How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

Charging at home

Ofgem says that from 1 October to 31 December 2026 a household on a default tariff paying by Direct Debit pays on average 26.32p per kWh for electricity, an average across England, Scotland and Wales. The figure does not include VAT, because the government has removed VAT from electricity bills from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027.

The daily standing charge is paid whether or not you own an electric car, so it is not part of the cost of a charge. The cap applies to default tariffs: a fixed-rate tariff, or an off-peak tariff a supplier sells for electric cars, is the supplier’s own price and is not set by it.

What a charge costs

The 3.5 miles per kWh is an assumption published in a Department for Transport statistics note for a 70 to 80 kWh battery, and it includes charging losses. The cost of the full 60 kWh does not, so the energy you pay for from the wall is a little higher than the figure shown.

How many kWh does a charge take?

It depends on the size of the battery and how much of it you add. Putting 20% to 80% of a 60 kWh battery is 36 kWh, before charging losses. The Department for Transport’s note on typical charging times uses the same 20%-to-80% measure, for batteries of 70 to 80 kWh.

Public charging prices

Zapmap’s index is the weighted average pay-as-you-go price across UK public networks for August 2026, without a membership or special deal. Prices vary substantially between networks and charger types, and some operators offer promotions, so many drivers pay less than the average.

Northern Ireland

Ofgem’s figures are an average for England, Scotland and Wales and do not describe Northern Ireland. If you charge at home there, use your own tariff.

What about VAT on charging?

VAT on home electricity and on public charging is treated differently; the answer on VAT and electric car charging explains both.