How Much Does Public EV Charging Cost in the UK?
Updated August 2026
Quick answer
62p–90p/kWh, averaging around 79p/kWh across UK rapid and ultra-rapid networks in mid-2026 — roughly 3–4x the cost of home charging on the current Ofgem price cap rate. At typical EV efficiency, that's about 17.7p–25.7p per mile.
Frequently asked questions
How much does public EV charging cost in the UK?
Rapid and ultra-rapid public charging averaged around 79p/kWh in mid-2026, ranging from about 62p/kWh (Tesla Supercharger, the cheapest widely available network) to around 90p/kWh (InstaVolt, BP Pulse). That works out to roughly 17.7p–25.7p per mile at typical EV efficiency, compared with 6.5–7.5p per mile for home charging.
Is public charging cheaper than home charging?
No — public rapid charging typically costs 3–4x more per kWh than home charging, mainly because public chargers pay commercial electricity rates with 20% VAT (versus 5% domestic VAT) and no Ofgem price cap protection.
Is public EV charging cheaper than petrol?
It depends on the network. At the cheapest rates (around 62p/kWh) it's still somewhat cheaper per mile than average petrol. At the most expensive rapid networks (around 90p/kWh) it can cost more per mile than petrol.