UK energy tariffs & charging realities

The advertised cost per mile of an electric car assumes cheap overnight electricity. Whether you can actually get that rate depends on where you park, what tariff you're on, and how often you charge away from home.

This guide is a placeholder outline while we finish our full breakdown. The sections below cover what the finished article will explain in detail.

Off-peak EV tariffs

Most major suppliers now offer a dedicated EV tariff with a cheap overnight window, typically several hours in the small hours. Charging inside that window is where the headline running-cost savings come from.

• Cheap window rates are a fraction of the standard day rate
• Some tariffs raise the daytime unit rate in exchange, so your whole household usage matters
• A smart charger or a car with scheduled charging is usually required

Public charging costs

Public rapid and ultra-rapid charging is convenient and expensive. At current rates a rapid charge can put an electric car close to, or above, the per-mile cost of an efficient diesel — which is why we ask about your charging access before anything else in the calculator.

• Slower on-street and destination charging usually costs less than rapid charging
• Subscription plans can cut the unit rate if you charge publicly often
• Idle fees and connection fees vary by network

No driveway? What actually works

Plenty of people run electric cars without home charging, but the economics are different. Lamp-post and kerbside chargers, workplace charging, and a weekly top-up at a supermarket or destination charger are the realistic options.

Standing charges and regional differences

Unit rates vary by distribution region, and standing charges apply regardless of how much you use. Our calculator adjusts your home rate for the region you select.

A full tariff-by-tariff comparison is coming soon.