If you’re thinking about buying an electric car, one question almost always comes up first: how much will it cost to charge?
With electricity prices making headlines over the past few years, it’s understandable why some drivers worry that charging an EV could be expensive. The reality, however, is often very different.
For most people who can charge at home, running an electric car still costs significantly less than driving an equivalent petrol or diesel vehicle. Better still, choosing the right electricity tariff can reduce your running costs even further.
In this guide, we’ll explain exactly how much it costs to charge an EV at home, how those costs are calculated, and what you can do to keep them as low as possible.
Is Home Charging Cheaper Than Petrol or Diesel?
In most cases, yes.
A typical petrol or diesel family car costs around 13–16 pence per mile to fuel, depending on fuel prices and fuel economy.
An electric vehicle charged at home on a standard electricity tariff usually costs around 6–8 pence per mile.
If you’re using a dedicated smart EV tariff with cheaper overnight electricity, that figure can fall to around 2–3 pence per mile.
That difference can save many drivers hundreds, and in some cases more than a thousand pounds each year.
The biggest savings come when you charge at home regularly rather than relying on public rapid chargers.
Understanding Battery Size
One of the easiest ways to think about an EV battery is to imagine it as the car’s fuel tank.
Instead of litres of petrol or diesel, electric cars store energy in kilowatt-hours (kWh).
The larger the battery, the more electricity it takes to recharge, but the further the car can usually travel.
For example:
- Small EV: around 40kWh
- Medium family EV: around 60kWh
- Larger long-range EV: around 80kWh
The basic calculation is straightforward:
Battery size × electricity price = charging cost
Of course, very few drivers regularly charge from completely empty to 100%. Most owners simply top the battery up overnight whenever it’s needed.
Standard Tariffs vs Smart EV Tariffs
The price you pay depends largely on your electricity tariff.
A standard domestic tariff charges the same rate throughout the day.
Smart EV tariffs work differently. They offer much cheaper electricity overnight when demand on the National Grid is lower.
Many energy suppliers now offer specialist EV tariffs, with Octopus Intelligent Go being one well-known example, alongside similar products from other providers.
If you normally charge overnight, these tariffs can dramatically reduce the cost of running your electric car.
What Does a Full Charge Cost?
The table below shows some typical examples.
Battery Size
Standard Tariff (24.5p/kWh)
Smart EV Tariff (7.5p/kWh)
Typical Real-World Range
40kWh
£9.80
£3.00
130–150 miles
60kWh
£14.70
£4.50
190–220 miles
80kWh
£19.60
£6.00
260–300 miles
These figures are based on charging from empty to full. In reality, most drivers only recharge the energy they’ve used during the day, so the amount they actually pay is usually much lower.
What Does That Mean Per Mile?
Another useful way of comparing running costs is to look at cost per mile.
Assuming an average efficiency of around 3.5 miles per kWh:
- Standard home tariff: around 7 pence per mile
- Smart EV tariff: around 2 pence per mile
- Typical petrol or diesel car: around 14 pence per mile
Over 10,000 miles a year, those savings can quickly add up.
Are Smart Tariffs Worth It?
For many EV owners, this is where the biggest savings are made.
Smart tariffs allow your charger or vehicle to communicate with your electricity supplier.
Instead of charging immediately when you plug in, your car automatically waits until electricity is at its cheapest overnight.
For example, you might arrive home at 6pm, plug your car in, tell the app you need an 80% charge by 7am, and leave the rest to the software.
The charger schedules everything automatically.
Some tariffs also provide cheaper electricity for your home during those off-peak hours, making it a great time to run the dishwasher, washing machine or tumble dryer.
If you’re new to electric vehicles, it’s also worth reading our guide to the EV Guess-O-Meter, which explains why your displayed range changes throughout the year and how to interpret it more accurately.
Can You Charge From a Three-Pin Plug?
Yes—but it’s usually best treated as a backup rather than your everyday solution.
A standard three-pin socket charges much more slowly than a dedicated home wallbox.
While it may be perfectly adequate if you only drive short distances, most owners will benefit from installing a proper home charger.
Dedicated chargers are faster, safer and work with smart tariffs, allowing charging to happen automatically during cheaper overnight periods.
Home Charging vs Public Charging
Public rapid charging is incredibly useful on long journeys, but it’s generally much more expensive than charging at home.
Rapid chargers often cost several times more per kWh than domestic electricity.
That’s why experienced EV owners usually think of public charging as something for holidays, business trips and motorway journeys—not everyday commuting.
When we tested long-distance travel in our Peugeot E-3008, careful planning helped keep charging costs under control while making the journey straightforward and stress-free.
If you can complete most of your charging at home, the occasional rapid charge is unlikely to make a significant difference to your overall annual running costs.
Three Simple Ways to Save Money
If you already own an EV—or you’re planning to buy one—these simple habits can help reduce your charging costs even further.
- Charge overnight whenever possible using a smart tariff.
- Pre-condition the cabin while the car is still plugged in during winter to reduce battery usage once you start driving.
- Install a dedicated smart home charger if you regularly charge at home, allowing the charger to automatically use the cheapest electricity available.
Tech Torque Media Verdict
Despite higher electricity prices than a few years ago, charging an electric vehicle at home remains one of the cheapest ways to power a family car.
The biggest savings come from charging overnight using a smart EV tariff rather than relying on public rapid chargers.
For drivers who cover average annual mileage, home charging can reduce running costs dramatically compared with petrol or diesel, while also making day-to-day ownership simpler and more convenient.
Electric vehicles aren’t the right solution for everyone, but if you have access to home charging, the numbers still make a very convincing case.
