For most electric car owners, the single biggest factor in running costs isn’t the car. It’s where you charge it.
What it costs, per kWh
| Where | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Home, standard tariff (energy price cap, Oct–Dec 2026) | 26.32p per kWh |
| Home, cheap overnight EV tariff | from around 8p per kWh |
| Public slow and fast chargers (3–49 kW) | 54p per kWh on average |
| Public rapid and ultra-rapid (50 kW and above) | 82p per kWh on average |
Public prices are Zapmap’s averages for October 2026, for pay-as-you-go. Memberships and promotions can bring them down.
What it costs per mile
Using the official efficiency of a BYD Seal Design, about 0.27 kWh per mile:
- Overnight EV tariff: about 2p a mile
- Home, standard tariff: about 7p a mile
- Public fast charger: about 14p a mile
- Public rapid charger: about 22p a mile
Official figures are measured in ideal conditions. Expect to use more in winter and at motorway speeds.
Charging at home
A wall-mounted home charger typically costs around £1,000 fitted, depending on the charger and how far it is from your fuse box. It charges most cars fully overnight. Pair it with a smart EV tariff and you can charge in the cheapest hours automatically.
Grant for flats and renters. The government’s EV chargepoint grant covers up to 75% of the cost, up to £500, for people who live in flats or rent, including homes with a designated on-street parking space. Homes with a driveway are no longer eligible. The grant is due to end on 31 March 2027, so check the latest rules on gov.uk.
No off-street parking? Look at local on-street chargers, workplace charging, or supermarket and destination chargers you can use while you shop.
Charging on the road
- Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (50 kW and above) are for long journeys. Most cars charge from 10% to 80% in 25 to 40 minutes. Our model pages show each car’s charging speed and time.
- Plug-in hybrids often charge much more slowly on public chargers, if they can rapid charge at all. Some models accept only 18 kW, for example.
- Charging gets slower above 80%. On a long trip it’s usually quicker to stop twice for 80% than once for 100%.
- Use an app such as Zapmap to find working chargers and compare prices before you set off.
Our advice
If you can charge at home, an electric car is usually the cheapest car to run. If you’d rely on public rapid chargers, run the numbers carefully: at 82p per kWh, per-mile costs can match or beat a petrol car’s. Our guide to running costs compares the two.