EV vs Petrol vs Diesel Mileage Calculator
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Electric Car Mileage Calculator for Care Workers & Nurses
If you work in care or community nursing, mileage is not a small detail it is part of the job. Every visit, every shift, every route adds up, and the cost of getting from one person to the next quietly shapes your take-home pay. Electric cars are often described as “cheaper to run”, but the reality depends on how far you drive, where you charge, and how often you rely on public chargers.
This calculator is designed specifically for care workers and nurses in the UK. It lets you compare electric, petrol, and diesel running costs based on your own mileage and charging habits, not marketing assumptions. Adjust the numbers to reflect your real working pattern and see what makes sense for you now and what might change over the next few years.
EV vs Petrol vs Diesel Mileage Calculator
Built for care workers, nurses, and community teams. Adjust your mileage and charging habits to see realistic running costs.
Your inputs
10,000 miles
1,00025,000
Home: 80%
|
Public: 20%
|
Public: 20%
0% home100% home
Fuel prices
Tip: update these with your local average if you like.
Vehicle efficiency
Default uses HMRC efficiency assumption (3.59 miles per kWh).
Electricity costs
Defaults use HMRC advisory electric rate assumptions: 25.72p home and 52.00p public (from 1 Dec 2025).
Results
Cheapest option (running cost)
EV (home mix)
Based on your mileage and charging mix
EV cost per mile (your mix)
0.00p
Home and public blended
Estimated 5 year difference:
EV saves £0 vs petrol
EV saves £0 vs petrol
These figures focus on energy and fuel only. Real ownership costs include insurance, tyres, servicing, repairs, and finance.
Recommendation
Calculator uses UK gallons, user input fuel prices, and electricity assumptions. Update the inputs for your area if needed.
Employer policy helper (optional add-on)
For care organisations, clear travel policy reduces staff stress and improves retention. Use this as a quick reference.
| Scenario | Policy approach | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Staff use own car | Use HMRC approved mileage rates as baseline | Simple and familiar for payroll, staff understand it |
| Company EV with home charging | Advisory electric rate plus route efficiency support | Best case for predictable running costs |
| Company EV relying on public charging | Advisory rate plus charging credit or higher allowance | Prevents public charging becoming a retention problem |
This tool is informational and does not provide financial advice. Costs vary by vehicle, driving style, tariffs, and local prices.
Electric Car Mileage Calculator for Care Workers and Nurses
Mileage is not a side issue in care and community nursing. It affects your take-home pay, your stress levels, and how sustainable the job feels week after week. With electric cars becoming more common, many care workers are being told they are cheaper to run, better for the environment, and the obvious next step. The reality is more nuanced.
This page is designed to help you make a clear, informed decision. Using realistic UK costs and your own mileage patterns, the calculator below compares electric, petrol, and diesel running costs based on how you actually work. Whether you charge at home, rely on public chargers, or do a mix of both, this tool helps you see what makes sense now, what might change over time, and where electric vehicles genuinely work for care roles and where they don’t.
Is an electric car actually cheaper for care workers?
It can be, but only in the right conditions. Electric cars are usually cheaper per mile if you can charge at home most of the time. If you rely heavily on public rapid chargers, costs can rise quickly and may be similar to, or higher than, petrol or diesel. That’s why charging access matters more than the car itself.
How accurate is this mileage calculator?
The calculator is designed to be realistic rather than perfect. It uses UK-standard assumptions, current fuel and electricity prices, and your own inputs for mileage, efficiency, and charging mix. Real-world costs can vary depending on driving style, traffic, weather, and vehicle type, but this gives a strong, practical estimate for day-to-day care work.
What mileage should I use if I’m not sure how far I drive?
If you’re unsure, a good starting point for domiciliary care or community nursing is between 6,000 and 10,000 business miles per year. Busy rotas with multiple daily visits can easily reach 12,000 to 15,000 miles. If in doubt, check a few weeks of fuel receipts or mileage logs and scale it up.
Does public charging really cost that much more?
Yes, it often does. Public rapid charging can cost two to three times more per unit of electricity than home charging. That difference is why electric cars feel very affordable for some carers and frustratingly expensive for others. The calculator lets you model that mix so you can see the impact clearly.
What about mileage reimbursement from my employer?
If you use your own car, many employers follow HMRC approved mileage rates. For company electric cars, employers often use HMRC advisory electric rates, which separate home and public charging. These rates are guidance, not guarantees, so some employers add top-ups or charging credits to keep things fair.
Are electric cars reliable enough for care work?
For most modern EVs, yes. They are generally very reliable mechanically and require less routine maintenance than petrol or diesel cars. The main reliability consideration for care workers is charging access, not breakdown risk. Planning routes and knowing where you can charge matters more than the vehicle itself.
Will future taxes cancel out the savings from electric cars?
It’s likely that new road funding or mileage-based charges will be introduced for EVs in the future as petrol and diesel decline. However, that doesn’t automatically remove the benefit of lower running costs, especially for home charging. The biggest savings tend to be available now and in the near term, rather than guaranteed forever.
Should I switch to an electric car now or wait?
If you have reliable home charging and do regular mileage, an electric car can already make financial sense. If you rely on public charging or have unpredictable routes, waiting or choosing a hybrid may be more practical. The best decision comes from running your own numbers, not following headlines or blanket advice.