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Electric taxi running costs could beat petrol as new UK figures reveal public charging savings, but rapid chargers remain more expensive
New UK electric vehicle charging figures show that drivers using a combination of standard and rapid public chargers can now pay less per mile than petrol motorists, potentially strengthening the operating-cost case for electric taxis and private hire vehicles.
Industry association ChargeUK published its latest analysis, reporting that petrol and diesel prices have experienced substantial volatility this year while public charging prices have remained comparatively stable.
The association calculates that an electric vehicle using an 80% standard and 20% rapid public charging mix costs 16.43p per mile to power. That compares with 18.58p for an average petrol vehicle and 18.33p for diesel.
Under those assumptions, the difference between blended public charging and petrol amounts to approximately 2.15p per mile, equivalent to a saving of £152 over the 7,100 annual miles used in ChargeUK’s calculations.
The figures are particularly relevant to taxi and private hire proprietors assessing vehicle replacement costs, although the association’s mileage assumption is based on general motoring rather than professional passenger transport.
ChargeUK’s analysis also reveals considerable differences between charging methods. Standard public charging, priced at an average of 54p per kilowatt-hour, produces an estimated running cost of 15.04p per mile.
Rapid and ultra-rapid charging presents a different financial picture. At an average electricity price of 79p per kilowatt-hour, the estimated cost rises to 22.01p per mile, exceeding both the petrol and diesel benchmarks.
The association’s calculations show that drivers using exclusively off-peak home electricity could achieve substantially lower energy costs. At 8p per kilowatt-hour, the estimated running cost falls to 2.23p per mile.
However, access to private charging facilities varies between drivers. Those without dedicated parking or home charging arrangements may have fewer opportunities to benefit from cheaper domestic electricity.
ChargeUK said petrol prices had fluctuated by 33% during 2026, while diesel prices had experienced a 42% swing. Standard public charging prices remained broadly unchanged, with rapid charging prices varying by approximately 5%.
The association described the current difference between petrol and blended public charging costs as the widest since the start of the 2026 energy crisis. It suggested the gap could be the largest since before 2022, although it acknowledged that sufficiently comprehensive historical public charging price data was unavailable to establish that comparison definitively.
ChargeUK has also renewed its call for changes to electricity taxation. Public charging remains subject to 20% VAT, while domestic electricity has been subject to a zero rate since 1 October 2026.
The organisation argues that reducing the tax disparity would improve affordability for drivers who cannot charge at home. It has also called for changes to chargepoint standing charges and other measures intended to lower public charging costs.
The findings arrive as the government reviews the Zero Emission Vehicle mandate, which determines the proportion of new vehicle sales manufacturers must achieve through zero-emission models.
ChargeUK opposes weakening the targets, arguing that greater electric vehicle adoption could reduce motorists’ exposure to volatile petrol and diesel prices.
For taxi and private hire operators, the findings provide updated energy-cost benchmarks rather than a definitive comparison of vehicle ownership costs. The analysis does not account for differences in vehicle purchase prices, financing, insurance, maintenance, depreciation or time lost while charging. Actual electricity consumption will also depend on vehicle type, driving conditions, passenger loads and heating requirements.
Nevertheless, the figures indicate that charging arrangements can materially influence the financial performance of an electric taxi or private hire vehicle.
Cabbies with access to lower-cost standard or domestic charging may achieve substantially different operating costs from businesses relying predominantly on rapid charging during working hours.
The latest figures therefore reinforce the importance of assessing charging access and electricity prices alongside vehicle specifications when making fleet investment decisions.
