UK fuel prices push EV running costs to nine times lower than petrol or diesel
By Eve
Electric vehicles charged on off peak tariffs in the UK now cost around 2.3 pence per mile, compared with 20.1 pence for petrol and 21 pence for diesel, according to Carbon Brief analysis. Government figures show diesel prices climbed 38% to £1.96 per litre since February 2026, while petrol rose 31% to £1.72 per litre. The cost gap makes EVs up to nine times cheaper to run per mile than combustion vehicles.
Why it matters
The widening cost advantage strengthens the business case for fleet electrification and workplace charging infrastructure, as employers and fleet operators face mounting pressure to cut fuel budgets. Rising fuel prices may accelerate demand for public and home charging points, particularly those offering time of use tariffs that maximise savings for drivers.
Source
- Original title
- “Soaring UK fuel prices make EVs up to 9 times cheaper to drive than petrol or diesel cars”
- Published
- 2 October 2026
In this story
- Topic
- Policy & Market
- Place
- United Kingdom
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