How Much Does It Really Cost to Charge an Electric Car?

The automotive world is evolving faster than ever, and the electric vehicle (EV) revolution is at the forefront of this transformation.

As someone considering switching to an electric SUV, I wanted to understand the costs of charging an electric car and how it stacks up against petrol and diesel cars.

Let’s get started.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

When juicing up your electric car, you have a few options: charging at home, work, public charge points, and rapid charging stations.

When I crunched the numbers, I discovered that home charging is much cheaper than rapid charging at motorway services.

1. Charging at home: Home charging costs roughly £11* for a full charge, taking around 5 hours.
2. Rapid charging: Motorway service stations across the UK generally offer rapid charging points. Rapid charging costs roughly £17.95, taking 43 minutes for a full charge.
3. Charging at work: Some employers offer free charging points throughout the day.
4. Charging at public charge points: Supermarkets and car parks often let you charge your car for free – but only while you’re using their services.

Let’s take a look at each option in more detail.

*To calculate roughly how much it costs to charge an electric car, I used the Evcarshop online calculator. All calculations apply to a Honda e Advance. Actual charging rates will vary depending on the model and electricity cost fluctuations.

Is electric car charging cheaper than purchasing fuel?

It is much cheaper to charge an electric car than to refuel a petrol or diesel car.

Here’s a comparison of the typical refuelling and charging costs:

1. Petrol or diesel costs 14-19p per mile
2. Home charging costs 3p per mile
3. Lamppost chargers cost 14p per mile

Thanks to their simpler drivetrains and regenerative braking, EVs are inherently more energy-efficient than internal combustion engine (ICE) vehicles. This means you get more miles for your money.

According to the LV= Electric Car Cost Index, you could save as much as £925 a year in fuel by switching to electric.

In fact, you might even save more because you won’t have to buy AdBlue on top.

Check out the LV= infographic below to decide if buying an electric car is right for you.

Interested in buying a new electric car? There are so many chances to win! Join car competitions for the opportunity to win a car, or even to win a house.