EV vs petrol at 15,000 miles per year
Drive 15,000 miles a year? That is a common commuter mileage in the UK and where fuel or charging costs make the biggest difference. This calculator is pre-filled for 15,000 miles—adjust any figure to match your car and tariff.
Quick answer at 15k miles
On typical UK assumptions (45 MPG petrol at 145p/litre vs 30 kWh/100mi EV with mostly home charging), petrol fuel alone often costs around £2,000+ per year while EV charging might be £900–£1,400 depending on your tariff and public charging share. Add road tax and servicing for the full picture below.
Reviewed by: James Hartley, Independent personal finance editorLast updated:
Disclaimer
This calculator is for estimation only. It is not financial advice and does not represent a lending decision. Your actual affordability and car finance options in the UK depend on your circumstances and the criteria of individual UK lenders. Always check real quotes from lenders or speak to a regulated financial adviser before committing.
Calculator
Summary
The EV is estimated to cost £1,043 less per year to run (£5,216 over 5 years).
With a £7,000 higher EV purchase price, running-cost savings could offset the premium in roughly 6.7 years (ignoring resale value and finance).
Total cost of ownership over 5 years (purchase + running): petrol £38,686, EV £40,470. Petrol ahead by £1,784.
Petrol running costs
~1515 litres of fuel per year
- Fuel per year
- £2,197
- VED + servicing
- £540
- Total per year
- £2,737
- Total over 5 years
- £13,686
EV running costs
~4500 kWh per year
- Charging per year
- £1,494
- VED + servicing
- £200
- Total per year
- £1,694
- Total over 5 years
- £8,470
Estimates only. Actual fuel and electricity prices, efficiency, tax bands and servicing vary. Resale value, insurance, finance costs and home charger installation are not included.
Check your finance options
Use the calculators on this site to see a rough budget, then check live offers with UK finance providers. We are not a lender and we do not make lending decisions—everything here is an estimate only.
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Frequently asked questions
Is an EV worth it at 15,000 miles per year?
Higher mileage usually strengthens the case for EVs on running costs alone, because cheaper per-mile charging (especially at home) adds up faster. You still need to weigh purchase price, insurance and how often you use expensive public chargers.
How much does petrol cost at 15,000 miles per year?
At 45 MPG and 145p per litre, 15,000 miles uses roughly 1,515 litres—about £2,200 per year on fuel alone, before tax and servicing. Enter your actual MPG and local fuel price in the calculator.
How much does EV charging cost at 15,000 miles?
At 30 kWh per 100 miles, 15,000 miles uses 4,500 kWh per year. At a blended 30p/kWh that is roughly £1,350 annually—often less than petrol, though public-heavy charging patterns reduce the gap.
Sources & notes
Our calculators and guides draw on publicly available UK guidance. We review content periodically but do not guarantee that external sources remain unchanged. See our about page for how we use these tools.
Sources
- MoneyHelper – Electric and hybrid cars
UK-focused guidance on EV ownership costs and considerations.
- GOV.UK – Vehicle tax rates
Official VED bands referenced in running-cost comparisons.
- MoneyHelper – How to find the right way to buy a car
General guidance on budgeting and car finance options in the UK.
- MoneyHelper – Work out your budget
Household budgeting principles used alongside affordability rules of thumb.
Compliance notes
- Car Affordability UK is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA). We do not provide regulated financial advice, credit broking or lending.
- Calculator outputs are illustrative estimates based on the inputs you provide and published third-party guidance. They are not quotes, offers of credit or lending decisions.
- FCA-regulated lenders apply their own affordability assessments, which may differ from the percentage rules of thumb used on this site. Always check formal terms before signing any agreement.
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