Electric cars are considered much cheaper to run, due to the fact they run on electricity rather than expensive petrol or diesel. But how much does an electric car cost per mile?
According to Which? as of November 2023, the cost per mile of an electric car, on average, are as follows:
Small city cars such as the VW E-Up or the Renault Zoe: 8p - 9p a mile
Medium to large cars such as the Nissan Leaf or the Tesla Model 3 - 8.3p - 10p per mile
Large SUVs like the Audi e-Tron: 8.8p -11.5p per mile
From January 2024, the standard unit price of electricity increased to 28.62p per kWh. This means EV drivers will see their charging costs increase by an average of £30 annually, or by 0.4p per mile.
You can save money by signing up to an EV specific tariff which charges you less during off peak hours. You can read about EV tariffs here.
Which? have also compiled the following list of electric cars that are the cheapest to run.
Most efficient overall. Large car class.
Cost of charging at home off peak (10p per kWh): 2.5p per mile
Cost of charging at home peak (28.62p per kWh): 7.1p per mile
Cost of charging publicly AC (at 50p per kWh): 12.4p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 65p per kWh): 16.2p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 80p per kWh): 19.3p per mile
Most effiecient medium size hatchback/saloon.
Cost of charging at home off peak (10p per kWh): 3.1p per mile
Cost of charging at home peak (28.62p per kWh): 8.8p per mile
Cost of charging publicly AC (at 50p per kWh): 15.4p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 65p per kWh): 20.1p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 80p per kWh): 24.7p per mile
Most efficient city/small hatchback.
Cost of charging at home off peak (10p per kWh): 2.8p per mile
Cost of charging at home peak (28.62p per kWh): 8p per mile
Cost of charging publicly AC (at 50p per kWh): 14p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 65p per kWh): 18.2p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 80p per kWh): 22.3p per mile
Most efficient mid/large SUV.
Cost of charging at home off peak (10p per kWh): 3.1p per mile
Cost of charging at home peak (28.62p per kWh): 9p per mile
Cost of charging publicly AC (at 50p per kWh): 15.7p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 65p per kWh): 20.4p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 80p per kWh): 25.1p per mile
The least efficient car in the Which? efficiency tests.
Cost of charging at home off peak (10p per kWh): 5p per mile
Cost of charging at home peak (28.62p per kWh): 14.2p per mile
Cost of charging publicly AC (at 50p per kWh): 24.9p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 65p per kWh): 32.4p per mile
Cost of charging publicly DC (at 80p per kWh): 39.8p per mile
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