Electric Car Running Cost Calculator

At 24p/kWh (typical 2026 home rate), charging a 75kWh battery from empty costs about £18. Most EVs achieve 3–4 miles per kWh, giving a home charging cost of 6–8p per mile — significantly cheaper than petrol at 13–18p per mile.

Most public rapid chargers (50–150kW) charge 65–85p/kWh. At 75p/kWh and 3.5 miles/kWh, that's around 21p/mile — close to or exceeding the cost per mile of a petrol car. Having home charging access is the biggest factor in EV economics.

EVs have fewer moving parts — no oil changes, no exhaust system, simpler transmission. Typical annual service costs for an EV are £100–£180 vs £150–£300+ for a petrol car. Brake wear is also reduced due to regenerative braking. Tyres wear faster on some EVs due to higher weight and instant torque.

Most EVs achieve 3–4 miles/kWh in mixed driving. Small city EVs (e.g. MG4, Nissan Leaf) typically achieve 3.5–4.5 miles/kWh. Larger SUVs or performance EVs (e.g. Kia EV9, Tesla Model X) typically achieve 2.5–3.5 miles/kWh. Cold weather and motorway driving reduce efficiency by 15–30%.