Petrol vs EV Running Costs: 10,000 Miles in 2026
At 10,000 miles per year, an EV costs approximately £500–£700 to charge (home charging) versus £1,400–£1,800 to fuel a petrol car. But EVs cost more to buy and now pay VED from April 2025. Here's the full cost comparison.
The Fuel Cost Calculation
Electric: home charging
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Typical EV efficiency | 3.0–4.2 miles per kWh |
| Average home unit rate (April 2026) | ~24p/kWh (Ofgem price cap) |
| 10,000 miles at 3.0 mi/kWh | 3,333 kWh × £0.24 = £800/yr |
| 10,000 miles at 3.5 mi/kWh | 2,857 kWh × £0.24 = £686/yr |
| 10,000 miles at 4.0 mi/kWh | 2,500 kWh × £0.24 = £600/yr |
Electric: public charging
| Charging type | Typical rate | 10,000 miles at 3.5 mi/kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Home (Ofgem rate) | 24p/kWh | £686/yr |
| Workplace/destination | 20–30p/kWh | £571–£857/yr |
| Rapid (50–100kW) | 40–55p/kWh | £1,143–£1,571/yr |
| Ultra-rapid (150kW+) | 55–75p/kWh | £1,571–£2,143/yr |
| Motorway hub (on-route) | 75–85p/kWh | £2,143–£2,429/yr |
Public charging on motorway hubs effectively eliminates the fuel cost advantage. The EV economic case depends heavily on whether you can charge at home or a low-cost workplace charger.
Petrol: fuel cost
| Detail | |
|---|---|
| Petrol price (May 2026, avg UK) | ~140p/litre |
| Typical modern petrol (40 mpg) | 4.546 litres/gallon |
| 10,000 miles at 40 mpg: litres used | 1,136 litres |
| Fuel cost | £1,591/yr |
| mpg efficiency | Fuel cost at 140p/litre (10,000 miles) |
|---|---|
| 30 mpg (older/larger petrol) | £2,121/yr |
| 40 mpg (typical hatchback) | £1,591/yr |
| 50 mpg (efficient petrol) | £1,273/yr |
| 60 mpg (petrol hybrid) | £1,061/yr |
Full Cost Comparison: 10,000 Miles Per Year
Using a mid-range family hatchback equivalent (EV: ~£35,000 new; Petrol: ~£25,000 new):
| Cost Category | Home-Charged EV | Petrol (40mpg) | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel / electricity | £686 | £1,591 | EV saves £905 |
| VED (road tax) | £195 (standard) | £195 | Equal (both pay standard from yr 2) |
| Insurance (indicative) | £700–£900 | £600–£800 | EV typically £100 more |
| Servicing (annual avg) | £150–£200 | £300–£400 | EV saves £150–£200 |
| Tyres (annual avg) | £150 | £120 | EV £30 more (heavier vehicles) |
| Total annual running | ~£1,881–£2,181 | ~£2,806–£3,106 | EV saves ~£925–£1,225/yr |
VED: both at standard £195/year from year 2 (EV from April 2025). Expensive car supplement adds £425/yr if list price >£40,000 in years 2–6.
Including the expensive car supplement
Many EVs cost over £40,000 when new:
| Vehicle | List Price | VED (yr 2–6) |
|---|---|---|
| Nissan Leaf (basic) | ~£28,000 | £195/yr |
| Tesla Model 3 (RWD) | ~£42,000 | £195 + £425 = £620/yr |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | ~£44,000 | £195 + £425 = £620/yr |
| BMW iX3 | ~£55,000 | £195 + £425 = £620/yr |
| Ford Puma Gen-E | ~£30,000 | £195/yr |
An EV that triggers the expensive car supplement costs £425/year more in VED — eroding the fuel saving significantly in years 2–6.
