Your annual EV charging cost

Three inputs, no email required. Rates are the real July 2026 figures: the Ofgem cap, the main EV tariffs and Zapmap's public-charging averages.

The UK average is around 7,000 to 8,000 miles a year.

Real-world miles per kWh, including winter losses.

Electricity used per year 2,000 kWh
Annual charging cost £140
Cost per mile 1.7p
Saving vs the standard variable rate £382 Against the July 2026 Ofgem cap of 26.11p/kWh. A negative figure means you are paying more than the cap rate.
Saving vs an equivalent petrol car £892 Assumes a 42mpg petrol car at ~12.9p per mile in fuel.
Find the tariff that gets you the cheap rate 60 seconds, five questions, recommendations from our published reviews.

Figures are estimates based on July 2026 rates: Ofgem price cap 26.11p/kWh, Intelligent Octopus Go 6.99p off-peak, Zapmap public-charging averages (May 2026). Standing charges are excluded because you pay them on any tariff. Off-peak costs assume your charging lands inside the cheap window. Regional rates vary.

How the maths works

The calculator divides your annual mileage by your car's real-world efficiency to get the electricity you buy in a year, then multiplies by the pence-per-kWh rate you selected:

Annual cost = (miles ÷ mi/kWh) × rate

Three honest caveats. First, we exclude standing charges: you pay one on every tariff, so it cancels out when comparing rates (the July 2026 cap standing charge is 57.19p/day). Second, off-peak figures assume your charging happens inside the cheap window - a smart charger and a compatible tariff handle this automatically, and our off-peak window guide covers the edge cases. Third, winter efficiency drops of 15 to 25% are why we quote real-world mi/kWh bands rather than manufacturer figures - our winter charging guide explains where the range goes.

For the full worked examples behind these numbers, see what it costs to charge an EV at home, EV cost per mile and the five-year EV vs petrol comparison.

Q01Does the calculator include the standing charge?
No. Every tariff carries a standing charge (57.19p/day on the July 2026 cap), so it cancels out when you compare rates. What changes your bill is the unit rate your charging lands on.
Q02How much cheaper is an EV tariff than the price cap?
The gap is roughly 4x. Intelligent Octopus Go charges 6.99p/kWh off-peak against the cap's 26.11p/kWh. For a typical 8,000-mile driver that is about £380 a year saved on charging alone.
Q03Is public rapid charging really more expensive than petrol?
It can be. At the 79p/kWh rapid-network average a typical EV costs around 20p per mile, versus roughly 12.9p per mile for a 42mpg petrol car. Rapid chargers are for topping up on journeys; the savings come from charging at home off-peak.
Q04What if I cannot charge at home?
You can still cut costs with kerbside charging, workplace charging and cheaper overnight public rates. Our guide to running an EV without a home charger covers the realistic options and maths.

Now find the right tariff

Every active UK EV tariff ranked by effective cost, with the regional breakdown most comparison sites skip.

Best EV Tariffs UK 2026