RealCost Guide
Electric Car Cost Per Mile UK
Electric car cost per mile depends on electricity price, miles per kWh, charging losses and where you charge. Home charging can be cheap, but public rapid charging can completely change the result.
Use this page to estimate EV charging cost per mile, compare home and public charging, and understand why the full cost of running an electric car can be higher than the charging cost alone.
EV cost per mile is not one fixed number
The same electric car can look very cheap per mile when charged at home and much more expensive when charged mostly on public rapid chargers.
For a realistic result, use the electricity price you actually pay and include charging losses where possible.
Calculate electric car charging cost
Use the EV Charging Cost Calculator to estimate charging cost using electricity price, battery size, efficiency, annual mileage and charging losses. To estimate pence per mile, compare the charging cost against the miles driven.
This estimates charging cost, not full EV ownership cost. Insurance, tyres, servicing, depreciation and purchase price still matter.
Quick answer: electric car charging cost per mile is usually lowest when you charge mostly at home and the car is efficient. Public rapid charging can make an EV much more expensive per mile, especially on longer journeys or if you cannot charge at home.
How to calculate electric car cost per mile
For charging cost per mile, you need the electricity price and the car’s efficiency.
Step 1
Find your electricity price per kWh. Use your real home, work or public charging price.
Step 2
Estimate your EV efficiency in miles per kWh. Higher miles per kWh means lower cost per mile.
Step 3
Divide electricity price by miles per kWh, then allow for charging losses if you want a more realistic result.
Simple formula: EV charging cost per mile = electricity price per kWh ÷ miles per kWh. Add a charging loss allowance for a more realistic figure.
Example electric car cost per mile
These examples show how charging price changes the result for the same EV.
Home charging
At 30p per kWh and 3.5 miles per kWh, charging costs about 8.6p per mile before charging losses.
Cheap overnight charging
At 10p per kWh and 3.5 miles per kWh, charging costs about 2.9p per mile before charging losses.
Public rapid charging
At 80p per kWh and 3.5 miles per kWh, charging costs about 22.9p per mile before charging losses.
RealCost warning: the same EV can be extremely cheap per mile on low-cost home charging and surprisingly expensive per mile on public rapid charging.
What affects EV cost per mile?
Electric car pence per mile is not just about battery size.
The biggest input. Home, work and public charging can all have different prices.
An efficient EV travels further for each unit of electricity.
Not every unit taken from the socket reaches the battery, so allow for losses.
Speed, cold weather, hills, heating and heavy motorway use can reduce efficiency.
Mostly home charging is a very different cost from mostly public charging.
Large, heavy EVs usually use more electricity per mile.
Home charging vs public charging per mile
This is the biggest EV cost-per-mile split.
Mostly home charging
Usually gives the lowest EV cost per mile, especially with an off-peak or EV tariff.
Mixed charging
Use a realistic average price or run separate calculations for home and public charging.
Mostly public rapid charging
Can make an EV much less impressive on running cost and closer to petrol in pence per mile.
Charging cost is not the full EV cost per mile
Charging is only the energy cost. It is not the complete cost of owning and running an EV.
Some EVs can be expensive to insure, so check before buying.
EV weight and tyre size can affect replacement cost.
EV servicing can be simpler, but repairs and parts can still be expensive.
Value loss can outweigh charging savings if the wrong EV is bought at the wrong price.
When EV cost per mile is genuinely low
EV running cost is strongest when the charging setup and mileage suit the car.
When EV cost per mile is not as cheap as expected
The headline charging cost can be misleading if the wider situation is poor.
You rely on public rapid charging
Expensive public charging can push EV pence per mile much higher.
The EV is inefficient
Large or heavy EVs can use more electricity per mile, especially at motorway speeds.
The ownership costs are high
Insurance, tyres, finance or depreciation can reduce the benefit of low charging cost.
How this page is different from related EV pages
Use the right page for the EV question you are answering.
Explains EV charging cost per mile and full EV cost-per-mile warnings.
Best for calculating charging cost using kWh price, efficiency and charging losses.
Best for comparing EV running cost against a petrol car.
Useful EV and cost-per-mile calculators
Use these next to compare EV charging cost with the wider car ownership picture.
Open calculator →
Compare costs →
Read guide →
Read guide →
Check full cost →
Read guide →