The cost of charging an EV varies enormously depending on where and when you charge. The difference between public rapid charging and overnight home charging on Octopus Go is roughly 5x. Getting this right is the single biggest factor in EV running costs.
Home charging costs
| Tariff | Rate | Cost per full charge (60kWh) | Cost per mile |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard variable (24p/kWh) | 24p/kWh | £14.40 | ~6p/mile |
| Octopus Go overnight (7.5p/kWh) | 7.5p/kWh | £4.50 | ~2p/mile |
| Octopus Agile overnight (~5p/kWh) | ~5p/kWh | £3.00 | ~1.3p/mile |
Public charging costs
| Type | Typical rate | Cost per full charge (60kWh) |
|---|---|---|
| Slow (7kW) | 30–40p/kWh | £18–£24 |
| Fast (22kW) | 40–55p/kWh | £24–£33 |
| Rapid (50kW+) | 55–79p/kWh | £33–£47 |
The optimal EV charging setup
- Switch to Octopus (£50 credit)
- Get a smart meter installed (free)
- Switch to Octopus Go (7.5p/kWh overnight) or Intelligent Go (smart scheduling)
- Charge overnight, every night
- Use public chargers only when necessary (road trips, emergencies)
At Octopus Go rates, charging an EV costs roughly the same per mile as fuelling a car that does 250mpg. That comparison isn't a typo.
Annual saving vs petrol
A typical 8,000-mile EV driver on Octopus Go spends approximately £120/year on electricity. The same mileage in a petrol car averaging 40mpg costs approximately £1,100/year. That's a saving of roughly £980/year on fuel alone — before accounting for lower servicing costs, road tax exemption, and congestion charge exemption.
