In this article, we look at some of the key things to consider.
It’s usually cheaper and more convenient to charge your EV at home than at a charging station, but you need the right equipment. A specialised EV charging point can cost between £800 and £1,200 to buy and install.
There are also energy bills to consider. You may find it’s cheaper to charge an EV from home than to fill an equivalent petrol or diesel tank, but higher energy prices could make it more expensive.
When charging your EV at home, it pays to look for the right energy tariff – preferably one with off-peak charging periods. Charging your EV during off-peak periods could be more affordable, especially if UK energy bills continue to rise.
According to Zapmap, over 50,000 public charging points are available in the UK, including a mix of slow, fast, rapid, and ultra-rapid charging options.
How much you pay at public charging stations typically depends on:
There are also subscriptions and memberships, which could reduce the cost of public charging.
An EV can be cheaper to run, compared to many petrol or diesel cars, depending on the make and model and if you do most of the charging at home.
EVs generally need less maintenance than cars with an internal combustion engine (ICE) because they have fewer moving parts. However, check if this will be true for your situation.
Tools like our electric vehicle cost calculator can help you compare the running costs of an EV to a petrol or diesel car.
The range of an EV means how far it can travel on a full battery. As with petrol and diesel cars, the distance can be affected by different factors, including your driving style and weather conditions.
Older EVs typically struggled to travel far on a single charge, but the latest models can usually travel between 100 and 300 miles – and most everyday journeys tend to be much shorter. Work out how much range you need and the availability of charging points as you travel.
If you need to travel long distances but have limited access to public charging points, you may need to consider whether an EV is suitable for your needs.
This article was last updated: 15/12/2023, 04:31
