How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car in the UK?

If you're thinking about making the switch to electric, or you've recently got behind the wheel of your first EV, there's probably one question you've already asked: how much does it cost to charge an electric car?

The answer depends on where you charge, how much energy you need and the price you pay for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of electricity.

For this guide, we'll use 40kWh as an average charging session. At an efficiency of around 4 miles per kWh, that would add approximately 160 miles of range.

Of course, every charging session is different. Electric cars come with different battery sizes, and you won't usually arrive at a charger completely empty. You might add considerably less or more than 40kWh depending on your car, your remaining battery and the journey ahead.

So, what should you expect to pay?

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

The easiest way to compare EV charging costs is by looking at the price you pay per kWh.

Using our average 40kWh charging session, here's how the cost can vary:

^{*Approximate mileage based on an EV efficiency of 4 miles per kWh. Actual range will vary depending on your vehicle, driving style, weather and other conditions.}

The home charging figure is based on an electricity rate of approximately 26p/kWh. Your actual electricity tariff may be higher or lower.

If you regularly use the Roam network, Roam Membership can save you up to 8p/kWh at participating locations, making regular charging considerably cheaper.

How are electric car charging costs calculated?

Calculating the cost of an EV charge is pretty simple.

Multiply the amount of energy added to your battery by the price you're paying per kWh.

For example, an average 40kWh session on a Roam destination AC charger at 54p/kWh would be:

40kWh × £0.54 = £21.60

On a Roam rapid DC charger at 69p/kWh:

40kWh × £0.69 = £27.60

We've used 40kWh throughout this guide to make the different options easier to compare, but this isn't the size of a typical EV battery. It's an example of the amount of energy added during an average charging session.

EV battery capacities vary significantly between models, and the amount you add each time you plug in will depend on how much charge you already have.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?

For drivers who have a private driveway and their own charger, charging at home can be a cost-effective option.

At an electricity rate of around 26p/kWh, an average 40kWh charging session would cost approximately £10.40.

Some energy suppliers also offer dedicated EV tariffs with cheaper electricity during certain off-peak hours.

But home charging isn't an option for everyone.

Millions of people live in apartments, flats and other properties without access to a private driveway or their own charger. For these drivers, having reliable and affordable charging where they live becomes particularly important.

Roam install shared charging infrastructure at apartment blocks and residential developments so EV drivers can conveniently charge where they live without needing their own driveway.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car at a public charging point?

Public charging prices vary depending on the network, location and type of charger you use.

Across Roam's destination AC network, our standard tariff is 54p/kWh.

That means an average 40kWh charging session costs: £21.60.

At an efficiency of 4 miles per kWh, that's approximately 160 miles of range.

Destination charging is designed around the time your car would already be parked. You might plug in while staying at a hotel, visiting the gym, shopping or spending time at another destination.

Instead of making a dedicated stop to recharge, your car can add range while you get on with whatever brought you there.

How much does rapid charging cost?

When you need to add range quickly, DC rapid charging provides significantly more power than standard AC charging.

Roam's standard DC charging tariff is 69p/kWh, meaning our average 40kWh session would cost £27.60.

Again, that could provide approximately 160 miles of range for an EV achieving 4 miles per kWh.

Rapid charging can be particularly useful on longer journeys, where being able to add a significant amount of range and get moving again quickly matters.

If you're not sure which type of charger you need, our AC vs DC charging guide explains the difference.

How far can you drive on 40kWh?

We've used an efficiency of 4 miles per kWh throughout this guide, giving us approximately 160 miles from 40kWh of energy.

But just like petrol cars have different MPG figures, electric cars vary in efficiency.

Here's how much difference that can make:

The actual range you get from a charge will depend on your vehicle as well as factors such as speed, driving style, temperature, weather and terrain.

Is it cheaper to charge an electric car than fill up with petrol?

Comparing the price of a full EV battery with a full tank of petrol isn't particularly useful. Battery and fuel tank sizes vary considerably between cars.

