Why Some UK Drivers Are Saving £213 Annually

• Public EV charging costs around 16p per mile, compared with 19p per mile for petrol and diesel vehicles.
• Average UK fuel prices have reached 174.81p for petrol and 200.01p for diesel following sharp increases linked to the Middle East conflict.
• ChargeUK wants lower public charging taxes and stronger EV sales targets to help motorists reduce their driving costs.

Electric car drivers are enjoying their biggest savings on public charging in years as petrol and diesel prices continue to climb across the UK.

New figures from industry body ChargeUK show that electric vehicle charging costs have remained relatively stable throughout 2026, despite disruption to global energy markets caused by the conflict between the United States and Iran.

The latest analysis puts the cost of standard and rapid public EV charging at approximately 16p per mile, compared with 19p per mile for conventional fuel-powered vehicles.

Based on these figures, a motorist travelling 7,100 miles annually could save approximately £213 by using public EV chargers instead of petrol or diesel.

The widening difference comes as UK motorists face some of the highest fuel prices on record.

Diesel has reached £2 per litre, meaning drivers of a typical family car with a 55-litre fuel tank now face a £110 bill for a complete refill.

Although pump prices have started to ease, they remain substantially higher than before the conflict began.

According to RAC Fuel Watch, average petrol prices currently stand at 174.81p per litre, while diesel costs 200.01p.

Diesel has increased by 40 per cent since the outbreak of fighting, adding 57.6p to every litre purchased.

Petrol prices have climbed by 31.6 per cent over the same period, leaving motorists paying approximately 42p more per litre. However, recent figures suggest petrol prices are now declining by around 0.08p per day.

The sharp increases have widened the financial advantage of electric motoring, particularly for drivers who regularly use public charging stations.

While wholesale electricity markets have experienced significant fluctuations, standard public EV charging prices have remained largely unchanged.

Rapid charging costs have increased by just five per cent, a considerably smaller rise than those experienced by petrol and diesel motorists.

ChargeUK believes the difference between conventional fuel costs and public EV charging prices may now be greater than at any point since before the energy crisis of 2022.

That crisis followed Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, when disruption to international energy supplies pushed petrol, diesel and household energy bills sharply higher.

Shane Brennan, CEO of ChargeUK, believes the latest figures demonstrate the financial benefits of switching away from petrol and diesel vehicles.

“Switching to electric driving is one of the biggest cost-of-living adjustments a household can make. This is true today, will be this winter, and for the long term.

“Now is the time for the Government, the automotive sector and all other influencers to come together and accelerate the transition.”

His comments come as the Government considers changes to its Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) mandate, which sets annual targets for manufacturers to increase the proportion of electric vehicles they sell.

Under the existing framework, electric cars are expected to account for 80 per cent of new car sales by 2030.

However, a Government consultation has proposed reducing that requirement to as little as 50 per cent.

Brennan has criticised the possibility of weakening the targets, describing the proposal as “absurd” at a time when electric vehicle sales are continuing to grow.

His concerns follow a particularly strong September for the electric car market, when nearly 100,000 new EVs were sold across the UK.

The ChargeUK chief executive believes policymakers should concentrate on removing the additional costs faced by electric vehicle owners rather than slowing the transition.

“We should instead be taking deliberate action to remove the pricing inequalities and policy failures that are getting in the way of making electric driving even cheaper and more resilient to global crises in the fossil fuel market,” he added.

One of the industry’s main concerns is the difference in charging costs between drivers who have access to a private driveway and those who depend on public infrastructure.

Motorists able to charge at home generally benefit from lower electricity prices, particularly when using overnight tariffs.

Those living in flats, terraced properties or homes without off-street parking often have little choice but to pay higher public charging rates.

This difference, commonly described as the “driveway divide”, remains a major financial obstacle for drivers considering an electric vehicle.

ChargeUK wants the Government to cut VAT on public EV charging from 20 per cent to zero, reducing the additional costs faced by motorists who cannot install a home charger.

The organisation is also calling for action on the standing charges paid by public charging operators, which add to the cost of providing electricity to customers.

Another proposal involves introducing a renewable fuel credit scheme similar to those already operating in parts of Europe.

ChargeUK argues that these changes would make public charging more affordable while reducing the UK’s exposure to future increases in global oil prices.

With petrol and diesel costs continuing to place pressure on household budgets, the organisation believes the latest figures strengthen the economic case for electric vehicles, even for motorists who rely on public charging.