There is no universal running-cost answer

Electricity tariff, mileage, public-charging use, insurance, finance and depreciation can outweigh small maintenance differences. Build the estimate from your own circumstances.

Calculate annual cost

  1. Enter realistic annual mileage and conservative consumption.
  2. Split charging between home, work and public networks.
  3. Apply each actual tariff and include charging losses.
  4. Add named-driver insurance, tyres, servicing and consumables.
  5. Add finance interest, taxes, parking and home-charger costs.
  6. Estimate depreciation over the planned ownership period.

Run three scenarios

  • normal use;
  • more public charging;
  • higher mileage or winter consumption.

Separate one-off costs from annual costs and do not treat temporary credits or tariffs as permanent savings.

Compare like with like

Use the same mileage, period, finance assumptions and charging mix for every vehicle. Obtain live insurance and finance quotations rather than national averages.

Use the result responsibly

The useful answer is a range with visible assumptions—not simply “cheap” or “expensive”. Review it after six months using real electricity, tyre and insurance figures.

Build a realistic monthly figure

Use your own mileage and tariffs instead of a single national-average claim. A practical electricity estimate is: monthly miles ÷ observed miles per kWh × price per kWh. Add a charging-loss allowance when working from battery energy rather than metered electricity.

  • Home energy: use the tariff that applies during the hours the car actually charges.
  • Public charging: include membership, connection and parking fees as well as p/kWh.
  • Insurance: compare like-for-like excess, drivers, mileage and replacement cover.
  • Tyres: budget for the exact size and load/speed rating fitted.
  • Servicing and consumables: verify the current UK schedule and include screenwash, wipers and brake inspection.
  • Finance and depreciation: keep these separate from day-to-day energy cost so comparisons remain clear.

Recalculate after several representative months. Winter, motorway use and frequent rapid charging can change the result materially.