There is no best powertrain for every driver. Petrol is a practical candidate if you lack dependable charging or value quick refuelling. A conventional hybrid can suit stop-start driving without plugging in. A plug-in hybrid makes most sense when you can charge regularly and your usual trips fit its electric range. A battery electric car is worth considering when charging is practical and its real-world range covers both routine and occasional journeys.
Choose by matching specific cars to your driving, charging options and budget—not by assuming one type is always cheaper.
What is the difference between petrol, hybrid and electric?
| Powertrain | How it works | What to consider |
|---|---|---|
| Petrol | A petrol engine powers the car; you refuel at a petrol station. | It does not depend on charging access. Whether it costs less to buy or own depends on the specific car and your use. |
| Conventional hybrid | An engine and electric motor work together. The car is not routinely plugged in; regenerative braking helps recover energy. | It can suit stop-start driving when plugging in is impractical. Efficiency depends on the vehicle and journey. |
| Plug-in hybrid (PHEV) | An external supply charges its battery for limited electric driving. When that range is used, the car continues in hybrid mode, mainly using petrol. | Charging regularly is key to making use of its electric capability. Check the particular model’s electric range. |
| Battery electric (BEV) | An electric motor is powered by a rechargeable battery; the car needs charging rather than petrol refuelling. | Consider where you can charge and whether real-world range suits your trips, including longer journeys. |
Energy Saving Trust distinguishes conventional hybrids from plug-in hybrids and says hybrid EVs generally have an electric range of up to 50 miles; that is not a guarantee for every model. Check the vehicle’s own specifications and test-cycle figures. Energy Saving Trust: electric vehicles and RAC: hybrid, plug-in hybrid or electric car?
Start with your charging access and typical journeys
If you cannot reliably charge
Petrol avoids dependence on a charger. A conventional hybrid is another candidate if your driving involves frequent stop-start traffic: its battery is charged as you drive, including through regenerative braking, rather than by routine plugging in. Neither choice is automatically cheaper overall; compare the particular vehicles and your expected use.
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If you can charge at home or work
Charging where the car is parked can make a plug-in hybrid or battery electric car more convenient. For a PHEV, ask whether you will actually connect it often and whether your normal trips fit its electric range. If you expect to leave it uncharged, the plug-in capability may deliver little electric driving.
For a battery electric car, compare your regular mileage with the model’s usable range and identify dependable charging for longer trips. Home charging can change running costs substantially: Energy Saving Trust gives an illustration of around £17 for a typical 220-mile home charge, compared with up to £45 to drive 220 miles in a petrol or diesel car. These are broad estimates, not a personalised or guaranteed comparison; electricity tariff, vehicle efficiency and driving conditions matter. The Trust says savings are highest when you charge at home with access to an EV or other time-of-use tariff. Energy Saving Trust
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If you rely on public charging
Check the chargers you could realistically use near home, work and along frequent routes, rather than assuming a public charger will always be available when needed. Public rapid charging may cost more than home charging, so use the likely charging mix when estimating energy costs. Weather, accessories, terrain and driving style can reduce an electric car’s real-world range below its advertised figure; leave a practical margin for your longer trips. RAC comparison guidance
How should you compare the costs?
Do not decide from fuel or electricity cost alone. Compare the actual vehicles you are considering using the same ownership period and expected mileage. Include purchase or lease cost, energy using your likely charging mix, and other relevant ownership costs such as depreciation, servicing and insurance. The available figures here do not establish a matched, current comparison across equivalent petrol, hybrid and electric models, so they cannot support a universal whole-life-cost winner or a mileage threshold at which one powertrain becomes cheaper.
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- Use the specific model’s fuel consumption or electric efficiency, not a generic powertrain assumption.
- For a PHEV, estimate how often you will charge and how much of your routine driving can be electric.
- For a BEV, distinguish home or workplace charging from public rapid charging in your estimate.
- Check current tax and local-use rules for your location and circumstances.
What UK tax figures do—and do not—tell you
HMRC’s 2026–27 company-car tables distinguish petrol and hybrid cars by CO2 emissions and further band qualifying cars emitting 1–50 g/km by electric-mileage range. These are company-car benefit-in-kind rates, not a complete private-buyer cost comparison and not a substitute for checking applicable vehicle excise duty or other rules. The HMRC page was published on 24 November 2022 and includes future tax years; check the relevant year and your circumstances before relying on a rate. HMRC: CO2 emissions tables of rates
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A quick decision framework
- Write down your routine: typical daily distance, how often you drive, and how often you make longer trips.
- Check charging: establish whether home or workplace charging is available and practical; otherwise map dependable public options.
- Match the powertrain: shortlist petrol if charging is a problem, a conventional hybrid for stop-start use without plugging in, a PHEV if you can charge and your regular trips fit its electric range, or a BEV if charging and range work for both regular and occasional journeys.
- Compare specific cars: check real model specifications, likely energy costs, purchase or lease cost, and other ownership expenses on the same basis.
- Check applicable rules: verify current tax and local-use requirements for your location and whether you are buying privately or choosing a company car.
One UK government summary reports that 93% of electric and/or plug-in hybrid drivers surveyed in 2022 had access to home charging and 90% charged overnight. Those figures describe survey respondents, not all drivers or prospective buyers, so they should not be treated as a measure of how easily you will be able to charge. UK Government: electric vehicle costs, charging and infrastructure
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