Why EV Drivers Will See a New Mileage Charge in 2028 — And Why It’s Not the End of the Electric Revolution
Electric vehicles have been winning hearts across the UK, and for good reason. They’re smooth, cheap to run, packed with tech and offer that lovely quiet drive you don’t get with petrol or diesel. But from April 2028, the way we pay to use the roads is changing — and EV drivers are going to feel a new kind of cost for the first time.
What’s Changing in 2028?
The UK government is introducing a mileage-based road-tax charge for electric and plug-in hybrid vehicles.
Think of it as a “pay for what you use” system rather than the old fuel-duty setup.
Here’s the breakdown:
Electric cars: around 3p per mile
Plug-in hybrids: around 1.5p per mile
For the average UK driver doing around 8,500 miles a year, that works out to roughly £255–£260 annually — and yes, that’s before inflation or changes in your driving habits come into play.
And just so you can compare: that’s still about half of what petrol or diesel drivers pay through fuel duty alone. So even with the new system, EVs still come out on top in running costs.
Will This Make EVs Expensive to Own?
Not really. This new charge is in addition to Vehicle Excise Duty (VED), so it will lift overall running costs, but not dramatically. EVs will still benefit from lower servicing costs, cheaper energy (especially home charging), and far better efficiency.
And let’s be honest — road taxes were always going to evolve. As the UK moves away from petrol and diesel, the old fuel-duty model simply doesn’t work anymore. The government isn’t trying to kill off EVs… they’re just switching to a system that makes sense for the future.
Why This Isn’t the End of EVs
If anything, it’s a sign EVs have won. They’ve gone from niche to mainstream, and now the tax system is catching up.
Electric drivers will still enjoy:
Lower day-to-day running costs
Stronger efficiency per mile
Better long-term savings compared to ICE cars
Cleaner travel and zero tailpipe emissions
Plus, leasing an EV through EVC means you only pay for the car you love — without worrying about long-term depreciation or resale value. Even with the new road-usage charges, EVs remain one of the smartest ways to drive.
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