The "up to" caveat matters

The nine-fold saving represents the maximum differential rather than a typical one. Carbon Brief's per-mile cost chart shows EV running costs falling far below those of combustion-engine vehicles, but the size of the gap varies with how and where drivers charge. The comparison was illustrated with a chart produced by the outlet, alongside an official GOV.UK image from the press release "Government powers up electric vehicle revolution with £20 million chargepoints boost," which shows an EV charging scene.

Government backing for charging infrastructure

The UK government's £20 million chargepoints boost, announced in the same GOV.UK press release, forms part of the backdrop to falling EV running costs, as expanded public charging capacity affects both availability and price for drivers without home chargers.

Because the original claim was already qualified with "up to," the exaggeration in circulation is partial rather than fundamental — the underlying cost advantage is real, but the nine-fold figure applies to the most favorable conditions. The claim that EVs are up to nine times cheaper to drive in the UK is therefore assessed as Mostly True.

Verdict: Mostly True