EV running costs are already beating petrol as fuel costs soar during the Middle East conflict, new data shows.

Analysis by on-street charging firm Char.gy shows that £20 spent on electricity using its overnight tariff can power an electric vehicle for around 150-200 miles, significantly further than the c.120 miles the same amount would deliver in a typical petrol car.

For the average UK driver, that equates to around 7-10 days of driving from a £20 overnight charge, compared with around six days for petrol.

Char.gy has published the figures as the Government consults on potential road pricing electric Vehicle Excise Duty (eVED) mechanisms for electric vehicles.

The charging firm says road pricing reforms must protect EV cost advantages, which are currently one of the strongest drivers of the transition to electric vehicles.

Affordable charging is the biggest trigger for EV adoption. Char.gy’s What Everyone Should Know about EVs report, carried out with YouGov, reveals that 63% of non-EV drivers say lower charging costs would persuade them to switch, rising to 78% among short-term considerers and 76% among longer-term considerers.

John Lewis, CEO of Char.gy, said: “As policymakers consider new road pricing models, it will be crucial to protect the cost advantages that are already helping millions of drivers move away from petrol and diesel.”

Growing adoption of off-peak charging tariffs is helping drivers maximise these cost benefits, according to Char.gy.

The company’s overnight tariff – priced at around 39p/kWh – allows EV drivers to charge when electricity demand is lower, significantly reducing the cost per mile compared with petrol vehicles.

The firm says a growing share of its customers now use overnight charging to manage costs, with drivers able to save substantially compared with charging during peak periods.

It’s calling for any new road pricing system for EVs to ensure the transition to electric vehicles does not erode the cost advantages that are currently encouraging drivers to switch.

If new policies significantly increase the cost of driving electric vehicles, Char.gy warns it could risk slowing adoption at a critical stage in the UK’s transition to zero-emission transport.