Introduction
With fuel prices and energy costs continuing to fluctuate across the UK, drivers are increasingly asking a simple but important questions surrounding The difference between petrol and electric driving is more significant than many people realise. In this guide, we break down exactly how many miles £50 can get you in petrol, diesel, hybrid and electric vehicles.
How Far Does £50 of Petrol Take You?
On £50 of petrol, an average UK car will travel about 160 to 220 miles. This assumes an average fuel efficiency of 36 to 40 MPG and current average unleaded prices of roughly 158.7p per litre.
The exact distance your specific car can achieve depends on several factors:
Your Car’s Model – Smaller city cars like a Toyota Yaris can achieve 50+ MPG, potentially stretching £50 to 250–300 miles. Larger family cars or SUVs may drop to 30–35 MPG, yielding closer to 150–180 miles.
Driving Conditions – City driving with frequent stopping is less efficient than steady motorway cruising.
Fuel Prices – Prices vary by retailer, with supermarket forecourts usually offering cheaper rates than motorway service stations.
How Far Does £50 of Diesel Take You?
On an average UK diesel car, £50 of fuel will get you approximately 180 to 220 miles. This calculation is based on current UK diesel averages of roughly 184p per litre, which buys you around 27 litres, combined with an average real-world fuel economy of about 45 to 50 mpg
Small diesel hatchbacks (e.g., Ford Fiesta, VW Polo): 210 – 250 miles
Average family diesels (e.g., VW Golf, Ford Focus, Skoda Octavia): 180 – 220 miles
Large diesel SUVs (e.g., Land Rover Discovery, Kia Sportage): 130 – 160 miles
How Far Does £50 of Electricity Take You?
At 28p per kWh, £50 of electricity buys around 178 kWh.
An average EV efficiency of 3.5 miles per kWh gives around 600-650 miles
Key Factors That Influence Your Range:
Vehicle Size & Model – Smaller hatchbacks (e.g., MG 4 or VW ID.3) are generally more efficient than heavy electric SUVs (e.g., Audi Q8 e-tron).
Weather & Driving Habits – Cold weather, highway driving speeds, and heavy use of heating or air conditioning can reduce your overall efficiency and miles-per-kWh.
Public Charging Speed – Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers on major routes carry a premium. It is almost always cheaper to use slower 7kW-22kW destination chargers.
What This Means in Real Terms
When comparing £50 of energy or fuel:
- Electric vehicles can travel almost double the distance of a petrol car
- Diesel vehicles are more efficient than petrol but still significantly behind EVs
The difference becomes even more noticeable over time, especially for high-mileage drivers.
Why Electric Vehicles Go Further for the Same Money
Lower Cost per Mile – Electricity is typically much cheaper per mile than petrol or diesel, especially when charging at home.
Higher Energy Efficiency – Electric motors convert more energy into movement, whereas petrol and diesel engines lose a large portion of energy as heat.
Regenerative Braking – EVs recover energy during braking and slowing down, increasing efficiency in stop-start traffic.
Does Charging Location Matter?
Yes, a lot.
- Home charging: cheapest and most efficient (£50 goes the furthest)
- Public charging: more expensive, reducing range per £50
- Rapid charging: most expensive option, but fastest
Even with public charging, EVs often remain cost competitive with petrol and diesel vehicles.
Final Verdict
If you compare £50 of energy across all vehicle types:
- Electric vehicles travel the furthest
- Petrol and diesel vehicles cost more per mile
In simple terms, £50 of electricity can take you almost twice as far as £50 of petrol, making EVs the most cost-efficient option for everyday driving.
