EV Charging Costs UK (2026)

Compare prices across every major charging network

Try the interactive cost calculator Work out the exact cost to charge your EV and compare it to petrol. Calculate →

This charge (20% → 80%)

£2.80

40.0 kWh added at 7.0p/kWh

Full 0-100% charge

£4.67

66.7 kWh

Cost per 100 miles

£2.16

at 3.6 mi/kWh

vs petrol (45 mpg @ £1.42/L)

Petrol per 100 mi: £14.35

You save £12.18 per 100 miles vs petrol

Estimates only. Assumes ~10% AC charging losses (efficiency factor 0.9). Real costs vary by tariff, battery temperature, charging curve and driving conditions.

Network Price Comparison

Network Standard Rapid Ultra-Rapid Contactless Chargers
Pod Point prices Free-40p/kWh 55p/kWh N/A ❌ 12,000
BP Pulse charging costs 45p/kWh 69p/kWh 79p/kWh ✅ 9,200
Shell Recharge rates 49p/kWh 75p/kWh 79p/kWh ✅ 5,600
char.gy pricing 40p/kWh 60p/kWh N/A ✅ 3,200
Connected Kerb prices 38p/kWh 55p/kWh N/A ✅ 2,800
Tesla Supercharger charging costs N/A N/A 65p/kWh ✅ 2,400
Gridserve rates 59p/kWh 82p to 89p/kWh 82p to 89p/kWh ✅ 1,800
InstaVolt pricing N/A 92p/kWh (55p off-peak 8pm to 7am with app/RFID) 92p/kWh (55p off-peak 8pm to 7am with app/RFID) ✅ 1,600
Osprey Charging prices N/A 69p/kWh 75p/kWh ✅ 1,400
MFG EV Power charging costs N/A 67p/kWh 77p/kWh ✅ 1,100
GeniePoint rates 42p/kWh 62p/kWh 70p/kWh ✅ 800
Fastned pricing N/A N/A 69p/kWh ✅ 300

EV Charging vs Petrol Costs

The cost per mile is the fairest comparison between EVs and petrol cars:

Fuel Type Cost/Unit Efficiency Cost/Mile
Home charging (overnight)7-12p/kWh3.5 mi/kWh2-3p/mile
Standard public (7-22kW)40-55p/kWh3.5 mi/kWh11-16p/mile
Rapid public (50kW)60-79p/kWh3.5 mi/kWh17-23p/mile
Petrol car~145p/litre~40mpg16-20p/mile

Even at the most expensive public rapid charger rates, EV running costs are comparable to petrol, and home charging is 5-10x cheaper per mile.

How to Reduce Charging Costs

  1. Charge at home on an overnight tariff. Octopus Intelligent Go and similar tariffs offer 7-12p/kWh rates between midnight and 6am.
  2. Use free chargers at Tesco/Lidl. A weekly shop with free Pod Point charging costs saves £15-25/month. See our free charging guide.
  3. Get a network subscription. The BP Pulse pricing subscription (£7.85/mo) saves up to 10% on every charge.
  4. Charge to 80%, not 100%. The last 20% takes as long as the first 80% and costs proportionally more in time.
  5. Use Bonnet or Octopus Electroverse. Roaming apps can sometimes offer better rates than going direct to the network.

Monthly Cost Comparison

For a typical EV driver covering 800 miles per month:

  • Home charging only: £16-24/month
  • Mix of home and public: £40-60/month
  • Public rapid charging only: £136-184/month
  • Equivalent petrol car: £128-160/month

Related Guides

Free EV Charging Charge for free at supermarkets Home Charger Guide Cheapest way to charge at home Compare Networks Side-by-side network comparison Best Charging Apps Find the cheapest rates

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?
Public EV charging in the UK ranges from free (at Tesco and Lidl Pod Point chargers) to around 79p/kWh for ultra-rapid charging. Standard 7-22kW chargers cost 40-55p/kWh, rapid 50kW chargers cost 60-79p/kWh, and home charging on an overnight tariff costs just 7-12p/kWh.
Is it cheaper to charge an EV at home or at a public charger?
Home charging is significantly cheaper. On an overnight tariff like Octopus Intelligent Go, you pay 7-12p/kWh, roughly 2-3p per mile. Public rapid charging costs 60-79p/kWh (17-23p per mile), making it 5-10 times more expensive than home charging.
How much does a full EV charge cost at a rapid charger?
A full 10-80% charge on a typical 60kWh EV battery at a rapid charger costs between £25 and £33, depending on the network. This gives roughly 150-180 miles of range and takes 30-45 minutes at a 50kW charger.
Which UK EV charging network is cheapest?
Pricing varies by charger speed and network. For standard charging, Pod Point at Tesco is free. For rapid charging, networks with subscription plans (such as BP Pulse) can reduce per-kWh costs. Roaming apps like Bonnet and Octopus Electroverse sometimes offer better rates than paying direct.
Is charging an EV cheaper than petrol in the UK?
Yes, in most cases. Home charging costs around 2-3p per mile compared to 16-20p per mile for petrol. Even public rapid charging (17-23p per mile) is comparable to or slightly cheaper than petrol. Over 10,000 miles per year, an EV driver charging at home saves roughly £1,300-1,700 compared to a petrol car.

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