Running costs of an electric car versus a petrol car in the UK,

To calculate the running costs of an electric car versus a petrol car in the UK, we need to consider a few factors, such as energy consumption, electricity costs, petrol prices, and the typical driving distance. Here's how we can break it down:

1. Electric Car Running Costs:

• Energy consumption: Electric cars typically use around 15-20 kWh of electricity per 100 miles. For example, let's assume an average consumption of 18 kWh per 100 miles.

• Electricity price: The average cost of electricity in the UK is around 34 pence per kWh (this can vary depending on your energy provider and whether you have a specific EV tariff).

  Cost per 100 miles for an electric car: [ 18 \, \text{kWh} \times 0.34 \, \text{GBP} = 6.12 \, \text{GBP} \text{ for 100 miles} ]

2. Petrol Car Running Costs:

• Fuel efficiency: Petrol cars typically have an average fuel efficiency of about 40-50 mpg (miles per gallon). Let's assume 45 mpg for this example.

• Petrol price: The average petrol price in the UK is around £1.50 per litre. 1 gallon is approximately 4.54609 litres, so the cost per gallon is: [ 1.50 \times 4.54609 = 6.82 \, \text{GBP per gallon} ]

  Cost per 100 miles for a petrol car: [ \frac{6.82 \, \text{GBP per gallon}}{45 \, \text{mpg}} \times 100 = 15.18 \, \text{GBP for 100 miles} ]

3. Comparison:

• Electric car: £6.12 for 100 miles
• Petrol car: £15.18 for 100 miles

Conclusion:

An electric car is significantly cheaper to run compared to a petrol car in the UK. Over 100 miles, the electric car would cost about £6.12, while a petrol car would cost £15.18, making the electric car roughly 60% cheaper in fuel costs.

Of course, additional costs such as maintenance, insurance, and taxes can also influence the overall cost of ownership, but in terms of fuel efficiency, electric cars are more cost-effective.