EV Charging Costs Explained: How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

The cost of charging an electric car isn’t the same for every driver. It depends on the size of your vehicle’s battery, how much your electricity costs on average, and where you charge. Even though public charging has become widely available throughout the UK, it’s still much cheaper to charge at home.

Approximate EV Charging Costs in the UK

Figures are based on a typical 60–79kWh battery and will vary depending on your vehicle and energy provider.

It’s also important to remember that you won’t charge your car from empty to 100% every time. You’ll usually top up your battery when needed, so your actual cost per charge will be lower.

Home Charging Is Usually the Cheapest Option

If you have a dedicated home EV charger and access to an off-peak electricity tariff, you could charge your vehicle overnight for less than the cost of a takeaway coffee.

We always recommend smart home chargers that automatically schedule charging during the cheapest hours, so you don’t need to stay up late plugging your car in to get the best deal. Over the course of a year, these lower electricity rates can save hundreds of pounds in EV charging costs compared to relying on public charging alone.

Public EV Charging Costs More But Has Its Place

Public charging is designed for convenience rather than the lowest possible cost. The standard public charges you find at supermarkets and public car parks are great for a top-up if you’re out for the day and your battery is running low. And the ultra-fast chargers at service stations are so convenient when you’re on a long road trip and don’t want to stop for long.

But you pay for that convenience. The price per kWh is higher, so we suggest only using public chargers occasionally. By doing most of your charging at home and using public chargers when you’re in a bind, you can keep your overall electric vehicle charging costs much lower while still enjoying the flexibility to travel whenever you want.

Your Electricity Tariff

One of the biggest factors affecting EV charging costs is the price you pay per kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity.

Drivers on a standard domestic tariff will generally pay considerably more than those using an EV-specific tariff with cheaper overnight rates. Some off-peak tariffs reduce electricity prices to pennies during certain hours, allowing you to charge your car for a fraction of the daytime cost simply by scheduling charging overnight.

Charging Efficiency

Something many of our clients don’t realise is that not every unit of electricity taken from the grid ends up stored in your battery.

A small amount of energy is lost during the charging process as heat. Most modern home chargers operate at around 90–95% efficiency, meaning the electricity you pay for is slightly higher than your vehicle’s usable battery capacity. While these losses are small, they’re still worth factoring in when you’re working out your specific EV charging costs.

Weather and Driving Conditions

Batteries are less efficient at lower temperatures, which is why you’re told not to leave your phone in direct sun. On top of that, features like cabin heating, heated seats, and heated windscreens all use additional energy.

If you drive on the motorway a lot or tow a caravan, you’ll also reduce your EVs efficiency and end up recharging more often than someone who does shorter drives around town.

How Does That Compare With Petrol?

Even when charging on a standard home electricity tariff, electric vehicles are usually cheaper to run than petrol or diesel cars.

For example, a petrol car averaging 45mpg with fuel costing £1.40 per litre works out at roughly 14p per mile. Charge an EV overnight on an off-peak tariff and that figure can fall to around 2p per mile, which is a huge difference over the course of a year.

Electric vehicles also have fewer moving parts than petrol and diesel cars, meaning they generally need less routine maintenance and servicing. Cut out oil changes, exhaust repairs, and timing belt replacements and your running costs are considerably lower.

A smart home EV charger makes managing your EV charging costs effortless. Our smart Ohme chargers monitor energy prices and automatically start charging when tariffs are lowest.

Many energy providers offer lower energy costs during off-peak hours to encourage people to help avoid overloading the power grid. But since prices are lowest in the middle of the night, it’s tough to take advantage of the savings on your own.

That’s why a smart charger is such a great investment. You can be sure you’re getting the best EV charging costs while you sleep.

You can also monitor your energy usage through a smartphone app, set charging schedules to make sure your car is ready to go when you need it, set charging timers, and prioritise the cheapest available electricity.

Consider Charging with Solar Energy

If your home has solar panels, you may be able to power part of your EV charging using the electricity you generate yourself.

Some smart chargers can even prioritise surplus solar energy before drawing power from the grid to reduce your electricity bills while making your driving even greener.

You don’t need solar panels to make EV ownership affordable, but being able to charge your car basically for free is a great perk. Plus, if you’re looking into EV ownership to reduce your carbon footprint, this is a great extra step.

Installing a home EV charger does cost more upfront, but the savings you get from one means it quickly pays for itself in EV charging cost savings.

Many of our clients started by relying on public charging stations or even a standard three-pin plug, and couldn’t believe the convenience and savings of switching to a home charger.

