EV vs Petrol Cost Calculator

Last updated: April 2026

Vehicle details

Annual mileage7,400 miles/year

Fuel typeFuel efficiency

mpg

Fuel price

p/litre

Petrol/diesel purchase price

GBP

EV purchase price

GBP

Home charging rate

p/kWh

Public charging rate

p/kWh

Petrol or diesel costs

ServicingInsuranceRoad tax

EV costs

Miles per kWhServicingInsuranceRoad tax

From April 2025, EVs pay standard VED for most cars. Adjust the road tax field if your vehicle differs.

Charging mix

Annual cost comparison

Metric	Petrol	Diesel	EV
Annual fuel	£1,219	£1,029	£710
Annual total	£2,609	£2,419	£1,950
vs EV saving	£659	£469	--
CO2/year	1,262kg	1,246kg	493kg

Cost	petrol	EV
Fuel cost	£1,219	£710
Servicing	£400	£150
Insurance	£800	£900
Road tax	£190	£190
Annual total	£2,609	£1,950

Annual saving: £659

Payback

EV purchase premium: £10,000
Annual saving: £659
Payback period: 15.2 years

5-year total cost

Petrol/diesel total: £38,047
EV total: £44,752
You save: -£6,705

Years to compare

CO2 saving

765 kg CO2/year

Equivalent to about 36 trees absorbing carbon for a year.

Cumulative cost chart

Petrol/dieselEVNo crossover in this period

Charging sensitivity

Charging mix	Annual EV fuel cost
Home only	£518/year
Mostly home	£710/year
Mix 50/50	£999/year
Mostly public	£1,191/year
Public only	£1,480/year

Is an electric car cheaper to run than petrol in the UK?

For most UK drivers who can charge at home, an electric car is significantly cheaper to run than an equivalent petrol car. The gap narrows for drivers who rely heavily on public rapid charging.

What is the total cost of ownership for an EV?

EVs typically cost more to purchase than equivalent petrol cars, but have lower running costs: cheaper fuel, lower servicing costs and, from April 2025, broadly the same road tax as petrol cars.

How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

Charging at home on a standard tariff costs around 24.5p per kWh. A typical EV travels around 3.5 miles per kWh, giving a home charging cost of roughly 7p per mile. EV-specific overnight tariffs can reduce this further.

What does this mean?

This calculator is designed to help you understand the likely number before you make a decision or start an application.

Your result should be checked against official UK guidance, especially if your circumstances include dependants, exemptions, prior leave, or a complex immigration history.

Treat the figure as a planning tool rather than legal advice. Where the answer affects an application deadline or major payment, speak to an authorised adviser.