Summary
The cost of charging an electric car in the UK can vary depending on where you charge; at home, at work, or using public charging points.
For a typical electric car with a 60kWh battery and around 200 miles of range, the approximate charging costs are:
- Charging at home: About £15.10 for a full charge.*
- Charging at work: Many employers install workplace chargers and often offer free charging during the working day.
- Charging at public locations: Chargers at places like supermarkets, shopping centres and public car parks are sometimes free for the duration of your stay.
- Rapid charging: Rapid chargers at motorway services typically cost around £6.50 for a 30-minute charge, providing roughly 90 miles of range.**
* Costs calculated at 28p/kWh assuming a usable battery capacity of approximately 54kWh (90%).
** Example based on charging at 50kW with an efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh and a tariff of 26p/kWh, similar to many rapid charging networks.
Tip: Electric vehicles rarely need to be charged from completely empty. Most drivers simply top up their battery whenever the car is parked.
| Battery size | Approximate “real-world” electric range | Cost to fully charge* | Cost per mile | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nissan LEAF (2018) | 40 kWh | 168 miles | £11.20 | 6.67p |
| Tesla Model S 100D | 100 kWh | 388 miles | £28.00 | 7.22p |
| Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV (2019) | 13.8 kWh | 28 miles | £3.86 | 13.8p (electric mode**) |
* You can estimate the cost of charging your own vehicle using the following formula:
Electricity tariff (for example 28p/kWh) × Battery size (for example 100kWh) ÷ 100 = Total cost of a full charge
** The Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV is a plug-in hybrid vehicle. The cost per mile shown reflects driving in electric-only mode.
If you do not see your vehicle listed above, you can explore additional EV models using our vehicle guides. Browse other EVs here.
Cost to charge an electric car at work
Charging at work can vary depending on the organisation and how the charging system is set up.
Some companies provide charging free of charge as an employee benefit, while others may charge a small fee to help manage usage.
Common workplace charging approaches include:
- Free charging offered as a staff perk or sustainability initiative
- Time-based tariffs designed to encourage drivers to move their cars once charging is complete
- Free charging for a set period, followed by a fee to ensure charging spaces remain available for other drivers