How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?

At a typical home rate of 24p/kWh, charging a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% costs about £8.64. EV-specific overnight tariffs can offer rates as low as 7p/kWh, reducing this to around £2.52 for the same charge.

How much does public charging cost?

Public charging costs vary widely. Slow chargers (7 kW) at supermarkets may be free. Rapid chargers (50 kW+) typically cost 40-80p/kWh. Some networks charge per minute rather than per kWh, which penalises cars with slower charging speeds.

Is charging an EV cheaper than petrol?

Yes, significantly. At home rates, an EV costs around 5-8p per mile compared to 15-20p per mile for a petrol car. Even at expensive public rapid chargers, EVs are often comparable to or cheaper than petrol per mile.

What electricity rate should I enter?

Check your electricity bill for your unit rate in pence per kWh. The UK average is around 24p/kWh. EV overnight tariffs may be 7-12p/kWh. Public chargers range from free to 80p/kWh depending on the network and speed.

How much does it cost to fully charge an EV at home?

On a standard UK electricity tariff (around 28p/kWh), charging a 60 kWh battery from empty costs about £16.80. On an EV-specific overnight tariff (7-10p/kWh), the same charge costs just £4.20-£6.00. Public rapid chargers charge 60-80p/kWh, making a full charge £36-£48.

CarCalcs

Charging Cost Calculator

Work out the cost to charge your EV at home or at public chargers.

Battery Capacity

Battery capacity in kWh

Electricity Rate

Electricity cost per kWh

Current Charge

Current charge as a percentage

Target Charge

Target charge as a percentage

Efficiency

Efficiency in mi/kWh

How We Calculate This

This calculator works out the cost based on the energy needed and your electricity rate.

The Formulas

Energy needed = Battery capacity x (Target % - Current %) / 100
Total cost = Energy needed x Electricity rate
Cost per mile = Total cost / Estimated miles added
Miles added = Energy needed x Efficiency (mi/kWh)

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Calculators

EV Range Calculator

Estimate real-world EV range based on battery size and efficiency.

Charging Time Calculator

Calculate how long it takes to charge an EV at different power levels.

EV vs Petrol Calculator

Compare the total running costs of an EV versus a petrol car.

Battery Degradation Calculator

Estimate how your EV battery capacity will decrease over time.

Home Charger Calculator

Calculate the payback period for installing a home EV charger.

Last updated: February 2026

All calculations are estimates. Actual figures may vary based on driving conditions, vehicle specifications, and other factors.