12 December 2023
Families with the choice of taking an electric car or a fossil-fuelled one on their Christmas travels face a pleasant dilemma: cheaper road fuel or steadier open-road charging costs.
After a 3p-4p/kWh jump in average ultra-rapid charging costs at peak and off-peak times in October, they may well have settled down for the winter having shown no movement in November.
Meanwhile, a 5p fall in average petrol prices with further reductions working their way through to the pumps is now beginning to challenge the cost advantage of EVs out on motorways and main roads.
The AA EV Recharge Report for November shows that the cost per mile for peak-time ultra rapid charging is now being overtaken by the cost per mile for petrol: 14.61p versus 14.30p respectively.
However, off-peak ultra rapid charging averages more than 1.5p a mile cheaper than petrol.
But then, despite October’s small increase in flat-rate charging costs for the first time since July, charging off the driveway or from the kerbside outside homes remains significantly cheaper than fuelling with petrol.
At 6.07p a mile, charging from the domestic supply is well below half the cost of petrol. Slow charging from a lamppost or similar installation averages more than 4.6p a mile cheaper at off-peak times or 3p cheaper with the typical flat-rate tariff.
AA EV Recharge Report, November 2023. Flat rates;
| Charger type | Speed (kW) | Nov Ave (p/kWh) |
Oct Ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to charge 80% | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
| Domestic | Up to 7kW | 27 | 27 | 0 | £10.80 | 6.07 |
| Slow (Flat rate) | Up to 7kW | 49 | 48 | 1 | £19.60 | 11.01 |
| Fast | 8-22 kW | 57 | 56 | 2 | £22.80 | 12.81 |
| Rapid | 23-100 kW | 70 | 69 | 1 | £28.00 | 15.73 |
| Ultra-rapid | +101 kW | 72 | 71 | 1 | £28.80 | 16.18 |
| Petrol | 149.70 ppl | 154.53 ppl | -4.83 ppl | £47.90 | 14.30 | |
AA EV Recharge Report, November 2023. Peak and Off-Peak rates;
| Charger type | Speed | Nov Ave (p/kWh) | Oct Ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to charge to 80% | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
| Slow Off-Peak | Up to 7kW | 43 | 43 | 0 | £17.20 | 9.66 |
| Slow Peak | Up to 7kW | 67 | 67 | 0 | £26.80 | 15.06 |
| Fast Off-Peak | 8-22kW | 75 | 75 | 0 | £30.00 | 16.85 |
| Fast Peak | 8-22kW | 79 | 79 | 0 | £31.60 | 17.75 |
| Rapid Off-Peak | 23-100kW | 75 | 75 | 0 | £30.00 | 16.85 |
| Rapid Peak | 23-100kW | 79 | 79 | 0 | £31.60 | 17.75 |
| Ultra-rapid Off-Peak | +101kW | 56 | 56 | 0 | £22.40 | 12.58 |
| Ultra-rapid Peak | +101kW | 65 | 61 | 0 | £26.00 | 14.61 |
| Petrol | 149.70 ppl | 154.53 ppl | -4.83 ppl | £47.90 | 14.30 | |
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy for the AA, said; “Having held firm from July, chargepoint operators offering flat rate have decided that now is the time to increase their costs. To have held steady for four months is quite impressive when compared to the daily ebb and flow of combustion fuel prices.
“However, following the recent announcement from OFGEM** about the increase in the Energy Price Cap in January, EV drivers may be concerned how prices may fluctuate in the New Year.
“Plugging in at home will remain the cheapest way to run an EV, and it’s still cheaper per mile to recharge at the fastest speeds during off-peak hours than filling a petrol car.”
* Average prices are the PAYG options without connection fee as at 22 November 2023. Subscriptions are available for all charge point speeds which can unlock a cheaper p/kWh, however rates vary across provider.
Calculations based on adding 80% to a Vauxhall e-Corsa, 50kW, with a WLTP range of 222 miles. Adding 80% range equates to 178 miles of range. Vauxhall e-Corsa specifications here: Corsa_Spec_ePG_5_January_2023.pdf (vauxhall.co.uk)
Calculations based on Vauxhall Corsa 1.2L (75PS) Petrol with a 40 litre tank. 80% refuel = 32 litres.
Petrol: 32 litres @ 149.70 ppl = £47.90. Combined MPG of 47.9 = 335 miles at 14.30 p/mile.
Vauxhall Corsa specifications here: Corsa_Spec_ePG_5_January_2023.pdf (vauxhall.co.uk)