Servicing Cost Comparison
EVs have materially lower servicing costs because:
- No oil, oil filter, or spark plug changes
- No traditional gearbox (no gearbox oil/fluid changes)
- Regenerative braking reduces brake pad wear — brakes last significantly longer
- Fewer moving parts overall
| Service Item | Petrol | EV |
|---|---|---|
| Annual service (oil/filter/check) | £150–£250 | Not applicable |
| Coolant check/change | Included | Included (smaller system) |
| Brake fluid | Every 2 years | Every 2–3 years (same) |
| Tyres | ~£120/yr average | ~£150/yr (heavier car wears tyres faster) |
| Annual servicing estimate | £300–£400 | £150–£200 |
Cumulative saving over 5 years: £500–£1,000 in servicing. Over 10 years: £1,000–£2,000.
Battery replacement is the EV risk. Most modern EV batteries are warranted for 8 years or 100,000–150,000 miles at 70% capacity. Replacement costs have fallen significantly (to ~£5,000–£10,000 for most mainstream EVs) but remain a tail risk.
Depreciation: The Bigger Picture
Depreciation is often the largest cost of car ownership. EVs have seen more volatile depreciation than petrol cars in recent years — partly due to rapid technology advancement and partly due to Tesla price cuts disrupting residual values.
| Typical depreciation (3-year, 10k miles/yr) | Petrol | EV |
|---|---|---|
| New purchase price | £25,000 | £35,000 |
| Residual value after 3 years | £15,000 (60%) | £18,000 (51%) |
| Depreciation | £10,000 | £17,000 |
| Depreciation per year | £3,333 | £5,667 |
Even if an EV saves £1,000/year in running costs, the higher depreciation in this example costs £2,334/year more — making the total cost of ownership higher for the EV. This varies enormously by model, actual residual values, and how long you keep the car.
Rule of thumb: the EV economic case is strongest if you:
- Buy used (letting someone else absorb the early depreciation)
- Drive high annual mileage (more fuel saving to offset the cost premium)
- Have home charging (avoiding expensive public charging)
- Keep the car 5+ years (spreading the acquisition cost over more miles)
The Real Cost Per Mile
| Scenario | Annual Cost | Per Mile (10,000 miles) |
|---|---|---|
| EV, home charged, sub-£40k list | £1,881 | 18.8p/mile |
| EV, home charged, >£40k list (supplement) | £2,306 | 23.1p/mile |
| EV, public rapid charging only | £3,571 | 35.7p/mile |
| Petrol 40mpg | £2,906 | 29.1p/mile |
| Petrol 30mpg (older/larger) | £3,416 | 34.2p/mile |
| Petrol hybrid 55mpg | £2,316 | 23.2p/mile |
Excludes depreciation and finance costs. Includes fuel/electricity, VED, insurance, servicing, and tyres.
The petrol hybrid at 55mpg is a close match to a home-charged EV on per-mile running costs — and avoids range anxiety and charging infrastructure dependency.
Charging Infrastructure in 2026
UK public charging network statistics (May 2026):
- Total public charge points: ~80,000+
- Rapid chargers (50kW+): ~20,000+
- Motorway coverage: 99%+ of motorway service areas (EV charging legally mandated for new service areas since 2023)
The network has improved substantially but urban destinations still have gaps. Relying exclusively on public charging for a city apartment dweller without a driveway remains costly and inconvenient.
On-street charging: key development
Local authorities are required to meet EV charging targets. On-street lamp-post chargers (3–7kW) are being deployed in urban areas at rates of 7–22p/kWh — making street charging viable for non-home-owner EV drivers if they live in covered areas.
Breakeven Analysis: When Does the EV Pay Back?
Assuming: EV costs £8,000 more to buy than equivalent petrol; EV saves £1,000/year in running costs.
| Annual Saving | Break-even Point |
|---|---|
| £700/yr saved (lower mileage/less efficient) | 11.4 years |
| £1,000/yr saved (10,000 miles, home charging) | 8 years |
| £1,300/yr saved (high mileage, efficient EV) | 6.2 years |
| £1,600/yr saved (very high mileage, 15k+) | 5 years |
For drivers doing 15,000+ miles annually with home charging, the EV economic case is strong. For drivers doing 6,000 miles annually without home charging, petrol (or hybrid) likely remains the rational choice for total cost of ownership.
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