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Vehicles · Running costs

Petrol vs EV Running Cost Calculator

Fuel is the biggest running cost difference between an EV and a petrol car. With a home overnight tariff, EVs are often 4–5× cheaper per mile.

mi
mpg
£
mi/kWh
£

Annual saving — EV vs petrol

£989

Petrol annual fuel£1172 (14.6p/mi)
EV annual charging£183 (2.3p/mi)

How we calculated your result

Petrol cost = (miles/MPG) × 4.546 × £/litre. EV cost = (miles/mi-per-kWh) × £/kWh. We just compare totals. Maintenance and depreciation are excluded.

Official UK rules in simple English

  • EV charging at home off-peak: 7–10p/kWh (Octopus Go, Intelligent).
  • Public rapid: 60–80p/kWh.
  • Petrol UK average: ~145p/litre (mid-2025).
  • VED for EVs from April 2025: standard rate applies.

Common pitfalls to watch out for

  • ⚠ Public charging breaks the maths

    If you don’t have off-street parking, rapid charging at 75p/kWh costs roughly the same as petrol per mile.

  • ⚠ Cold-weather range

    EV efficiency drops 20–30% in winter — adjust mi/kWh for realistic figures.

  • ⚠ Tyres and servicing

    EVs are gentler on brakes but harder on tyres (weight + torque). Service savings ~30%.

Frequently asked questions

What about depreciation?
EV residuals fell sharply 2023–24. Currently petrol holds value better — factor in for total cost.
Is the salary sacrifice route still good?
Yes — 3% BIK on EVs makes salary sacrifice extremely tax-efficient for higher-rate earners.

Educational. Real running costs vary by driving style, weather and tariff.

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