How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at Home?
Frequently Asked Questions
On a standard tariff (approximately 24p/kWh in 2025), a 75 kWh EV takes around £18 to charge from empty — but most daily charging is partial top-ups. Annual costs for 10,000 miles are typically £700-£900 at standard rates.
Octopus Intelligent Octopus offers 6-7p/kWh during overnight charging hours (11pm-5am) for compatible EVs. EDF GoElectric, E.ON Drive, and British Gas Electric Driver also offer dedicated EV tariffs.
Most dedicated EV tariffs require a compatible smart charger (7kW+) and a compatible EV. The charger communicates with the provider to schedule charging during off-peak windows.
A standard 7kW home charger costs approximately £1,000-£1,200 installed. The OZEV Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Grant has ended, but some energy companies offer subsidised installation.
At off-peak rates (7p/kWh), driving 10,000 miles in an efficient EV costs approximately £200/year. The same distance in a 40mpg petrol car at 145p/litre costs approximately £825. An annual saving of ~£625.
Yes. A standard 3-pin socket (Mode 2, 2.3kW) will charge an EV, but slowly. A 7kW wallbox charger is significantly faster and is the recommended approach for regular home charging.
EV charging significantly increases electricity consumption, but the standing charge is fixed regardless of how much you use. Moving to a higher standing charge/lower unit rate tariff may be beneficial for high-EV-charging households.
V2G allows bidirectional energy flow — charging your EV from the grid when electricity is cheap and selling it back when prices are high. Available with compatible EVs (Nissan Leaf, Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV) and V2G chargers.
Domestic electricity (including EV charging at home) is subject to 5% VAT (reduced rate). Public EV chargers are charged at 20% standard VAT rate, making home charging much more cost-effective.
Pairing solar panels with an EV charger (and battery storage) allows you to charge your EV with free solar energy. Smart systems prioritise solar export to the car before exporting to the grid.
The OZEV Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme (EVHS) grant is no longer available for homeowners (ended June 2022). Grants remain for renters and flat dwellers through the EV Infrastructure Grant.
The Workplace Charging Scheme provides grants for businesses installing EV chargers at work. Employees who charge at work cannot claim a benefit-in-kind (since 2018, employer EV charging is a tax-free benefit).