Zapmap published an updated version of its EV buying guide on 6 December 2024, setting out the costs, taxes and incentives a UK buyer should weigh up. The guide states that the price of electric vehicles is falling, driven by reducing battery production costs and growing competition between manufacturers1.
On running costs, the guide says the last five years have seen battery production costs fall by almost 80 per cent. It describes the battery as one of the largest and most expensive elements of an electric car, and reports that some in the industry predict parity with comparable conventional models within a few years1. On purchase price, the guide states that EVs of all types tend to be more expensive to buy than their conventional equivalents, although it says this is changing, partly because most EVs have been bought new rather than second hand and because manufacturers are recouping development investment1. It adds that EVs have been available since 2011, so increasing numbers of used models are reaching the market, but that used EV prices remain above those of used petrol and diesel cars1.
On charging, the guide gives a typical installation cost for a home or workplace charge point:
| Item | Figure given |
|---|---|
| Dedicated slow (3 kW) or fast (7 kW) unit, installed by a qualified electrician | Under £1,000 |
| Average range of an electric car | 180 to 250 miles |
| Some vehicles on a single charge | Over 350 miles |
| Commuting trips under 10 miles | Around two-thirds |
The guide states that slow charging at home can be carried out using a standard 3-pin socket, but that because of the higher current demands of EVs and the longer charging times, it is strongly recommended that those who need to charge regularly at home or the workplace get a dedicated unit installed by an accredited installer1. It also states that it is not advisable under any circumstances to trail an electric cable across pavements or other public areas to connect an on-street parked car to a household supply, citing safety and possible invalidation of house, car and public liability insurance1.
"Recent years have seen strong and continued growth in the provision of low-powered chargers on residential streets, which are ideal for overnight charging."
The guide notes that the majority of EV charging is done overnight, when electricity is cheapest, and that off-street parking is helpful but not essential for running an electric car1. It points to peer-to-peer charging networks where owners share home chargers, and to workplace charging as a possible alternative1. It also states that if a driver regularly covers more than 250 miles, journey planning is needed1.
Why it matters for households
For a household weighing up an electric car, the guide's figures set out where the money goes: a higher purchase price than an equivalent petrol or diesel model, offset over time by cheaper overnight charging, plus a one-off cost of under £1,000 for a dedicated home unit1. Homes without off-street parking are not excluded, according to the guide, because low-powered on-street chargers have grown in number and are suited to overnight charging1. That distinction matters for energy independence: charging at home or at a residential street charger draws on a household's own electricity supply arrangements rather than relying on rapid public charging, though the guide does not give running-cost figures per mile or per charge. The guide also warns against running a cable across a pavement to an on-street car, on safety and insurance grounds1.
What happens next
The guide gives no dated timetable for price parity between EVs and conventional models, saying only that some in the industry predict it is a few years away1. No further steps or deadlines are set out in the guide. Households considering home charging can read more in the ev-charging hub.