How Much Does it Cost to Charge an Electric Car?
How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
Electric vehicles are becoming increasingly popular in the UK, given the global move towards greener alternatives as a way to manage the climate crisis. However, you’ll need to weigh up all aspects before making the purchase, including how much it costs to charge an electric car. Even if you’re already an EV owner, it’s crucial to know how much it is to charge an electric car in different situations.
There are various factors that influence charging costs, including electricity prices, the type of charger used, whether it’s at home, in public or on the motorway, as well as the make and model of the car itself. If you’re charging at home, there’s also the upfront cost of installing a charging point, which is around £1000. It can also be less than this if you qualify for a government grant scheme.
For the reasons above, the charging cost per mile will differ. In 2025, the average estimate of the charging cost per mile can be between 2p to 26p, with the lower cost for slow charging at home, and the higher cost for a rapid charge on the motorway. In this article, we only use data from 2025 to reflect the most accurate and current cost estimates. You can also read our guide on EV charging, and then delve into how much to charge an electric car in the UK below.
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Factors affecting charging costs
As mentioned, there are several factors that influence how much it costs to charge an electric car. We list and explain these below to help you understand charging costs better.
Battery size.
Different makes and models of electric cars will vary in battery size. Naturally, it is cheaper to charge a smaller battery fully, compared to a larger one.
Charging speed.
Both the location of the charger and the speed of charging per kW will affect how much it is to charge an electric car. Charging stations at home are usually slower at 7kW but cost-effective, while public points and those on the motorway are faster, up to 350 kW, but more expensive.
Energy tariffs.
Naturally, how much to charge an electric car in the UK will depend on the energy tariff you have if you’re charging at home. For instance, if you have an off-peak tariff at home, your costs will be lower at those times compared to peak times.
Public network fees.
Usually it will be much more to charge your electric car on a public network, rather than when you’re at home. This is because there’ll often be additional fees involved, as well as standby charges.
Location: city vs rural.
While there are more opportunities for public charging in the city, it may work out to be more expensive due to higher demand. Compare this to rural areas, where there may be less options, but likely a lower cost to charge your electric car.
Cost of charging an electric car at home
The average cost of charging an electric car at home is determined by the electricity tariff, as well as the size of the car battery. We recommend installing an EV charging station at your home, for instance in your driveway using a stand or on the wall of the house, to help you save on costs. You’ll need to make sure the EV Charging Cable can always reach your car, so having a drive is preferable.
There are formulas that can help you work out what your average cost would be. Simply find your electricity tariff and the rate of pence per kWh. Then, multiply this rate by your battery size.
Here’s a calculation based on a tariff being 25p per kW. Of course, if you have a cheaper tariff, such as lower rates at night which is when you’re most likely to charge, then the total cost will be lower.
0.25 x battery size = cost of full charge
Cost to charge a full battery in your electric car
|
Battery Size |
20p per kWh |
25p per kWh |
30p per kWh | |
|
30 kWh |
£6.00 |
£7.50 |
£9.00 | |
|
50 kWh |
£10.00 |
£12.50 |
£15.00 | |
|
70 kWh |
£14.00 |
£17.50 |
£21.00 |
Public charging costs
There are different types of public chargers; some are slower and some are rapid, but both types usually cost more to charge an electric car compared to at home. The type of public charger depends on the charging network, as well as the location. For instance, service stations on motorways tend to have ultra-rapid chargers, which we talk about more in the next section.
Public chargers in car parks, at supermarkets or outside offices are usually slower and take longer to charge. This usually works out well if your car will remain parked for an extended period of time. Then, you have rapid and ultra-rapid chargers at public locations which offer a faster charge but at a higher cost.
We’ve put together some estimations of how much it costs to charge an electric car with public chargers:
|
Battery Size |
Slow (7-22kW) (£0.52-57/kWh) |
Rapid (43-100kW) (£0.62-80/kWh) |
Ultra-Rapid (100-350kW) (£0.68 - £0.85/kWh) |
|
30 kWh |
£15.60 - £17.10 |
£18.60 - £24 |
£20.40 - £25.50 |
|
50 kWh |
£26.00 - £28.50 |
£31.00 - £40 |
£34 - £42.50 |
|
70 kWh |
£36.40 - £39.90 |
£43.40 - £56 |
£47.60 - £59.50 |
Cost of charging on motorways
If you’re on a long journey in your electric car, don’t worry, as motorway services tend to have ultra-rapid chargers. This means you can conveniently and quickly charge your car along your trip, making sure you get to where you’re going. Of course, given the speed, it costs more to charge your electric car on the motorway, compared with other public chargers.
We’ve discussed the costs above in the table, but the actual cost will still vary depending on the charging network. You can check out the amount of charging points in the UK to help you plan charging intervals ahead of your journey.
Cost per mile comparison
If you’re on a long journey in your electric car, don’t worry, as motorway services tend to have ultra-rapid chargers. This means you can conveniently and quickly charge your car along your trip, making sure you get to where you’re going. Of course, given the speed, it costs more to charge your electric car on the motorway, compared with other public chargers.
We’ve discussed the costs above in the table, but the actual cost will still vary depending on the charging network. You can check out the amount of charging points in the UK to help you plan charging intervals ahead of your journey.
|
Fuel Type |
Efficiency (mpg or miles per kWh) |
Energy Cost |
Cost per Mile |
|
Electric (Small EV) |
3-4 miles per kWh |
25p per kWh |
6-8.3p |
|
Electric (Large EV) |
2-3 miles per kWh |
25p per kWh |
8.3-12p |
|
Petrol |
36 mpg |
£1.39 per litre |
17.6p |
|
Diesel |
43 mpg |
£1.46 per litre |
15.4p |
|
Hybrid |
59 mpg |
£1.36 per litre |
10.7p |
How much does it cost to charge an electric car - What you need to consider
In this article, we’ve analysed how much it is to charge an electric car. The answer is simple: it depends. If you invest in a home charging point, although the upfront cost is there, you’ll be able to make savings in the long term. Then, you’ll be able to charge your electric car as much as you like, using electric vehicle charging products according to your electricity tariff.
You may need to top-up your charge outside the home, especially if you’re making a long journey. Public charging will cost you more than charging at home, but the speed of the charge will make it worth the while as it saves you time. There’s also the convenience of increasing charging points around the country, so as long as you plan ahead, you won’t need to worry about running out of charge
Ultimately, there are many ways to reduce how much it costs to charge your electric car. If you’ve not yet bought your EV, make sure to do your research on the make and model of the car, including its battery size and efficiency. If you already own an EV, you can save by finding an electricity tariff with night rates or off-peak savings, and charge accordingly.