← Energy Monitor
🚗 EV Ownership Guide
Charging · tariffs · costs per mile · UK 2026
⛽ EV vs Petrol — Cost per Mile (2026 UK)
🔌 Home Charging (IOG 7p)
2.1p/mile
Audi Q4 E-Tron (3.2 mi/kWh)
🔌 Home Charging (Agile avg 10p)
3.1p/mile
Shifting to off-peak
☀️ Solar-only (free)
0p/mile
Free miles on sunny days
⚡ Public Rapid (80p/kWh)
25p/mile
Use only for long trips
⛽ Petrol (145p/L, 50mpg)
14.7p/mile
Typical family car
✅ Home charging savings
£1,000–£1,500/yr
at 10,000 miles/yr vs petrol
🐙 Get £50 credit switching to Octopus Energy — use my referral link. Intelligent Octopus Go gives you 7p/kWh off-peak EV charging.
🔌 Best EV Tariffs (2026)
🐙
Intelligent Octopus Go
Best overall
Off-peak: 7p/kWh (guaranteed 6h window)
Peak: ~28p/kWh
Smart charging — Octopus controls when your EV charges within your deadline
Works with: Tesla, Audi, BMW, VW, Hyundai, Kia, MG, Polestar, and more
Peak: ~28p/kWh
Smart charging — Octopus controls when your EV charges within your deadline
Works with: Tesla, Audi, BMW, VW, Hyundai, Kia, MG, Polestar, and more
10,000 miles/yr: ~£210/yr vs petrol ~£1,470
⚡
E.ON Next Drive
Lowest off-peak
Off-peak: 6.9p/kWh
Peak: ~27p/kWh
6-hour off-peak window (00:00–06:00)
No smart charging — just lower rates in a fixed window
Works with any EV
Peak: ~27p/kWh
6-hour off-peak window (00:00–06:00)
No smart charging — just lower rates in a fixed window
Works with any EV
10,000 miles/yr: ~£207/yr at 6.9p
🐙
Octopus Agile
Cheapest possible
Half-hourly wholesale rates — cheapest slots can hit 5–10p/kWh
Average off-peak: ~8–12p/kWh
No guarantee — rates can spike to 100p/kWh
Best with battery + smart scheduling
Average off-peak: ~8–12p/kWh
No guarantee — rates can spike to 100p/kWh
Best with battery + smart scheduling
10,000 miles/yr: ~£250–£375/yr (shifted to cheap slots)
☀️
Octopus Flux (Solar + EV)
Solar + battery
Import: 3-rate (peak/off-peak/night)
Export up to 15p/kWh
Charge EV & battery at cheap rates, discharge during peak
Best if you have Powerwall + EV
Export up to 15p/kWh
Charge EV & battery at cheap rates, discharge during peak
Best if you have Powerwall + EV
Combined savings £400–£800/yr
⚡ Charging Speed Reference
| Type | Power | Range/hr | 0-100% | Daily use? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home AC (3-pin) | 2.3 kW | ~7 miles | 35–40 hrs | Occasional |
| Home AC (7.4 kW) | 7.4 kW | ~25 miles | 10–12 hrs | ✅ Yes |
| Home AC (11 kW) | 11 kW | ~35 miles | 7–8 hrs | ✅ Yes |
| Home AC (22 kW) | 22 kW | ~70 miles | 3.5–4 hrs | ✅ Yes |
| Public AC (7–22 kW) | 7–22 kW | 25–70 miles | 3.5–12 hrs | Occasional |
| Rapid DC (50 kW) | 50 kW | ~160 miles | 80 mins | Occasional |
| Rapid DC (150 kW) | 150 kW | Up to 160 miles in 20 min | 35 mins | Occasional |
🔍 Popular EVs Compared (2026)
| Model | Battery | WLTP Range | Real Range | Eff. | AC/DC | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Audi Q4 E-Tron ⭐ | 82 kWh | 317 mi | 260 mi | 3.2 mi/kWh | 11/135 kW | £51k |
| Tesla Model Y | 75 kWh | 373 mi | 300 mi | 3.7 mi/kWh | 11/250 kW | £45k |
| Tesla Model 3 | 60 kWh | 363 mi | 290 mi | 3.9 mi/kWh | 11/170 kW | £40k |
| Kia EV6 | 77.4 kWh | 328 mi | 270 mi | 3.4 mi/kWh | 11/350 kW | £44k |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 77.4 kWh | 298 mi | 250 mi | 3.2 mi/kWh | 11/350 kW | £43k |
| MG4 EV | 64 kWh | 281 mi | 230 mi | 3.6 mi/kWh | 11/150 kW | £28k |
| VW ID.4 | 77 kWh | 323 mi | 260 mi | 3.3 mi/kWh | 11/175 kW | £39k |
| Polestar 2 | 82 kWh | 342 mi | 280 mi | 3.3 mi/kWh | 11/205 kW | £47k |
| BYD Atto 3 | 60.5 kWh | 260 mi | 210 mi | 3.5 mi/kWh | 7/90 kW | £30k |
| Nissan Leaf | 40 kWh | 168 mi | 140 mi | 3.5 mi/kWh | 6.6/50 kW | £28k |
🏠 Home Charger Installation
Installation Costs (2026)
- 🔌 3-pin granny charger — included with car, 2.3 kW, emergency use only
- ⚡ 7.4 kW charger — £800–£1,200 installed (most homes)
- ⚡ 11 kW charger — £1,200–£1,800 (needs 3-phase — check your home)
- 🔧 OLEV grant — up to £350 off (if you have off-street parking)
⚠️ Most UK homes have single-phase (7.4 kW max). 11 kW needs 3-phase power.
The Audi Q4 supports 11 kW AC, but you'll only get 7.4 kW on single-phase.
Smart Charging Features
- ✅ Scheduled charging — set off-peak window (IOG handles this)
- ✅ Solar integration — zappi/harvi can charge on surplus solar
- ✅ Load balancing — avoids tripping your main fuse
- ✅ App control — start/stop/monitor from your phone
- ❌ V2G (vehicle-to-grid) — not widely available yet in UK (2026)
📊 Your Annual EV Costs
Charging Cost
—
per year
Cost per Mile
—
vs petrol ~14.7p
vs Petrol Saving
—
per year
Energy Needed
—
kWh/year
💡 EV Charging Tips
- 🔌 Always charge off-peak — even on Agile, cheapest rates are 00:00–07:00
- 🔋 Use your Powerwall — charge battery at cheap rates, discharge to home in peak, EV from solar
- 📱 Smart charge scheduling — Intelligent Octopus Go handles timing automatically
- ☀️ Solar charging — zappi chargers can dynamically use solar surplus
- 🚗 20-80% is optimal — battery degradation accelerates above 80% and below 10%
- 🗺️ Pre-condition battery — set departure time so the car warms battery before rapid charging
- 📉 Tyres matter — EVs are heavy, correct pressure saves 5-10% range
🐙 Get £50 credit switching to Octopus Energy — perfect for EV owners (Intelligent Octopus Go = 7p/kWh off-peak). Use my link →