Theme
The distance you drive.
Enter the cost of fuel per litre in pence.
Prices vary by location and fuel grade. Check current prices
How many miles your car travels per gallon of fuel.
Any payments for your current car (finance, lease, etc.).
Insurance cost for your current car.
Costs vary by age, location, driving history, and car value. Compare quotes
Average cost for servicing your current car.
How many miles your EV travels per kWh of electricity. Find the data on EV Database.
Convert between different efficiency units:
Formula: 1000 ÷ Wh/mile = miles/kWh
Example: 285 Wh/mile = 1000 ÷ 285 = 3.51 miles/kWh
Any payments for the EV (finance, lease, etc.).
Insurance cost for the EV.
EV insurance can be higher due to repair costs, but some insurers offer discounts for EVs. Compare EV insurance
Average cost for servicing the EV.
Road tax cost for the EV. Calculator below accurate when written 14 Aug 2025.
When enabled, this adds £0.03 per mile to your EV running costs (UK only). This reflects the UK Government’s announced mileage tax starting in 2028.
Enter the cost per kWh during peak hours.
Rates vary by supplier and tariff. Check your energy bill or supplier website. Check price cap
Check this box if you have access to a cheaper electricity rate during off-peak hours.
If you will regularly use public charging facilities, enter the average price per kWh you expect to pay, here.
Prices vary by network and location. Some networks offer subscription discounts. Find chargers near you
Tick this box if you have solar panels and want to factor these into your calculations.
The calculator above compares the real monthly running cost of an electric car against your current petrol or diesel car, using your own figures rather than national averages. It accounts for the things most comparisons skip: how much of your charging happens on a cheap overnight tariff versus expensive public chargers, the difference in road tax, insurance and servicing, and even the planned 2028 pay-per-mile tax for EVs.
The charging mix sliders matter more than anything else. Charging at home overnight on an EV tariff can cost under 7p per kWh, while a rapid public charger can be ten times that, so two drivers with identical cars can have wildly different running costs. If you're not sure what realistic values look like, every input has an info button with typical ranges, or you can start with our guides: what it really costs to charge an EV at home, EV vs petrol running costs in full and the best UK electricity tariffs for EV owners.
Nothing you enter is sent to a server; the calculation runs in your browser and your settings stay on your device. If the result surprises you, the Advanced Data button breaks down exactly where every pound goes. You can read more about who runs this site and where the numbers come from.