Electric cars are zooming into the mainstream, and it’s no surprise why. They’re kinder to the planet, cheaper to run than petrol or diesel guzzlers, and let’s be honest - there’s something pretty cool about gliding along in near silence.
But one question we hear all the time at Heatable is: how much does it actually cost to charge an electric car in the UK?
Spoiler alert: it’s usually a lot less than filling up at the pumps, but the exact cost depends on where, when, and how you charge.
Let’s break it down with some proper UK examples, fresh Ofgem figures, and a few tips to keep your wallet happy.
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Quick summary:
Home Charging: Cheapest at £10.81 for a 40kWh Nissan Leaf (7.2p/mile) on Ofgem’s 27.03p/kWh rate. Intelligent Octopus Go or Octopus Go tariffs cut costs to £2.80 (1.9p/mile) at 7p/kWh off-peak.
Public Charging: Costs 53p/kWh (slow/fast) or 80p/kWh (rapid), £14.84–£22.40 for 117 miles (12.7p–19.1p/mile).
Workplace Charging: Often free or discounted via the Workplace Charging Scheme.
Cost Factors: Battery size, charger type, EV efficiency, and ~14% charging losses.
Saving Tips: Use Octopus tariffs, install smart chargers, find free chargers, join networks like BP Pulse, or use solar panels.
EV Savings: ~£700/year less than petrol/diesel, £10 vs. £190 first-year tax; home charging ~£140/year vs. £1,400 public for 7,400 miles.
Charging at Home: The Cheapest Option
For most EV drivers, home charging is the go-to. It’s convenient, you can plug in overnight, and it’s by far the cheapest way to keep your car juiced up.
According to Ofgem, the energy price cap from 1 April to 30 June 2025 sets the average electricity unit rate at 27.03p per kWh for households on a standard variable tariff paying by Direct Debit, plus a daily standing charge of 53.80p.
Let’s crunch some numbers using a popular electric car like the Nissan Leaf, which has a 40kWh battery and a real-world range of about 150 miles.
Charging from 0% to 100% at home on a standard tariff would use 40 kWh, so:
Cost: 40kWh x 27.03p = £10.81
Cost per mile: £10.81 ÷ 150 miles = 7.2p per mile
Compare that to a petrol car getting 45 miles per gallon, with fuel at £1.38 per litre (roughly £6.27 per gallon based on 4.54 litres per gallon). That works out to about 13.9p per mile. The Leaf wins hands down.
But here’s where it gets even better: you can slash costs with an EV-specific tariff from providers like Octopus Energy.
Their Intelligent Octopus Go tariff, designed for EV owners with a compatible car or charger, offers 7p per kWh for off-peak charging (typically 11:30 pm to 5:30 am). Using this tariff, charging the Leaf drops to:
Cost: 40kWh x 7p = £2.80
Cost per mile: £2.80 ÷ 150 miles = 1.9p per mile
Alternatively, Octopus Go, which works with any EV and charger, provides a similar off-peak rate of around 7p per kWh for six hours nightly.
Both tariffs require a smart meter and a home charger, but the savings are massive - your EV could cost pennies to run! Just set your car to charge during off-peak hours, and you’re laughing.
Public Charging: Convenient but Pricier
No driveway? No problem. The UK’s public charging network is growing faster than you can say “Tesla Supercharger”.
But public charging costs vary wildly depending on the charger type and provider. According to Zapmap’s Price Index (March 2025), the average pay-as-you-go (PAYG) price is:
Slow/fast chargers (think on-street or supermarket car parks): 53p per kWh
Rapid/ultra-rapid chargers (motorway services or charging hubs): 80p per kWh
Using our Nissan Leaf again, a full charge from 10% to 80% (about 28 kWh, as most EVs charge to 80% on rapid chargers to protect the battery) would cost:
Slow/fast charger: 28kWh x 53p = £14.84
Rapid/ultra-rapid charger: 28kWh x 80p = £22.40
That translates to 12.7p to 19.1p per mile for 117 miles of range (assuming 4.2 miles per kWh efficiency). Suddenly, it’s not looking that much cheaper than petrol, especially if you’re relying on pricey rapid chargers at motorway services.
