The real cost to charge your electric car in the UK — at home, off-peak, or at a public charger. Includes charging losses most calculators ignore, and a straight comparison against petrol.
£0
Your Car
Small EV ≈ 4.0 · mid-size ≈ 3.5 · large SUV ≈ 2.8. Drops in winter.
Energy lost as heat during charging. ~10% AC home, less on rapid DC. This is why your bill is higher than battery size alone.
Charge level
Most people top up 20–80% rather than full charges — it's faster and better for battery health.
Rates (p per kWh) — edit to match yours
Petrol comparison
Cost Per Charge
20–80% top-up
Annual Running Cost
UK average ≈ 7,000–8,000 miles/yr
Charging cost by vehicle
Compare battery sizes, real-world efficiency, charging prices and charge times for six popular electric cars.