Electric carsEstimate, not advice
For drivers of electric, hydrogen and plug in hybrid cars. Put in your mileage and see what the new Electric Vehicle Excise Duty could cost each year and each month, next to the Fuel Duty a similar petrol car pays. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Quick answer: from 1 April 2028 the government plans to charge 3p a mile for fully electric and hydrogen cars and 1.5p a mile for plug in hybrids, on top of normal car tax. At 10,000 miles a year that is £300 for an electric car and £150 for a plug in hybrid. A 45 mpg petrol car pays about £535 in Fuel Duty over the same miles at today's 52.95p a litre. Source: GOV.UK.
This is an estimate, not advice. The petrol figure uses today's Fuel Duty of 52.95p a litre, which is due to rise to 55.95p on 1 January 2027 and 57.95p on 1 March 2027 unless the Budget changes it. Normal car tax (VED) is paid on top of eVED and is not included.
Registered keepers of fully electric, hydrogen fuel cell and plug in hybrid cars, from 1 April 2028. The planned rates are 3p a mile for electric and hydrogen cars and 1.5p a mile for plug in hybrids, rising with CPI from 2029 to 2030.
Source: GOV.UK: Electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED)
When you tax the car you give an odometer reading and estimate your miles for the coming year. You can pay up front or spread the cost, and the next reading settles the difference. The DVLA runs it with car tax, and MOT tests already record mileage. Cars under three years old will not need extra mileage checks.
Source: GOV.UK: eVED consultation response
Litres used = miles ÷ mpg × 4.54609. Fuel Duty = litres × the duty rate. At 45 mpg and 52.95p a litre that is about 5.35p a mile, so an electric car on 3p a mile pays a little over half.