BMW i3 vs Mini Electric: home charging cost
At the July 2026 Ofgem price cap (26.11p/kWh), the BMW i3 costs less to charge — it is the cheaper of the two to run at 5.8p per mile vs 5.9p for the Mini Electric — a difference of about £11.64 over 10,000 miles of home charging.
Prices based on the Ofgem price cap of 26.11 p/kWh, effective 1 July 2026.Source: Ofgem
| BMW i3120Ah | Mini ElectricCooper SE (2020-2023) | |
|---|---|---|
| Full charge cost | £11.25 | £8.57 |
| Cost per mile | 5.8p | 5.9p |
| 20-80% on a 7 kW wallbox | 3 hr 15 min | 2 hr 29 min |
| Usable battery | 37.9 kWh | 28.9 kWh |
| WLTP range | 192 miles | 145 miles |
| Efficiency | 5.1 mi/kWh | 5 mi/kWh |
| Max AC charging | 11 kW | 11 kW |
At a glance
BMW i3£11.25
Mini Electric£8.57
BMW i35.8p
Mini Electric5.9p
BMW i33 hr 15 min
Mini Electric2 hr 29 min
The bigger battery costs more to fill but is not necessarily more expensive to run — cost per mile depends on efficiency, not battery size. Costs include ~12% AC charging losses, and both figures rise in the cold — typically 10–30% in winter. On an off-peak tariff both cars cost roughly two thirds less per mile.