EV vs petrol calculator
EV vs petrol running-cost calculator for the UK
Compare an electric car with a petrol car using UK home charging, public charging, petrol prices, and annual mileage.
Compare running cost first, then see whether the upfront premium earns itself back.
Before
Petrol cost
After
EV charging cost
Your EV payback
Change miles, MPG, charging mix, petrol price, and EV purchase premium.
Decision signal
Worth checking quotesThe default case can work, but local prices and rebates decide the final answer.
Annual fuel saving
£566
Payback on EV premium
7.1 years
10-year net
£1,661
This does not pay back with these assumptions. Try a lower upfront cost, higher usage, or better tariff spread.
Before vs after annual cost
lower is better| Decision number | Default | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Upfront / net cost | £4,000 | The amount the savings must recover. |
| 5-year net | -£1,169 | Useful if you may move or replace equipment early. |
| 10-year net | £1,661 | The long-run money signal after upfront cost. |
EV cost = miles / miles-per-kWh x blended charging price. Petrol cost = miles / MPG x 4.546 x petrol price.
Default values are source-backed planning benchmarks, not quotes. For the most accurate result, replace them with your own bill, tariff, vendor quote, grant, and usage numbers.
Before you buy
Use the calculator as a quote filter
1. Enter your real tariff
Use your bill or supplier app, not a sales estimate.
2. Add the actual quote
Net of grants, rebates, discounts, and installation extras.
3. Share the link
Keep everyone comparing the same assumptions.
Trust layer
- -No signup wall before the answer.
- -Sources are visible at the bottom of every calculator.
- -The result warns users when the math does not pay back.
Quick answers
Common questions
Is this ev vs petrol calculator exact?
It is a planning estimate, not a quote. Replace the defaults with your actual quote, tariff, usage, and incentive numbers before buying.
Why does payback change so much when I move the sliders?
Big energy purchases are sensitive to usage, local energy prices, upfront cost, and incentives. A small change in those assumptions can move payback by years.
Should I use this before talking to vendors?
Yes. The calculator gives you a neutral baseline so you can compare vendor claims against source-backed math.
Sources for this page
- GOV.UK advisory fuel rates, June 2026 petrol price, petrol MPG, EV efficiency, and home/public charging rates.