis, see our solar panels and EV charging guide.
Why Home Charging Is Cheaper Than Public Networks
Public rapid chargers cost 65p/kWh on average in 2026. That is 2.5 times more expensive than home electricity at the Ofgem cap rate. Operators pay commercial electricity rates and install expensive hardware. A single 150kW rapid charger costs £40,000-100,000. Add forecourt lease costs, maintenance, payment processing, and profit margins on top.
At 65p/kWh, public charging costs 18.6p per mile. That is only slightly cheaper than petrol at 21.3p per mile. For drivers who rely entirely on public networks (flat dwellers, for example), the cost advantage of an EV shrinks dramatically. The savings case depends on home charging access. That is why installing a home charger should be the first investment any new EV owner makes.
Subscription plans from Osprey and BP Pulse can reduce rates to 50-55p for frequent users. Some workplaces also offer free or subsidised charging. But even at 50p/kWh, public charging costs double the home standard rate. It costs six times the off-peak rate. The maths is clear: if you can charge at home, you should.
How to Reduce Your EV Charging Costs
Beyond choosing the right tariff, several practical steps can cut your EV running costs further. The biggest lever is your electricity rate, but efficiency gains from driving habits and charger choice also make a measurable difference over a year of driving.
Switch to an EV-Specific Tariff
This is the single most impactful change you can make. Switching from the Ofgem standard rate (24.5p/kWh) to Octopus Go (7.5p off-peak) saves over £350 per year. Intelligent Octopus Go optimises charge times around grid demand, sometimes offering rates below 5p/kWh. OVO Charge Anytime and EDF GoElectric offer similar off-peak deals at 8-10p. Compare tariffs every 6-12 months as new products launch regularly.
Install Solar Panels
A 4kW solar system costs £5,500-7,500 installed. It generates enough to cover 50-80% of a typical EV’s annual charging needs. The exact figure depends on your location and schedule. Combined with an off-peak tariff for overnight top-ups, solar can cut your per-mile cost below 1.5p. The system pays for itself faster when you include household electricity savings too. For complete costings, see our solar panels and EV charging guide.
Choose a Smart Charger
Smart chargers from Ohme, Hypervolt, and myenergi let you schedule off-peak charging automatically. They also track energy usage and integrate with solar diverters. The Zappi is ideal for solar owners because it detects surplus generation and diverts it to the car. Smart chargers cost £50-200 more than basic units but pay back the difference within months. See our best home EV chargers guide for our top picks.
Drive Efficiently
EV efficiency varies with driving style. Gentle acceleration and moderate motorway speeds (60 mph vs 70 mph) help. Heavy use of regenerative braking can improve efficiency from 3.5 to 4.2 miles/kWh. That is a 20% improvement, directly cutting your cost per mile. Pre-conditioning the cabin while plugged in also helps. Heating or cooling before departure uses grid electricity instead of draining the battery.
