It turns battery use or journey energy into a cost estimate using the tariff, battery size and charging-loss assumptions you choose. Public rapid-charging pricing, standing charges and future tariff changes are not folded into the estimate.
EV CHARGING
EV charging cost calculator
Estimated annual charging cost
£857
- Energy from charger
- 3175 kWh
- Cost per mile
- 8.6p
Charging costs are not one number. Home charging, off-peak EV tariffs and public rapid chargers can produce very different pence-per-mile outcomes for the same car. This page keeps those assumptions visible so you can compare charging strategies.
It turns battery use or journey energy into a cost estimate using the tariff, battery size and charging-loss assumptions you choose. Public rapid-charging pricing, standing charges and future tariff changes are not folded into the estimate.
With a 60 kWh battery and 3.5 miles per kWh, a home tariff of 27p/kWh produces a full-charge cost of about £4.63. The same battery on an off-peak EV tariff at 8p/kWh costs about £1.37, while a rapid public charger at 79p/kWh costs about £13.54. That is roughly 7.7p per mile at home, 2.3p off-peak and 22.6p on a rapid charger before any extra charging loss.
- Do not compare a home rate with a rapid charger as if they were the same charging context; the result can differ by several multiples.
- Do not forget charging losses. A car does not turn every kWh at the socket into stored battery energy.
- Do not treat the result as a total ownership cost; insurance, depreciation and servicing sit elsewhere.
- Home, off-peak and rapid charging use different tariff structures, so the same battery fill can cost very different amounts.
- Charging losses, standing charges and public-network convenience fees can move the real-world answer away from the simple unit-rate estimate.
- Battery size, efficiency and annual mileage matter more than the headline tariff alone when you compare overall charging budgets.
Rate comparison at a glance
The useful comparison is not just the total charge cost, but the gap between charging modes. A 60 kWh battery at 3.5 miles per kWh needs roughly 17.1 kWh for 60 miles of driving, so small tariff changes become meaningful over a year.
- Home charging
- 27p/kWh · £4.63 per full charge
- Off-peak EV tariff
- 8p/kWh · £1.37 per full charge
- Rapid public charging
- 79p/kWh · £13.54 per full charge
- Per mile
- 7.7p home · 2.3p off-peak · 22.6p rapid
Quick read: if most charging happens at home, the yearly budget is usually much easier to control than if you rely on rapid public charging for a large share of miles.
For most drivers, the decision is not whether EV charging is always cheap, but which mix of home and public charging keeps the budget under control without changing the journey pattern too much.
SOURCES & REVIEW
Checked against official guidance
Last reviewed 1 September 2026 · Rule version GB-2026.27.1
Daily/weekly source monitoring. If a source changes, the affected rule set is reviewed before publication.
All source links are kept visible so you can verify the figures used on this page.
Source line: Current build uses 27p/kWh home, 8p/kWh off-peak and 79p/kWh rapid. The same energy swing can move a full 60 kWh charge from about £4.63 at home to £13.54 on rapid public charging.
Ofgem: Energy advice ↗MoneyHelper: Car running costs ↗Sources, methodology and update policy →Report an issue or correction →WHY RESULTS DIFFER
Why two users can see different results
Why the result can differ
Different tax codes, payroll periods, Scottish bands, pension methods or lender assumptions can change the outcome.
One-off bonuses, pay frequency, overpayments, allowances and reliefs can move the result away from a simple annual estimate.
Where a rule depends on eligibility or legal status, this page shows an estimate and links to official guidance.
This section is intentionally repeated on key tools so the explanation stays near the result instead of being hidden in a separate policy page.
COMMON QUESTIONS
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car at home?
Multiply the battery size in kWh by your electricity unit rate, then allow for charging losses.
Is charging an EV cheaper than petrol?
Usually yes at home, especially on an off-peak tariff. Public rapid charging can get close to or exceed petrol cost per mile.
What is an EV tariff?
It is an electricity tariff with a cheaper overnight charging window, often designed for EV owners and smart charging.
Why is public rapid charging so expensive?
You are paying for commercial electricity, infrastructure, grid access and convenience rather than a home unit rate.
Do I lose energy when charging?
Yes. Some energy is lost between the plug and the battery, so real charging cost is slightly higher than a perfect transfer.
Does the result include standing charges?
No. This page focuses on energy used for charging; standing charges and fixed contract costs are separate.
Should I compare per-mile or full-charge cost?
Both can help, but per-mile is usually the better comparison for driving budgets and daily running costs.
Does rapid charging damage the calculation?
No. It changes the cost assumption, not the battery physics. The page is about price, not battery health.