CACar Affordability UK

EV vs petrol cost calculator UK

Compare electric and petrol running costs for the same annual mileage. Enter fuel economy, petrol price, EV efficiency and charging rates to see estimated fuel, tax and servicing costs side by side. Estimates only—not financial or tax advice.

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

Your driving and costs

Petrol car

Electric car

Purchase price (optional, for total cost of ownership)

Summary

The EV is estimated to cost £715 less per year to run (£3,575 over 5 years).

With a £7,000 higher EV purchase price, running-cost savings could offset the premium in roughly 9.8 years (ignoring resale value and finance).

Total cost of ownership over 5 years (purchase + running): petrol £33,559, EV £36,984. Petrol ahead by £3,425.

Petrol running costs

~808 litres of fuel per year

Fuel per year
£1,172
VED + servicing
£540
Total per year
£1,712
Total over 5 years
£8,559

EV running costs

~2400 kWh per year

Charging per year
£797
VED + servicing
£200
Total per year
£997
Total over 5 years
£4,984

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.

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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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What we compare

The calculator estimates fuel or charging costs, road tax (VED) and servicing for each type of car over your chosen period. Petrol costs use UK MPG and pence per litre; EV costs blend home and public charging rates based on the share you enter.

Optional purchase prices help estimate total cost of ownership and a rough break-even point if the EV costs more upfront. For charging-only estimates, use our EV charging cost calculator.

When EVs tend to save more

Higher annual mileage, cheaper home electricity and efficient EVs widen the gap in favour of electric. If you rely heavily on expensive public rapid charging, savings shrink. See our 15,000 miles per year comparison for a higher-mileage example.

EV vs petrol cost – FAQs

  • Is an electric car cheaper to run than petrol in the UK?

    Often yes on fuel/charging alone, especially if you charge mostly at home on a lower tariff and drive a reasonable number of miles. EVs also tend to have lower servicing costs and may pay less road tax. However, purchase prices and insurance can be higher, so total cost of ownership depends on your mileage, tariffs and how long you keep the car.

  • How do I compare EV and petrol running costs?

    Compare annual fuel or electricity use, road tax (VED), servicing and any other regular costs for the same mileage. Our calculator uses your MPG, petrol price, kWh per 100 miles and charging rates to estimate both sides, then shows annual and multi-year totals.

  • What electricity rate should I use for home charging?

    Use your actual home tariff in pence per kWh. Many UK households pay around 22–28p/kWh on a standard rate, but off-peak EV tariffs can be lower overnight. If you also use public chargers, add a public charging share and a higher p/kWh rate for those sessions.

  • Does this include the purchase price difference?

    You can optionally enter petrol and EV purchase prices to see total cost of ownership and a rough break-even point based on running-cost savings. Resale value, finance interest, insurance and home charger installation are not included.

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

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.
  • We may earn commission if you follow links to third-party finance comparison services. This does not affect how our calculators work or how content is reviewed.

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