According to a new AA report, electric vehicles can lose out to diesel cars when looking at the pence per mile cost. It found that running a diesel is cheaper for EV drivers who do not have any form of personal dedicated off-street charging.
The AA EV Recharge Report for November 2022 confirms that domestic charging is the cheapest option for electric vehicle owners, even with prices on the government’s recently introduced capped levels. Domestic charging is also half the price of ultra-rapid options.
The report also found that fast charging is on average cheaper than slow charging.
Slow charging (up to 7kW) is usually found in on-street locations such as lampposts, whereas fast chargers (8–22 kW) are found in car parks where people intend to stay for several hours.
Fast chargers also represent the most common charge point in the public network, outnumbering rapid (23-100 kW) and ultra-rapid (101 plus kW) devices by more than three-to-one.
However, slow charging providers often offer a subscription service which unlocks rates lower than the average fast charging price.
For those without any personal dedicated off-street charging, running a diesel is cheaper at 13.25 pence per mile (p/mile).
In contrast, with all but ultra-rapid chargers, petrol is more expensive on a pence per mile basis (14.62 p/mile), but for EV drivers using a combination of domestic charging and ultra-rapid top-ups is cheaper than running a petrol or diesel car.
Jack Cousens, the AA’s recharging spokesman, said: “Surprisingly, fast chargers are on average cheaper than slow charging, but subscription offers for on-street lampposts can be found with deals around 29 p/kWh.
“Most people will opt for pay as you go rates when away from home, especially if they top their EV up at rapid and ultra-rapid chargers. While the cost of recharging will always be cheaper than refuelling, EVs can lose out to diesel cars when looking at the pence per mile cost.
“However, those with a home charger reap the rewards of the cheapest rates possible. Many can also enjoy discounted rates if their energy provider offers an off-peak tariff for overnight charging.”
Interestingly, the AA report has no cost for time spent charging away from home, and there are significant numbers of homes where home charging isn’t an option.
AA EV Recharge Report – November 2022
| Charger type | Speed (kW) | Lowest price (p/kWh)2 | Highest price (p/kWh)2 | Average price (p/kWh)2 | Cost to charge 80% at Ave p/kWh3 | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
| Domestic | 3-7 kW | Using price cap | 34 p/kWh | £20.94 | 7.99 p/mile | |
| Slow | Up to 7kW | 35 p/kWh | 69 p/kWh | 54 p/kWh | £33.26 | 12.69 p/mile |
| Fast | 8-22 kW | 35 p/kWh | 75 p/kWh | 49 p/kWh | £30.18 | 11.52 p/mile |
| Rapid | 23-100 kW | 35 p/kWh | 79 p/kWh | 60 p/kWh | £36.96 | 14.11 p/mile |
| Ultra-rapid | +101 kW | 55 p/kWh | 79 p/kWh | 69 p/kWh | £42.50 | 16.22 p/mile |