Exactly how much charging an EV costs as Brits stung with soaring petrol costs

Daily Mirror

17-05-2025

The average Brit believes home charging an EV is ten times more expensive than it actually is, while 65 percent admit to having little or no knowledge of the costs involved
Charging an electric vehicle (EV) at home in the UK is actually far cheaper than most people think it is, with research released in May 2025 showing that only four percent British drivers realise they could fully charge their EV for less than the price of a cup of coffee.
To help clear these misunderstandings up, E.ON Next has introduced a novel concept in central London — a grocery store called EVerything £2.70, where every product is priced at exactly the eponymous £2.70, which is the same amount a driver could pay to fully charge their EV overnight at home using the E.ON Next Drive tariff.
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This initiative aims to illustrate that charging an EV at home can be as affordable as everyday purchases such as a cup of coffee, loaf of sourdough bread or four-pack of premium toilet paper.
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Director of Commercial at E.ON Next, Jean Coleman, said: 'There are common misconceptions when it comes to the costs associated with running electric vehicles, which is why we wanted to highlight the potential savings through our EVerything £2.70 experience.
'As more people in the UK look at ways to lower their energy bills and reduce impact on the environment by switching from fuel to electric, there are now means to achieve both.
"We want to help people get the best value as part of the UK's transition to clean energy and empower our customers with innovative tariffs like E.ON Next Drive.'
The contrast in costs is striking, with data showing the average UK driver spent around £48 the last time they refuelled their petrol car — potentially more than 17 times the cost of a full EV charge at home with the E.ON Next Drive tariff.
With petrol prices remaining high, over half of Brit drivers (52%) said they were driving less, while many even missed family gatherings or special occasions because they couldn't afford to fill up their petrol tanks.
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Other tariffs on the market, some as low as 6.7p per kWh, support similar savings. At these rates, drivers can add approximately 60 miles of range for just £1, making the cost of running an EV far less than that of a petrol vehicle.
Over time, these savings add up significantly. Economist Dr Sofia Sanchez's research shows that a high-mileage driver, such as a salesperson covering 20,000 miles annually, could save more than £8,350 in running costs over three years by switching to an EV.
Even drivers with lower mileage, such as parents doing school runs or retirees living in rural areas, can save thousands over the same period. For example, a university student driving 5,000 miles a year could save over £1,600 in three years, while a retired person driving 6,500 miles could save more than £3,500.
Despite these clear financial benefits, many misconceptions remain, with more than a quarter of UK drivers mistakenly believing that charging an EV at home costs more than petrol, even though EV running costs are currently about half those of both petrol and diesel vehicles. In reality, charging an EV at home can cost as little as 2p per mile, compared to roughly 15p per mile for a petrol car.
While installing a home EV charger requires an initial investment, typically between £400 and £1,500, government grants can help reduce these upfront costs.
But once installed, the ongoing savings quickly make up for the initial expense, especially for those who drive regularly.