The short answer
At the typical standard unit rate of around 24p per kWh, a full charge on a 60 kWh EV costs roughly £14.40 — but on a cheap overnight EV tariff at 7–10p per kWh, the same charge can cost under £6. A smart charger lets you automate overnight scheduling to cut costs. The installation cost is a one-off; the electricity saving is every day.
One of the biggest draws of owning an electric vehicle is the potential to cut fuel costs significantly versus petrol or diesel. How much you actually save depends on your electricity tariff, your car’s efficiency and how intelligently you schedule your charging. This guide gives honest UK figures for 2026, explains how off-peak EV tariffs work, and shows how to calculate your own per-mile charging cost.
Home EV charging costs at a glance
- Typical unit rate (2026) ~24p per kWh (standard tariff)
- Off-peak EV tariff rate 7–15p per kWh (overnight)
- Full charge, 60 kWh EV (standard rate) ~£14.40
- Full charge, 60 kWh EV (off-peak) ~£4.20–£9.00
- Cost per mile (typical EV) 3–6p per mile at standard rate
- Annual fuel saving vs petrol Typically £1,000–£1,500 for average driver
How to calculate your own charging cost
The formula is simple: battery capacity (kWh) × electricity unit rate (p/kWh) = cost per charge. For example, a 77 kWh Volkswagen ID.4 on a standard tariff at 24p/kWh: 77 × 0.24 = £18.48 for a full charge. In practice you rarely charge from 0%, so a typical top-up from 20% to 80% (60% of capacity) costs around £11.09 at the same rate. Divide the cost by the miles that charge delivers to get pence per mile.
| Car (approx. battery) | Cost at 24p/kWh | Cost at 10p/kWh (off-peak) | Miles per charge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small EV (~40 kWh, e.g. Nissan Leaf 40) | ~£9.60 | ~£4.00 | ~130–160 |
| Mid EV (~60 kWh, e.g. Hyundai Ioniq 6) | ~£14.40 | ~£6.00 | ~220–270 |
| Larger EV (~77–82 kWh, e.g. Tesla Model 3 LR) | ~£18.48 | ~£7.70 | ~280–350 |
These are illustrative figures based on published battery capacities and approximate real-world efficiency. Your actual costs will vary with driving style, weather, motorway vs urban mix and the specific tariff rate at the time of charging. Electricity unit rates also change with wholesale prices and standing charges — check your current tariff for accurate numbers.
How off-peak EV tariffs work
Several UK energy suppliers offer tariffs designed for EV drivers with cheap overnight rates — typically between midnight and 6 am or similar off-peak windows. At 7–10p per kWh during these hours, the cost to charge a mid-size EV drops from £14 to under £6. Over a year, a driver covering 10,000 miles on a cheap overnight tariff versus a standard tariff can save £500–£900. The smart charger makes this automatic — you set the schedule once in the app and the car charges overnight at the cheap rate without you thinking about it.
Comparing home charging to public charging
Public rapid chargers typically cost 65–85p per kWh — three to four times the standard home rate and up to ten times an off-peak home rate. For everyday driving, home charging is far cheaper. Public charging makes sense when away from home or for a quick top-up mid-journey. The economics of EV ownership depend heavily on having a reliable home charger — which is why the installation investment pays back quickly for regular drivers. See get EV charger quotes to start the process.
Home charging vs petrol: the comparison
At 24p/kWh and 3.5 miles per kWh efficiency, home charging costs around 6.9p per mile. A petrol car averaging 40 mpg at £1.55 per litre costs roughly 17.6p per mile. At off-peak EV tariffs the gap widens further: 2.9p per mile vs 17.6p. Over 10,000 miles, that is a saving of roughly £730–£1,470 per year on fuel alone — against which the one-off installation cost is usually recovered within one to two years of regular home charging. These are illustrative comparisons based on typical 2026 fuel and electricity prices; actual figures depend on your specific car, driving pattern and tariff.
Start saving on home charging
A smart 7 kW wall box with off-peak scheduling is the most cost-effective way to charge. Compare quotes from OZEV-approved installers and get the £350 grant applied automatically.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an EV per mile?
At the typical standard home rate of ~24p/kWh, most EVs cost around 3–7p per mile to charge at home. On a cheap overnight off-peak tariff (7–10p/kWh), this drops to as little as 2–3p per mile.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public charger?
Home charging is significantly cheaper. Public rapid chargers typically cost 65–85p per kWh, while home charging at off-peak rates can be as low as 7–10p per kWh.
What is the cheapest time to charge an EV at home?
On an EV-specific off-peak tariff, overnight hours — typically midnight to 5–7 am — are cheapest. A smart charger schedules charging to these hours automatically via an app.
How much does it cost to fully charge an EV?
It varies by battery size. A mid-size 60 kWh EV costs around £14.40 at 24p/kWh, or under £6 at off-peak rates. Check your car’s usable battery capacity and multiply by your unit rate.
Sources & further reading
- Energy Saving Trust — Home EV charging costs and off-peak tariff guidance for UK drivers
- OZEV (Office for Zero Emission Vehicles) — Home chargepoint smart scheduling and grant guidance
- GOV.UK — Electric Vehicles (Smart Charge Points) Regulations 2021 and energy cost data
- IET Wiring Regulations (BS 7671) — Smart charge point installation and scheduling requirements
This is general information about home EV charging in the UK, not electrical, planning or installation advice for your specific property. Costs, timescales and specifications vary with your home’s supply, parking arrangement and chosen installer. Always obtain written quotes from OZEV-approved installers and check grant eligibility at GOV.UK before committing.