Charging an electric car at home is one of the biggest financial advantages of EV ownership. But how much does it actually cost? The answer depends on your electricity tariff, your car's battery size, and how you manage your charging.

This guide breaks down the electric car charging costs in the UK by tariff type, calculates the real cost per mile for popular EVs, and shows how home charging compares to public rapid charging. By the end you will know exactly what to expect on your electricity bill — and how to reduce it further.

For a guide to the home charger hardware itself, see best home EV chargers in the UK for 2026. For the broader running cost picture, read our electric car running costs vs petrol guide.

The basics: how home EV charging costs are calculated

Electricity is priced in pence per kilowatt-hour (p/kWh). Your EV's battery is measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). Multiply the two together and you have the cost of a full charge.

For example: a 60kWh battery at 24p/kWh costs 14.40 pounds to charge from empty to full.

In practice, you rarely charge from completely empty. Most EV drivers top up regularly rather than running the battery down — which makes it more useful to think in pence per mile than cost per full charge.

Electricity tariff types and what they cost

Standard variable tariff

As of mid-2026, the Ofgem energy price cap sits at around 24p/kWh for electricity on a standard variable tariff. This is the rate most households pay if they have not switched to a specialist EV tariff. At this rate:

• Cost per kWh: 24p
• Full charge (60kWh battery): approx. 14.40 pounds
• Pence per mile (assuming 3.5 miles/kWh): approx. 7p/mile

Off-peak overnight smart tariff

This is where EV owners can make significant savings. Tariffs like Octopus Go offer electricity at around 7–9p/kWh during off-peak hours (typically 00:30–05:30). Charge exclusively during this window and the numbers change dramatically:

• Cost per kWh: 7-9p
• Full charge (60kWh battery): approx. 4.20–5.40 pounds
• Pence per mile: approx. 2-3p/mile

That is roughly equivalent to a petrol car achieving over 200mpg in running cost terms. The smart tariff is the single biggest lever EV drivers have on charging costs.

Public AC charging

Destination chargers at supermarkets, leisure centres, and car parks typically charge at 50–70p/kWh. Some slower public chargers are cheaper; premium locations charge more.

• Cost per kWh: 50-70p
• Pence per mile: approx. 14-20p/mile

Public rapid and ultra-rapid DC charging

Rapid chargers (50kW+) at motorway services and dedicated hubs typically run at 70–85p/kWh as of 2026.

• Cost per kWh: 70-85p
• Full charge (60kWh to 80%): approx. 25–30 pounds
• Pence per mile: approx. 20-24p/mile

This is where public charging closes the gap with petrol running costs. It is still generally cheaper than equivalent petrol mileage, but the advantage narrows considerably compared to home charging.

Cost per charge for popular UK EVs

Model	Battery	Standard 24p/kWh	Off-peak 8p/kWh	Rapid 77p/kWh
Nissan Leaf	40kWh	9.60	3.20	23.10 (to 80%)
VW ID.3	58kWh	13.92	4.64	33.60 (to 80%)
MG MG4	64kWh	15.36	5.12	37.06 (to 80%)
Hyundai Kona	65kWh	15.60	5.20	37.64 (to 80%)
Tesla Model 3 LR	82kWh	19.68	6.56	47.47 (to 80%)

All costs in pounds. Rapid charging to 80% recommended maximum.

Pence per mile by tariff

EV	Real-world mpkWh	Standard 24p	Off-peak 8p
Nissan Leaf	3.5	6.9p/mile	2.3p/mile
VW ID.3	3.7	6.5p/mile	2.2p/mile
MG MG4	3.8	6.3p/mile	2.1p/mile
Tesla Model 3 LR	4.0	6.0p/mile	2.0p/mile

How home charging compares to petrol

A petrol car averaging 40mpg at 145p per litre costs roughly 16.5p per mile in fuel. A diesel at 45mpg and 150p per litre costs around 14.8p per mile.

At a standard 24p/kWh tariff, a typical EV costs around 6.5p per mile. On an off-peak tariff at 8p/kWh, that drops to around 2p per mile. The advantage over petrol is substantial either way — and grows further with a smart tariff.

The only scenario where EV running costs approach petrol is frequent reliance on public rapid charging at premium rates. At 77p/kWh that reaches around 20-22p per mile — still cheaper than most petrol equivalents, but the gap narrows considerably.

For most home-charging drivers, annual fuel savings over a petrol equivalent run to 800-1,500 pounds at standard rates, and up to 2,000+ pounds on a smart overnight tariff at higher mileage.

How to cut home charging costs further

Switch to a smart EV tariff such as Octopus Go. This moves your overnight charging rate from around 24p/kWh to 7-9p/kWh and is free to arrange. For a 10,000-mile driver it typically saves 400-600 pounds per year.

Pair it with a smart charger like the Ohme Home Pro, which automatically shifts all charging to the off-peak window without any manual scheduling.

If you have solar panels, a myenergi Zappi in Eco+ mode charges from surplus generation at no grid cost. On good summer days that means free motoring miles.

For drivers without a driveway, the options are different. Read EV charging without a driveway for a full overview.