In 2026, an electric car charged at home is still significantly cheaper to run per mile than a petrol car, but the gap depends entirely on where you charge.
Quick answer: Home off-peak charging works out at roughly 2-3p per mile, against around 13-16p per mile for a typical petrol car. Public rapid charging is far more expensive and can cost close to petrol per mile, so the savings depend on how you charge.
How to calculate cost per mile
The maths is simple once you know two numbers: the price of your energy or fuel, and how efficiently your car uses it.
For an EV: cost per kWh ÷ miles per kWh = pence per mile. For petrol: (litre price × 4.546) ÷ miles per gallon = pence per mile.
A typical EV manages 3-4 miles per kWh. A typical petrol car returns 40-50mpg in mixed driving. Plug your own figures into our fuel cost calculator to get a number for your exact car.
Electric cost per mile in 2026
EV running costs swing wildly depending on where the electricity comes from.
| Charging type | Energy cost | Miles per kWh | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home off-peak | ~8p/kWh | 3.5 | ~2.3p |
| Home standard rate | ~26p/kWh | 3.5 | ~7.4p |
| Public rapid (50kW) | ~75p/kWh | 3.5 | ~21.4p |
| Public ultra-rapid | ~82p/kWh | 3.5 | ~23.4p |
The headline is clear: home off-peak charging is the cheapest fuel available to any UK driver. Relying on public rapid chargers, though, can cost more per mile than petrol.
Petrol cost per mile in 2026
Petrol cost per mile depends on the pump price and your car's economy. The figures below use illustrative pump prices, always check today's live prices for an accurate number.
| Pump price | Economy | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|
| ~135p/litre | 45mpg | ~13.6p |
| ~140p/litre | 45mpg | ~14.1p |
| ~145p/litre | 40mpg | ~16.5p |
| ~135p/litre | 55mpg | ~11.2p |
A frugal modern petrol or hybrid can dip near 11p per mile, while a thirstier car sits higher. To find the cheapest pump near you and shave pence off every fill-up, find the cheapest fuel near you.
So is electric actually cheaper?
It comes down to where you charge:
- Home charger on an off-peak tariff: EVs win comfortably, often saving 10p or more per mile.
- Home charger on standard rate: EVs still win, but by less.
- Mainly public rapid charging: the gap shrinks or disappears, and a less efficient EV can cost more per mile than an economical petrol car.
For a household that can charge overnight, the savings over a year of average driving are substantial. For someone with no driveway who relies on rapids, the fuel cost alone may not justify switching on running costs.
Don't forget the other running costs
Cost per mile is only the fuel part of the picture. EVs also tend to have:
- Lower servicing bills (fewer moving parts, no oil changes)
- No fuel duty
- Regenerative braking that extends brake life
Against that, electricity prices and public charging tariffs can change, so it's worth reviewing the numbers periodically rather than assuming today's gap holds forever.
A worked example over a year
Take 10,000 miles a year:
| Scenario | Cost per mile | Annual fuel cost |
|---|---|---|
| EV, home off-peak | ~2.3p | ~£230 |
| EV, home standard | ~7.4p | ~£740 |
| EV, mostly public rapid | ~21p | ~£2,100 |
| Petrol, 45mpg | ~14p | ~£1,400 |
The spread is enormous. The same EV can cost £230 or £2,100 a year to fuel depending purely on charging habits. That's why understanding your own charging mix matters more than any headline figure.
Compare your local prices
Fuel and energy prices vary by region. You can compare two areas to see how petrol and diesel differ where you live versus where you travel, and keep an eye on national trends with the national fuel price dashboard.
Work out your own numbers
The honest answer to "is electric cheaper than petrol" is: it depends on your charging setup. Run your real figures through our fuel cost calculator, then find the cheapest fuel near you to make sure you're not overpaying whichever you drive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is electric cheaper than petrol per mile in 2026?
Charging at home on an off-peak tariff is far cheaper than petrol, often around 2-3p per mile versus roughly 13-16p per mile for petrol. Public rapid charging narrows or removes that gap.
How do you work out pence per mile for an EV?
Divide the cost per kWh by the car's efficiency in miles per kWh. For example, 8p per kWh at 3.5 miles per kWh works out at about 2.3p per mile.
How much does petrol cost per mile in 2026?
A typical petrol car doing 45mpg costs roughly 13-16p per mile depending on the pump price. Check today's live prices, as fuel costs change frequently.
Is public EV charging more expensive than petrol?
It can be close. Rapid public charging at around 70-85p per kWh can work out near or above petrol's cost per mile for less efficient EVs, so home charging is where the big savings are.
Does an EV save money overall compared with petrol?
For most home chargers, yes. Lower fuel costs, cheaper servicing and no fuel duty add up, though the savings shrink if you rely mainly on public rapid chargers.