If you have off-street parking, a home charger allows you to make the most of cheaper domestic electricity rates, schedule charging overnight, and start each day with a full battery. Instead of planning trips around public charging points, your car is ready whenever you need it.

Added Convenience

A home charger doesn’t just save money, it also saves time.

Rather than waiting at a public charging station, you can simply plug your car in when you get home and let it charge overnight while you relax. No more annoying trips to a public charging station or leaving your car parked somewhere away from your house overnight.

While average figures are useful to get an idea of what you might pay, it can be easier to understand electric vehicle charging costs by looking at real-world examples.

The examples below assume a full charge from empty using typical UK electricity prices.

Figures are approximate and do not account for minor charging efficiency losses.

Example 1: A Small Electric Car (40kWh Battery)

A compact EV with a 40kWh battery is one of the most affordable vehicles to charge. On an off-peak tariff, a full charge costs less than £3, while the same charge on a standard home tariff is around £11. That full charge will get you about 120–180 miles of range.

Even using a public rapid charger, the total cost is often still lower than filling a similarly sized petrol car with fuel.

Example 2: A Typical Family EV (60kWh Battery)

Many of today’s most popular electric cars fall into this category. Charging a 60kWh battery at home overnight costs just over £4 on a cheap EV tariff or around £16 on a standard tariff. On a full charge, a 60kW battery will typically give you 180–270 miles of range.

For a driver covering average annual mileage, charging primarily at home instead of relying on public rapid chargers could save several hundred pounds each year in fuel.

Example 3: A Larger SUV (77kWh Battery)

Larger electric SUVs naturally require more electricity because of their bigger batteries. However, even a 77kWh battery can be fully charged at home for around £5.40 on an off-peak tariff. These larger EVs typically have about 230–350 miles of range on a single charge, which is more than enough for everyday driving.

Although a full rapid charge can cost close to £58, that’s not how most people use public charging. Instead, many EV owners top up their battery at home overnight and only rely on rapid chargers for longer journeys.

For larger EVs especially, this keeps day-to-day charging costs much lower than the headline public charging prices might suggest.

When clients come to us with questions about EV charging costs, they usually have a lot of misconceptions. There’s plenty of false information out there about charging, so let’s separate some of the most common myths from reality.

Myth: Electric Cars Are Expensive to Charge

This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding EV ownership.

While it’s true that public rapid chargers can be expensive, most drivers do the majority of their charging at home. When combined with an off-peak electricity tariff, charging an electric vehicle can cost just a few pounds, making it significantly cheaper than filling a petrol or diesel car.

Myth: You Always Need to Use Public Chargers

If you have off-street parking or a dedicated place to park your car outside your house, you can get a home charger and never need to rely on public charging again.

Public chargers are primarily there for longer journeys or the occasional top-up when you’re away from home. For day-to-day driving, charging overnight at home is all you need.

Myth: Bigger Batteries Make EVs Too Expensive to Run

A larger battery does cost more to fully charge because it stores more electricity. However, it also allows you to travel further between charges.

Take a look at the examples above and you’ll see that even a large electric SUV is affordable to run, which is why they’re so popular with families.

Myth: A Home Charger Uses More Electricity Than a Plug Socket

A home EV charger doesn’t increase the amount of electricity your vehicle needs. It simply delivers it more safely and efficiently. Three-pin charging plugs are great when there’s no other option available, but we never recommend relying on them for everyday charging–it can put added strain on your home’s electricity set-up.

Modern smart chargers actually help reduce your electric car charging costs by automatically charging during cheaper off-peak hours and giving you greater control over your energy usage.

Myth: Charging an EV Is Complicated

One of the biggest worries our clients have about charging their EVs is not knowing how it works. If you’ve always had a petrol or diesel motor, the switch can feel daunting.

But it’s as simple as connecting the charging cable and leaving the charger to do its thing. The cables look and work a lot like a petrol pump, and once you’ve done it once, you’ll see how easy it is to charge an EV.

Once you’ve seen how much cheaper home charging can be, it makes sense to have a charger that’s set up to make the most of those savings. The right charger, combined with the right electricity tariff, will significantly reduce your EV charging costs while making day-to-day charging refreshingly convenient.

At Pro EV, we supply and install smart Ohme home chargers across the UK, helping homeowners find the best solution for their property and budget. If you’re thinking about installing a home EV charger, get a free online quote today. We’ll recommend the right setup for your home with clear, upfront pricing and no obligation.