How the comparison works
EV cost per mile = price per kWh ÷ miles per kWh
Fuel cost per mile = (4.546 ÷ MPG) × price per litre
Multiply each by your annual mileage to compare yearly energy costs.
Example: 8,000 miles a year
An EV doing 3.5 miles per kWh on a 24.5p standard tariff costs about 7p a mile, or £560 a year. A petrol car at 45 MPG and £1.45 a litre costs about 14.6p a mile, or roughly £1,172. On a 7p off-peak tariff the EV figure falls to about 2p a mile.
Home vs public charging
Your tariff makes the biggest difference. Public rapid chargers often cost several times more per kWh than home charging. If you mostly use them, enter that price instead.
For a petrol or diesel figure on its own, use the fuel cost per mile calculator.