APPLIANCE RUNNING COSTS · OCT–DEC 2026
How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
The cost of charging at home depends on how far you drive, how efficient the car is and your unit rate. Many EV drivers use a cheaper overnight tariff, so enter your own rate. At the GB average price-cap electricity rate of 26.32p per kWh for October–December 2026, it costs about 8.8p per mile.
PER MILE
8.8p0.33 kWhPER WEEK
£8.76100 miles a week (assumed)PER YEAR
£4571,736 kWh at the assumed useWork out your own cost
Choose your region or type in your own unit rate, then change the energy per mile and number of miles to match your appliance and how you use it. It starts with a week at our assumed use.
33.3 kWh over 100 miles · about £0.09 per mile
How much electricity it uses
- The Energy Saving Trust says an electric car travels between 2 and 4 miles per kWh, depending on the size and weight of the car. That is 0.25 to 0.5 kWh a mile, or 25 to 50 kWh for 100 miles.
- Standard home chargepoints are rated from 3.7 kW to just under 8 kW; with a 7 kW charger the Energy Saving Trust says you can expect roughly 7 miles of range for every 20 minutes of charging.
- Some electricity is lost as heat while charging, so the energy drawn from the mains is higher than the energy that reaches the battery. The figures on this page do not add these losses.
| Example | Energy per mile | Per mile | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lower | 0.25 kWh | 6.6p | £343 |
| Typical | 0.333 kWh | 8.8p | £457 |
| Higher | 0.5 kWh | 13p | £686 |
Usage assumption: 100 miles of driving a week at 3 miles per kWh (0.333 kWh a mile), the middle of the Energy Saving Trust’s 2 to 4 miles per kWh range. Charging losses are not included. This is our illustration, not a measured average; change it in the calculator.
What drives the cost
- Miles driven and the car’s efficiency.
- Your tariff: the price-cap rate used here is a standard single rate; EV and time-of-use tariffs can be much cheaper overnight.
- Charging losses and cold weather, which reduce efficiency.
Ways to spend less
- If you are on a time-of-use or EV tariff, enter your off-peak unit rate in the calculator to see what charging actually costs you.
Unit rates vary by region: this period they run from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. See every region’s rate →
Questions
How much does an electric car cost per mile?
At 26.32p per kWh (the GB average price-cap rate, October–December 2026, Direct Debit, 0% VAT), 0.333 kWh per mile costs about 8.8p. Across the figures we cite (0.25 to 0.5 kWh) that is 6.6p to 13p.
How much does it cost a year?
It depends on how much you use it. Our assumption is 100 miles of driving a week at 3 miles per kWh (0.333 kWh a mile), the middle of the Energy Saving Trust’s 2 to 4 miles per kWh range. Charging losses are not included. At 26.32p per kWh that comes to about £457 a year (1,736 kWh). Change the hours or uses in the calculator to match your own.
How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car?
Multiply the battery size in kWh by your unit rate, then allow a little extra for charging losses. The Energy Saving Trust’s example is a 62 kWh battery, which a 7 kW home charger fills in about 9 hours.
How do I work out the cost per mile?
Divide your unit rate by the car’s miles per kWh. At 3 miles per kWh, every 10p per kWh on your tariff adds about 3.3p a mile, before charging losses.
Does the cost depend on where I live?
Yes, a little. Price-cap electricity unit rates for October–December 2026 range from 25.36p per kWh in East Midlands to 27.86p in Merseyside and Northern Wales. Pick your region in the calculator, or enter the unit rate from your bill if you are on a fixed or time-of-use tariff.
About these figures
Running costs are energy used × unit rate. They exclude the daily standing charge, which you pay whether or not the appliance runs. Energy per mile comes from energy label or product data measured on a standard test programme; other programmes use more or less. Power ratings and energy figures are examples from the sources below, not a measured UK average.
Other appliances
Sources
- Energy Saving Trust: could your next vehicle be an EV? (PDF) ↗Electric cars travel between 2 and 4 miles per kWh; a 7 kW home unit fully charges a 62 kWh battery in about 9 hours.
- Energy Saving Trust: charging electric vehicles ↗Home chargepoint power (standard chargepoints 3.7 kW to under 8 kW) and range added per 20 minutes at 7 kW.
- Ofgem: energy price cap unit rates and standing charges ↗GB average electricity unit rate and VAT basis, October–December 2026.
Last updated 11 October 2026. Figures are dated benchmarks taken from the sources above. How we use sources →