Asger Risom
Petrol cars are now costing drivers far more per mile than electric vehicles, especially for those forced to refuel on the motorway. New figures highlight a widening gap just as Chancellor Rachel Reeves prepares to introduce a controversial pay-per-mile charge for EV owners.
Drivers filling up petrol cars on the motorway are paying a steep premium compared with those running electric vehicles, with new figures showing fuel costs can hit 20p per mile on major UK routes.
According to the latest RAC fuel data, the average price of unleaded petrol across the UK sits at 134.06p per litre. However, drivers using motorway service stations face far higher prices, with unleaded averaging 157.31p per litre on roads such as the M1, M5, M25 and M42.
That difference has a major impact on running costs. Using data from car insurance firm Nimblefins, the average petrol car in the UK achieves around 36 miles per gallon. At motorway fuel prices, that works out at roughly 20p per mile, compared with around 17p per mile when filling up at a standard petrol station.
EV running costs remain significantly lower
The contrast with electric vehicles is stark. Even after accounting for charging costs and upcoming taxes, EVs remain far cheaper to run on a per-mile basis.
The Government has confirmed plans to introduce a new 3p-per-mile charge for electric cars from 2028, announced by Chancellor Rachel Reeves as part of efforts to address falling fuel duty revenues. When combined with the average cost of charging an EV at home, total running costs are estimated to fall between 5p and 11p per mile.
Despite concerns from motoring groups that the new tax could deter drivers from switching to electric cars, the figures suggest EVs will still undercut petrol vehicles by a wide margin, particularly for drivers who regularly use motorways.
Rachel Reeves’ EV tax plan adds to driver debate
Ms Reeves’ proposal would see EV drivers estimate their annual mileage and pay an additional charge on top of vehicle excise duty. Those who exceed their estimate would need to top up, while drivers who travel fewer miles could carry some of the payment forward.
The Treasury has acknowledged that the shift away from petrol and diesel cars is reducing fuel duty income, but successive governments have been wary of introducing road pricing schemes due to political backlash.
With petrol prices at motorway services pushing running costs ever higher, the growing gap between petrol and electric vehicles is likely to intensify the debate over whether the new EV charge strikes the right balance between fairness and affordability.
Sources: RAC Fuel Watch, Nimblefins, UK government
