Yes, home charging is still worth it. From April 2028 it is the main thing keeping an electric car cheaper to run than petrol.
We'll be honest: at Universal Energy, the confirmation of a pay-per-mile tax on electric cars was a disappointing moment. Low running costs have been one of the clearest reasons to switch, and the government has now chosen to take a slice of that saving back. It isn't the end of the EV case, but it does change the maths, and it changes where you charge.
In this guide we set out what the new tax is, what it actually costs, and how drivers in the West Midlands can keep most of their savings.
Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) starts on 1 April 2028. It charges 3p per mile for fully electric cars and 1.5p per mile for plug-in hybrids, on top of standard road tax (VED), which EVs have paid since April 2025. Rates will rise with inflation each year.
How it is expected to work:
Full legislation and guidance are still to come, so some details may change before 2028.
Example: a driver covering 8,000 miles a year pays £240 in eVED, plus around £200 in VED, so about £440 a year in vehicle tax (What Car?).
Charged at home on an off-peak tariff, an EV still costs about £1,000 a year less to run than petrol, even with eVED. Rely on public rapid chargers, though, and an EV now costs more to run than a petrol car.
| Charging method | Fuel / charging | eVED (from 2028) | Total a year* |
|---|---|---|---|
| EV, home off-peak (7p/kWh) | £160 | £240 | £400 |
| EV, home standard (26.32p/kWh) | £600 | £240 | £840 |
| Petrol car (174.3p/litre, 45mpg) | £1,408 | — (VED separate) | £1,408 |
| EV, public rapid (79p/kWh) | £1,808 | £240 | £2,048 |
*Based on 8,000 miles a year, assuming 3.5 miles per kWh for the EV and 45mpg for the petrol car. October 2026 prices: Ofgem price cap, Fuel Finder UK petrol average, typical off-peak EV tariff, RAC/Zapmap rapid charging average. VED excluded, as both car types pay it.
eVED adds the same £240 a year whichever way you charge, so where you charge decides whether an EV saves you money. Before eVED, the off-peak driver in this example saved around £1,250 a year against petrol; after it, about £1,000. That is roughly a fifth of the saving gone, which is disappointing, but most of it remains.
Petrol is also getting dearer. Fuel duty is due to rise by a further 2p per litre in December 2026 and again in March 2027, which will widen the gap slightly in the EV's favour.
We think the timing is unfortunate. Many households are still deciding whether to switch, and a new tax on EVs sends a mixed message while the country is meant to be accelerating towards net zero. Our concerns:
That said, the government has a fair point, and we'd rather you hear it from us:
On balance, we see eVED as a disappointment rather than a deal-breaker. It narrows the gap between EVs and petrol cars, but it doesn't close it, provided you charge in the right place.
Example: two neighbours each drive 8,000 miles a year. One charges on a driveway on an off-peak tariff; the other relies on a rapid charger at the supermarket. From 2028 both pay the same £240 in eVED, but the second spends more than £1,600 a year extra on charging alone.
Home charging is not just still worth it; after 2028 it becomes essential to the EV case. We wish the government had left the running-cost advantage intact a little longer. But with a home charger and an off-peak tariff, an EV remains around £1,000 a year cheaper to run than a typical petrol car at 8,000 miles.
If you're planning to switch, or already drive an EV without a home charger, now is a sensible time to act. Universal Energy connects you with approved local experts for supply-and-fit home EV chargers, with a clear fixed price before any work starts.
Figures are correct as of October 2026 and are for illustration only. Your costs will depend on your car, mileage, tariff and region.