The average electric vehicle (EV) driver spends £310 per year on electricity to charge it at home, according to a new study by Uswitch.
The energy comparison service calculated the cost based on a typical EV covering 10,000 miles per year at the UK’s average electricity price per kWh.
It also calculated the cost of charging an EV in different countries around the world, based on the average price and mileage in those territories.
The UK ranked as the 10th most expensive out of 50 countries in the study, with the most expensive country to charge an electric vehicle revealed as Denmark, followed by Germany and Belgium.
Average annual EV charging cost:
|
Country |
Annual Charging Cost Per Person |
|
Denmark |
£486.59 |
|
Germany |
£412.87 |
|
Belgium |
£398.12 |
|
Italy |
£383.37 |
|
Ireland |
£383.37 |
|
Portugal |
£353.88 |
|
Spain |
£339.14 |
|
Austria |
£324.39 |
|
Japan |
£324.39 |
|
United Kingdom |
£309.65 |
Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch, said: “The use of electric vehicles has clear environmental benefits but for many consumers, the choice to move to EVs can be hindered by perceptions about how much it will cost to charge.
“This research shows that, while the costs are not insignificant, the UK is in a strong position compared to countries like Denmark where the price of electricity makes the cost of a charge so much higher.
“Of course, as well as the cost savings of rapid charging points, we also encourage consumers to regularly review their own energy tariffs to ensure they’re getting the best deal possible.”
The current advisory fuel rate (AFR) for an alternative fuel vehicle is 4ppm, meaning drivers can claim £400 for every 10,000 business miles covered.
Click here to find out how to implement a successful workplace charging scheme.
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Matt has been an automotive journalist for eight years. As senior staff writer he is responsible for the automotive content on Fleet News and also contributes to Automotive Management. Prior to this, Matt worked in the automotive industry for 10 years.
Sage & Onion - 17/07/2020 15:44
It would be interesting to know what the average annual cost of home charging for a PHEV is. And how many drivers won't plug a PHEV in at home if they have to pay for the electric themselves? From the analysis of our fleet, the fossil fuel cost difference between a driver who doesn't plug a PHEV in and one that does is about 6p per mile. This article suggests electric costs 3.1p per mile and HMRC say 4p per mile. So this proves the value of plugging in is about 2p to 2.9p per mile. How many employers pay their employees a mileage rate (say the HMRC 4p rate) for charging a PHEV at home? And if they haven't got a smart charger how do they prove how much electric is used? Is an assumption of 5 home charges per week, giving, say, 35 miles each charge, at 4p per mile = £7 per week a fair and reasonable (and BIK free) payment to make to PHEV drivers to encourage them to plug it in each day? I'd love to know how other fleets treat PHEV's to encourage plugging in as much as possible.