Electric bikes are cheap to run and expensive to buy, which is the opposite of how most people assume they work. The electricity to charge one costs pennies; the question worth answering before you spend is how those pennies stack up against the car or the train you are trying to replace. This guide shows you the real running cost, what it does and does not include, and how to compare it honestly with what you spend now.
Put your own numbers in first, then read on for what they mean.
Default: the Ofgem price cap for July–September 2026. Check your own tariff.
Typical e-bikes use 10–25 Wh per mile; 15 is a sensible middle for mixed assist.
What it actually costs to charge an e-bike
Two things decide your electricity bill: how much energy the bike uses per mile, and what you pay per unit of electricity.
A typical e-bike uses somewhere between 10 and 25 watt-hours per mile, depending on how much you lean on the motor, the terrain and the wind. Around 15 Wh per mile is a fair middle figure for mixed riding. For electricity, the Ofgem price cap for July to September 2026 puts the average unit rate at 26.11 pence per kWh for a standard variable tariff paid by direct debit, including VAT. That cap changes every three months and varies by region and tariff, which is why the calculator lets you put your own rate in.
Run the maths on those figures and a mile of assisted riding costs well under half a penny. Even a heavy week of commuting rarely tips the electricity cost past the price of a single bus fare. The energy is genuinely the cheap part.
How an e-bike compares with driving
The honest comparison is not e-bike electricity versus a tank of petrol — it is the all-in cost of each. For the car side, the calculator uses HMRC’s approved mileage rate of 55 pence per mile for 2026/27 (the first 10,000 business miles). That rate rose from 45p in May 2026, the first increase since 2011, and it is designed to cover fuel plus wear, tyres and depreciation — the true cost of putting a car on the road, not just what goes in the tank.
On that basis the gap is large. The same weekly mileage that costs an e-bike pennies in electricity can run to hundreds of pounds a year in a car once you count everything the car actually costs you. Even if you only compare against petrol, the e-bike wins comfortably; against the full running cost, it is not close.
How it compares with the train or bus
Public transport is harder to put a single number on, because fares depend entirely on your route, your operator and whether you hold a season ticket. Rather than invent a figure, the calculator lets you enter what you actually spend each week getting to work and shows the difference. For many commuters a season ticket or daily fares dwarf the cost of charging a bike — but the right way to know is your number, not an average.
The costs the electricity figure hides
Charging is cheap; owning is not free. A fair picture of running an e-bike also includes:
- The battery. E-bike batteries last for hundreds of charge cycles and then gradually lose capacity. A replacement is a real future cost — check the current price for your specific model before you buy.
- Servicing. E-bikes are heavier and faster than ordinary bikes, so brake pads, tyres and drivetrains wear quicker. Budget for routine maintenance.
- Insurance and security. E-bikes are theft targets. A good lock and, often, insurance are part of the cost of keeping one.
- The bike itself. The purchase price is the big number. Spreading it over the years you will ride is the only way the “running cost” makes sense.
None of this changes the headline — the energy is cheap — but it stops the comparison being misleading.
Is an e-bike cheap to run? The short answer
Yes, in the sense that matters day to day: the electricity is trivial, and against a car’s full running cost the saving is substantial. Whether it saves you money overall depends on what you are replacing and how much you ride. Replace a lot of car or train miles and the bike pays back the purchase over time; ride it occasionally alongside a car you keep anyway, and you are buying convenience and fitness more than savings. The calculator is there to put your own figures behind that decision.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric bike in the UK?
At the July–September 2026 price cap of 26.11p per kWh, a full charge of a typical battery costs only pennies, and a mile of assisted riding costs well under half a penny. Your exact cost depends on your tariff and how hard you use the motor.
Is an e-bike cheaper than driving?
On running costs, comfortably. Charging costs pennies a mile, while HMRC reckons running a car costs about 55p a mile once fuel and wear are included. The e-bike does not carry fuel, road tax or the same servicing bills.
Does the calculator include the cost of the bike?
No. It works out the electricity to charge the bike and, optionally, the saving against what you spend now. The purchase price, battery replacement, servicing and insurance are separate — covered in the section above.
How far will one charge take me?
Most e-bikes manage somewhere between 20 and 50 miles on a charge, depending on battery size, assist level and terrain. Lower assist and flat ground stretch it; hills and full power shorten it.
Before you buy
If the running cost stacks up, the next question is the bike itself. Our electric bike buyer’s guide covers what is road-legal in the UK and how to choose one, and if you are buying through work, the Cycle to Work scheme can take 28–47% off the price.