EV Charging Guide

Home Charging Costs

At 25p per kWh (typical UK 2024 rate), charging a 77kWh battery costs approximately £19.25 for a full charge. At a real-world efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh, that is about 7p per mile — compared to 15–20p per mile for a typical petrol car. An EV driver covering 10,000 miles per year saves approximately £800–1,500 in fuel costs compared to a petrol equivalent.

Cheaper Off-Peak Tariffs

EV-specific tariffs (Octopus Go, OVO Drive + Electric, British Gas Electric Driver) offer significantly cheaper overnight rates — typically 7–10p per kWh between midnight and 5am. This reduces home charging costs by 50–70%. A 77kWh battery charged overnight at 7p per kWh costs just £5.39 — roughly 2p per mile. Most EV charging points and vehicles support scheduled charging.

Public Charging Costs

Rapid chargers (50kW+) cost 60–80p per kWh in 2024 — roughly equivalent to petrol. Ultra-rapid chargers (150–350kW) cost 65–90p per kWh. Pod Point and IONITY destination chargers vary from free to 30p per kWh. The economics of EVs depend heavily on home charging — if you mainly use public rapid chargers, the fuel cost advantage largely disappears.

Charger Types and Speeds

3-pin plug: 2.3kW, adds roughly 8 miles per hour — fine for occasional top-up, slow for regular use. 7kW home wallbox: adds 25–30 miles per hour, charges most EVs overnight — the recommended minimum for home installation. 22kW three-phase: available in some properties, adds around 75 miles per hour. Public rapid (50kW DC): 80% charge in approximately 1 hour. Ultra-rapid (150–350kW DC): 80% charge in 20–30 minutes.

EV Home Charging Cost Calculator

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