EV vs petrol: what a mile costs today
Today’s UK average pump prices against the home electricity price set by Ofgem’s price cap, 27 September 2026. Find your car’s economy in the tables below.
Petrol and diesel, pence per mile
At today’s UK average price, by miles per gallon.
| Economy | E10 petrol | Diesel |
|---|---|---|
| 35 mpg | 22.6p | 25.9p |
| 45 mpg | 17.6p | 20.1p |
| 55 mpg | 14.4p | 16.5p |
| 65 mpg | 12.2p | 13.9p |
Electric, charged at home, pence per mile
At the price-cap rate, by miles per kWh.
| Economy | Per mile | Per 100 miles |
|---|---|---|
| 2.5 miles per kWh | 10.4p | £10.44 |
| 3 miles per kWh | 8.7p | £8.70 |
| 3.5 miles per kWh | 7.5p | £7.46 |
| 4 miles per kWh | 6.5p | £6.53 |
Where these numbers come from
Pump prices are today’s averages across every UK forecourt reporting to the government’s statutory price reporting scheme. A UK gallon is 4.546 litres.
Electricity is Ofgem’s default-tariff price cap for Direct Debit customers, the average across England, Scotland and Wales, for 1 July 2026 to 30 September 2026 — including VAT at 5%. Ofgem’s announcement. Cheaper overnight EV tariffs and public chargers, which usually cost more, are not included: there is no official average for either to cite.
Running cost is only part of the comparison: purchase price, insurance and servicing are not included. Cost a journey · MPG calculator · Petrol vs diesel