For most UK drivers, charging a new electric van at home works out at roughly 6–25p per mile, depending mainly on your electricity tariff and the van’s real-world efficiency. In simple terms: if you pay 25p/kWh and your van averages 3 miles per kWh, you’ll pay about 8p per mile. If you can use a cheap overnight EV tariff (often around 7–12p/kWh, but prices change), that can drop to roughly 2–4p per mile.
Work it out for your van (quick method)
Cost per mile = (your unit rate in p/kWh) ÷ (miles per kWh).
Typical new electric vans manage around 2.2–3.5 miles per kWh in mixed UK use. Heavier loads, cold weather, motorway driving and lots of stop-start heating can push you towards the lower end.
What does a “full charge” cost?
Multiply your unit rate by the battery size. Example: a 70kWh battery charged from empty at 25p/kWh costs about £17.50 (70 × £0.25). In real life you won’t usually charge from 0–100%, and you’ll lose a bit to charging inefficiency (often around 5–15%), so budget slightly higher.
Home charger vs 3-pin plug
A dedicated home charger (typically 7kW) doesn’t usually make electricity cheaper, but it’s faster, safer and easier to schedule for off-peak rates. A 3-pin plug is slow and not ideal for daily commercial use.
Two common follow-ups
Can I claim the electricity as a business cost? Usually yes if you can evidence it (metering or a clear method), but speak to your accountant for the right approach.
Is home always cheapest? Often, yes. Public rapid charging is typically far more expensive per kWh than home, so your cost per mile can rise sharply if you rely on it.
Tariffs and EV policies change regularly—check your supplier’s current rates and any relevant Gov.uk guidance.
