How much can I save with an electric car?

Savings depend on your annual mileage, electricity tariff, and current fuel costs. On average, EV owners save £800-£1,200 per year on fuel alone compared to a petrol car. Maintenance costs are also lower as EVs have fewer moving parts.

Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public charger?

Home charging is significantly cheaper, typically costing 7-10p per mile compared to 15-25p per mile at public rapid chargers. An overnight home charge on a standard tariff costs around £10-15 for a full charge giving 200-250 miles of range.

EV vs Petrol Running Cost Calculator Trending

Compare annual running costs of an electric car vs petrol. See fuel, VED and servicing savings plus CO2 reduction.

Last updated: April 2026 · Source: GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rates

Annual Miles

Current MPG

Petrol (p/litre)

EV Efficiency (mi/kWh)

Home Elec (p/kWh)

Public (p/kWh)

Home Charging (%)

Total Annual Saving (EV vs Petrol)

£954.31

5-year saving: £4,771.53

Petrol Cost

£1,534.31/yr

1.7 tonnes CO2

EV Cost

£960.00/yr

0.4 tonnes CO2

Fuel Saving	£574.31
VED Saving	£180.00
Servicing Saving	£200.00
Total Annual Saving	£954.31
CO2 Saving	1.3 tonnes/yr

Disclaimer

This calculator is provided for informational purposes only and should not be considered as financial or tax advice. All calculations are performed locally in your browser — no personal data is collected or sent to our servers. Rates and thresholds are sourced from HMRC and GOV.UK and are updated for the current tax year. Always verify results with HMRC or consult a qualified professional before making financial decisions.

How It Works

Switching from a petrol or diesel car to an electric vehicle can save significant money on fuel, road tax and maintenance. Electricity is cheaper per mile than petrol: a typical EV costs 4-7p per mile to run on home charging versus 14-18p per mile for a petrol car. Road tax (VED) for EVs registered before April 2025 is £0, while those registered from April 2025 onwards pay the standard rate.

Maintenance costs are lower for EVs because they have fewer moving parts. There is no clutch, exhaust system, cambelt or traditional gearbox to service. Brake pad wear is reduced through regenerative braking. Annual servicing costs are typically £100-£200 less than an equivalent petrol car.

This calculator compares the total cost of ownership between an EV and a comparable petrol or diesel car over 3-5 years. It includes purchase price (or lease cost), fuel/charging, insurance, road tax, MOT and maintenance to show the true financial picture.

Example: EV vs petrol over 5 years, 10,000 miles/year

Annual fuel saving (EV vs petrol): ~£900
Annual road tax saving: £0-£190 (depending on registration date)
Annual maintenance saving: ~£150
Total 5-year running cost saving: ~£5,250-£6,200
Higher EV insurance premium: +£150/year
Net 5-year saving: ~£4,500-£5,450

Source: GOV.UK — Vehicle tax rates

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I save with an electric car?: Savings depend on your annual mileage, electricity tariff, and current fuel costs. On average, EV owners save £800-£1,200 per year on fuel alone compared to a petrol car. Maintenance costs are also lower as EVs have fewer moving parts.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public charger?: Home charging is significantly cheaper, typically costing 7-10p per mile compared to 15-25p per mile at public rapid chargers. An overnight home charge on a standard tariff costs around £10-15 for a full charge giving 200-250 miles of range.