A better comparison is to look at the cost of travelling the same distance.

Using our example of a 40kWh charging session and an EV efficiency of 4 miles per kWh gives us a journey of approximately 160 miles.

For comparison, we'll use a petrol car achieving 42 miles per gallon, with petrol costing £1.60 per litre.

Here's how the costs compare:

Based on these figures, charging on Roam's residential, workplace and destination AC network can cost considerably less per mile than driving an equivalent petrol car.

Even Roam's 69p/kWh rapid charging tariff works out at roughly the same cost per mile as petrol at £1.60 per litre and 42mpg.

And for regular Roam users, membership can reduce charging prices by up to a further 8p/kWh, making the comparison even more favourable.

It's worth remembering that these are illustrative figures. Both EV efficiency and petrol MPG vary by vehicle and driving conditions, while electricity and fuel prices change over time.

What affects the cost of charging an electric car?

There isn't one fixed price for charging an EV. Several factors determine what you'll actually pay.

Where you charge

Charging at home, at your apartment building, at work, at a destination or at a rapid charging hub can all come with different tariffs.

The best option will often depend on where your car is parked and how quickly you need to add range.

The price per kWh

This is the biggest factor in the cost of an individual charging session.

Before starting a public charge, check the tariff so you know exactly what you'll pay for the electricity you use.

How much energy you add

We've used 40kWh as our average session throughout this guide, but your own sessions could be much smaller or larger.

A driver topping up from 60% to 80% might only need a relatively small amount of electricity. Someone arriving with a low battery ahead of a long journey may need considerably more.

Battery sizes also vary significantly between EVs, so there isn't a single amount of energy that every driver will add when they plug in.

Your EV's efficiency

The more miles your car can travel per kWh, the less electricity you'll need to cover the same distance.

We've used 4 miles per kWh for our comparisons, but real-world efficiency varies between different EVs.

How you drive

Speed, acceleration, temperature, weather and terrain can all affect how much energy your EV consumes.

Can you save money on public EV charging?

Yes. A few simple choices can make a noticeable difference over time.

Charge while you're already parked. Destination charging allows you to add range while you're doing something else, without making charging a separate part of your day.

Check the tariff before plugging in. Prices vary between networks and locations, so knowing the price per kWh makes it easier to understand what your session will cost.

Choose the right charging speed. If you're going to be parked for several hours, you may not need a rapid charger. When you're travelling longer distances and want to get moving again quickly, DC charging can make more sense.

Consider a charging membership. If you charge regularly, discounted rates can make a meaningful difference to your overall charging costs.

Save up to 8p/kWh with Roam Membership

If you regularly charge across the Roam network, Roam Membership can save you up to 8p/kWh at participating locations.

On an average 40kWh session, an 8p/kWh discount would mean an average saving of £3.20 per charge.

For someone charging regularly throughout the month, those savings can quickly add up.

Roam Membership costs £7.20 per month, making it particularly useful for drivers who frequently use participating Roam chargers.

So, how much does it cost to charge an electric car?

There's no single answer because every EV driver charges differently.

The size of your battery, how much energy you need, where you plug in and the price per kWh all affect the final cost.

Using an average 40kWh charging session as an example, you could pay around £10.40 at home, £18.00 on Roam's residential and workplace AC network, £21.60 on Roam's destination AC network or £27.60 using Roam's rapid DC chargers.

At an efficiency of 4 miles per kWh, that 40kWh of energy could give you approximately 160 miles of driving.

For comparison, travelling the same 160 miles in a petrol car achieving 42mpg at £1.60 per litre would cost approximately £27.71.

The important thing isn't necessarily finding the cheapest possible charge every time. It's finding the charging option that works for where you live, where you're going and how quickly you need to get there.

And with competitive tariffs across Roam's AC and DC network, plus savings of up to 8p/kWh with Roam Membership, keeping your EV moving doesn't need to cost the earth.

Find your nearest Roam charger

Find a Roam charging location, check the tariff and see available chargers in the Roam app.

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