EVs pull ahead as petrol prices stagnate
April 30, 2025 by Siobhan Doyle
Car changing is a big deal
Electric car drivers are currently enjoying a growing advantage at the pump — or rather, by avoiding it.
Despite earlier forecasts of a 6p-per-litre drop in petrol prices, drivers are seeing only marginal savings at the pumps, while EV running costs continue to undercut their petrol counterparts, according to The AA’s EV Recharge Report for March 2025.
Two weeks after predictions of £3-per-tank savings, the average petrol price has crept down to just 134.3p per litre, only 0.8p below its low point earlier in March. This puts the average petrol cost per mile at approximately 11.8p, offering minimal relief to drivers.
Meanwhile, EV owners are enjoying significant savings. Even if you’re on the standard electricity rate under OFGEM’s energy cap, you pay no more than 5.65p per mile when charging at home — less than half the cost of running a petrol car.
If you have access to variable rate kerbside charging — which refers to on-street EV charging where the cost of electricity fluctuates based on factors such as time of day and demand — you also have an average off-peak saving over petrol of nearly 2p a mile. And even in cases where you may rely on public chargers for unplanned top-ups, costs have dropped 5.8% this month, narrowing the gap with petrol to under 3p per mile.
Currently, off-peak rapid charging, particularly paired with an EV-specific home tariff, offers one of the best deals, clocking in at just 1.6p per mile. This still makes it a penny cheaper than petrol.
| Charge type | Speed | Mar ave (p/kWh) | Feb ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to add 80% charge | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slow off-peak | Up to 8kW | 44 | 44 | 0 | £17.60 | 9.94 |
| Slow peak | Up to 8kW | 65 | 69 | -4 | £26.00 | 14.69 |
| Fast off-peak | 8-49kW | 54 | 54 | 0 | £21.60 | 12.20 |
| Fast peak | 8-49kW | 85 | 85 | 0 | £34.00 | 19.21 |
| Rapid off-peak | 50-149kW | 54 | 54 | 0 | £21.60 | 12.20 |
| Rapid peak | 50-149kW | 85 | 85 | 0 | £34.00 | 19.21 |
| Ultra-rapid off-peak | +150kW | 47 | 47 | 0 | £18.80 | 10.62 |
| Ultra-rapid peak | +150kW | 65 | 65 | 0 | £26.00 | 14.69 |
| PETROL | 135.60 ppl | 139.80 ppl | -4.20 ppl | £43.39 | 11.86 |
Public chargers are on the rise
This increase in EV availability comes alongside a notable expansion in the UK’s charging infrastructure. New stats published by the Department of Transport reveal a 28% increase in publicly available charge points over the last 12 months, bringing the total to 76,507 nationwide.
Jack Cousens, head of roads policy at The AA, welcomed the continued fall in peak-rate slow charging costs, especially for drivers without access to private driveways. However, he criticised the government’s decision to maintain the 20% VAT rate on public charging, calling it a missed opportunity to support broader EV adoption.
AA EV Recharge Report, March 2025. Flat rates:
| Charge type | Speed | Mar ave (p/kWh) | Feb ave (p/kWh) | Difference (p/kWh) | Cost to add 80% charge | Pence per mile (p/mile) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Up to 7kW | 25 | 25 | 0 | £10.00 | 5.65 |
| Slow | Up to 8kW | 50 | 50 | 0 | £20.00 | 11.30 |
| Fast | 8-49kW | 60 | 59 | 1 | £24.00 | 13.56 |
| Rapid | 50-149kW | 74 | 74 | 0 | £29.60 | 16.72 |
| Ultra-rapid | +150kW | 78 | 78 | 0 | £31.20 | 17.63 |
| PETROL | 135.60 ppl | 139.80 ppl | -4.20 ppl | £43.39 | 11.86 |
“While oil prices have dropped, petrol pump prices remain stubbornly high,” Cousens noted. “Retailers are passing on little benefit, likely due to increased demand from the US driving season and domestic operational costs.”
Still, he remains positive about the expanding EV network. “Eliminating range anxiety is key to help drivers who are considering making the switch to electric have more confidence in the national network,” he added.
As infrastructure grows and costs fall, the gap between EVs and petrol cars continues to expand — putting electric firmly in the lead, for now.
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