But don’t despair - there are ways to cut costs. Networks like Sainsbury’s Smart Charge (75p/kWh) or Believ (66p/kWh) are often cheaper, and many offer subscriptions to lower the per-kWh rate.
Plus, keep an eye out for free chargers at supermarkets or shopping centres - these are still dotted around if you know where to look.
Workplace Charging: A Hidden Gem
If your employer offers workplace charging, you might be in for a treat. Many UK businesses are installing chargers to support staff and fleets, often subsidised by the government’s Workplace Charging Scheme.
Some workplaces provide free or discounted charging, which could mean topping up your EV for nowt while you’re at your desk.
Even if it’s not free, workplace rates are often lower than public rapid chargers, making it a savvy option for commuters.
What Affects Charging Costs?
The cost of charging isn’t just about the price per kWh. Here are a few factors that can nudge your bill up or down:
Battery size: Bigger batteries (like the 77kWh Skoda Enyaq) cost more to charge but often give you more range. For example, a full charge at home on the Ofgem rate would cost £20.81, but you’d get up to 300 miles.
Charger type: Slow chargers (3.6kw) are cheaper but take longer (6-8 hours for most EVs), while fast (7kw) or rapid (50kw+) chargers are pricier but quicker.
Efficiency: Not all EVs are created equal. The VW e-Up! Sips electricity at 4.5 miles per kWh, while a chunky BMW ix3 might manage 3.5 miles per kWh.
Charging losses: You lose a bit of energy moving electricity from the charger to the battery. For example, Which? found that a 77 kWh Skoda Enyaq needs 88 kWh to fully charge, adding about 14% to the cost.
Top Tips to Save on EV Charging
Want to keep your charging costs as low as a snake’s belly? Try these:
Get an EV tariff: Switch to Intelligent Octopus Go or Octopus Go for off-peak rates as low as 7p/kWh. You’ll need a smart meter and a compatible charger or car for Intelligent Octopus Go, but Octopus Go works with any setup.
Install a smart charger: A 7kw home charger (like a Zappi or Ohme) lets you schedule charging for off-peak hours and works with smart tariffs. Heatable can sort you out with a top-notch installation - get a quote here.
Hunt for free chargers: Check Zapmap for free public chargers at places like Tesco or local councils.
Join a charging network: Subscriptions with providers like BP Pulse or GRIDSERVE can lower rapid charging costs (e.g., GRIDSERVE’s app price is 79p/kWh).
Consider solar: If you’ve got solar panels, you could charge your EV for next to nothing during the day. Pair it with a smart charger to maximise savings.
Is an Electric Car Worth It?
Even with public charging’s occasional sting, EVs are still cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars for most drivers.
Independent research by the UK Government suggests an average saving of £700 a year compared to a fossil-fuel car, thanks to lower fuel and maintenance costs.
Plus, you’ll pay just £10 in first-year Vehicle Excise Duty for an EV, compared to up to £190 for a petrol car.
If you can charge at home, the savings are a no-brainer. For example, John and Rosa, who charge their EV at home on Intelligent Octopus Go’s 7p/kWh tariff, spend about £140 a year on electricity for 7,400 miles.
Meanwhile, Kris, who relies on public rapid chargers at 80p/kWh, might spend £1,400 for the same distance - but he still saves on servicing and tax.
Ready to Make the Switch?
Charging an electric car in the UK can be dirt-cheap if you play it smart, especially with home charging and a cracking EV tariff like Intelligent Octopus Go or Octopus Go.
At Heatable, we’re all about making your home energy setup as efficient as your shiny new EV. Need a smart charger installed?
Our expert team can hook you up with a top-tier EV charger tailored to your needs, all at a price that won’t make your eyes water.
Get your instant EV charger quote now and join the electric revolution.
Next Steps For Your EV Charger Journey:
When planning to install an EV charger for your home, there are several important factors to consider. Make sure to refer to the following guides to help you make informed decisions:
To dive deeper into these topics, head over to our advice section or check out our YouTube channel for informative videos.
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