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EV vs Petrol Cost per Mile UK 2026: Charging Cost Tracker

by | Jun 11, 2026 | Energy

EV vs Petrol Cost per Mile 2026 by lookinto.co.uk Research. An electric car costs about 2p per mile charging at home versus 16p per mile for a 45mpg petrol car, about 86 percent cheaper.

Last updated: 11 June 2026. Pump prices from the DESNZ weekly road fuel price series (w/c 8 June 2026); public charging prices from the Zapmap price index (May 2026); home electricity from the Ofgem price cap. Updated monthly.

Key finding (June 2026): Charging an EV at home on an off-peak tariff costs about 2.2p per mile, 86% less than a petrol car (16.0p/mile). But on the public rapid network (79p/kWh) an EV costs about 24.7p per mile, roughly 50% more than petrol. Where you charge now matters more than what you drive.

Cost per mile, June 2026

How you fill up / chargePriceCost per mileCost per 8,000 miles

Methodology & sources

EV pence-per-mile = electricity price (p/kWh) ÷ efficiency (miles/kWh). Petrol pence-per-mile = pump price (p/litre) × 4.546 ÷ mpg. Defaults: real-world EV efficiency 3.2 mi/kWh; petrol economy 45 mpg. Prices used in the June 2026 edition: average UK unleaded 158.0p/litre and diesel 181.8p/litre (DESNZ weekly road fuel prices, w/c 8 June 2026); public charging 54p/kWh (fast) and 79p/kWh (rapid/ultra-rapid) PAYG weighted averages (Zapmap price index, May 2026); standard home rate 26.11p/kWh (Ofgem price cap, Jul–Sep 2026; Apr–Jun rate 24.67p); off-peak EV tariff 7p/kWh (typical six-hour overnight EV tariff window; some 2026 tariffs are as low as 3.5–5.5p). All prices include VAT.

How to cite: “LookInto.co.uk EV vs Petrol Cost-per-Mile Tracker, June 2026” with a link to this page. Journalists: monthly historical series available on request, contact us.

Thinking about a home charger? See the best home EV chargers and the £350 chargepoint grant.

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This article was researched and written by the Look Into editorial team following our strict editorial guidelines. We are committed to providing accurate, unbiased information to help you make informed decisions.

Research and data from lookinto.co.uk

lookinto.co.uk publishes independent UK cost research and free quote comparisons across home energy, mobility, home improvement and later-life care. Our research team turns public data into original cost indices and reports that households use and the press cite.