Fuel Comparison Tool

Fuel comparison tool

With petrol, diesel, hybrid, plug-in hybrid and electric power available, our comparison tool will tell you the best fuel for your needs

Which fuel is best for you?

Answer the questions below for our recommendations

How many miles do you drive in a year? Less than 6,000Between 6,000 - 12,000More than 12,000

What roads do you mostly drive on? TownRuralMotorwayMixed

How far do you most commonly drive per journey? 0-60 miles60 - 140 miles140 - 250 miles250 miles+

Can you easily charge an electric car at home or work? YesNoNot sure

Please note this advice is based on average circumstances. Further advice is available through our Real MPG and Real Range initiatives.

FAQs

How does the fuel comparison tool work?

The fuel comparison tool poses a series of questions about how far you drive and the type of roads you drive on. It should take less than a minute to complete them. Your answers are used to determine the most suitable fuel type for you from a choice of diesel, electric, hybrid, petrol and plug-in hybrid. For example, if most of your journeys are less than 60 miles and you only drive in town, our top recommendations for you are likely to be a shorter range electric car or a plug-in hybrid. Conversely, if you spend every day racking up many motorway miles, we're likely to recommend a diesel or long-range electric car. Based on your answers, we'll also tell you which fuel types may also suit you and those that are the least recommendable for your driving circumstances.

What is a plug-in hybrid car?

A plug-in hybrid has a petrol or diesel engine plus a small battery pack and electric motor. It will be able to drive for as much as 80 miles, on pure electric power until the battery is depleted, then it will run on the conventional engine. It's great for drivers who mostly do short journeys, but need a car that can also cover high mileages occasionally.

What is a bi-fuel car?

A bi-fuel car is one that can run on two different fuels, most commonly they are petrol and liquified petroleum gas (LPG). Bi-fuel cars are based on standard petrol-engined models, but they have one fuel tank for each type of fuel and other modifications to enable the engine to switch between fuel sources. LPG fuel is cheaper to buy than petrol, so it can help reduce running costs, and it helps cars using it to emit fewer CO2 emissions.

How do I find local electric car public charging points?

There are more than 68,500 public charging points across the UK, and one way to find those near you is to check on your local council's website, as it should have a list community funded chargers that could be free or cheaper to use than those owned by private companies. It's also worth checking online to see if your local shopping centre, supermarket or nearby hotels and restaurants have chargers that are free for those using the facilities. There are also a number of charge point maps online that will show you charge points in your locality and tell you how much they cost to use.

What is a hybrid car?

A hybrid car is one that uses more than one type of power to drive the car - it will either use a petrol or diesel engine plus an electric motor. The main advantages of a hybrid are that it should consume less fuel and emit less CO2 than a comparable conventional petrol or diesel-engined vehicle. 

What is a mild hybrid car?

A mild hybrid car is similar to a conventional petrol car, with some additional technology that helps to reduce fuel consumption and emissions. It generally has a small battery and a 48-volt electric generator, which assists the engine during hard acceleration. It also harvests energy from braking, capturing this in the battery to provide power for the generator.

How do you charge an electric car?

There are a number of charging options, ranging from connecting your car to a household three-pin socket to a home EV charger to visiting an ultra-rapid public charger. The time it takes to charge your car will depend on the type of charger you choose and the speed at which it can send power to the batteries.

How much does it cost to charge an electric car?

The cheapest way to charge an electric car is at home, using a dual-rate EV tariff, because costs are as little as a few pence per kilowatt. At these rates, a full charge could cost around £4, although the bigger your car's battery, the more it'll cost. However, if you choose to use one of the fastest public chargers you will pay much more.