The study looked at average costs per KWh of electricity, the average mileage per driver per year and the average miles of a full charge to calculate the price of charging an electric vehicle over a typical 12 month period. The UK ranked 10th in the world in terms of cost per person at a total of £309.65, being cheaper than Japan, Ireland and Germany. The most expensive place to charge an electric vehicle is Denmark, where the average user can expect a bill of £486.59 per year.

The table below shows the cost per person per year for the top 10 countries in order of total price:

Country Annual Charging Cost Per Person
1 Denmark £486.59
2 Germany £412.87
3 Belgium £398.12
4 Italy £383.37
5 Ireland £383.37
6 Portugal £353.88
7 Spain £339.14
8 Austria £324.39
9 Japan £324.39
10 United Kingdom £309.65

The annual Committee for Climate Change report, released this month, assesses progress on reducing the UK’s emissions in line with its target of net zero by 2050. In it, it focuses on the importance of encouraging residents to make environmentally friendly choices such as the use of electric vehicles if we are to achieve the 2050 goal; even with the Covid-19 lockdown, the UK still has a long way to go to fulfil this ambitious plan.

Speaking of the study, Sarah Broomfield, energy expert at Uswitch said:

“The use of electric vehicles has clear environmental benefits but for many consumers, the choice to move to EVs can be hindered by perceptions about how much it will cost to charge.

“This research shows that, while the costs are not insignificant, the UK is in a strong position compared to countries like Denmark where the price of electricity makes the cost of a charge so much higher.

“Of course, as well as the cost savings of rapid charging points, we also encourage consumers to regularly review their own energy tariffs to ensure they’re getting the best deal possible.”

If you’re thinking about purchasing an electric vehicle it’s important to consider the costs of charging it when weighing up your options. More information about the impact of charging an EV at home and on the go can be found here.

The research from Uswitch comprises data relating to a range of common household activities including charging a laptop, boiling a kettle and watching Netflix. The full study can be found at https://www.uswitch.com/gas-electricity/world-powers/.