How much does it cost to charge an electric car?
We reveal the cheapest public chargers around. Plus, we see what makes life easiest: a very long range or a well-integrated charging network?...
It’s no secret that the cheapest way to charge an electric car is at home, using a competitive EV energy tariff. However, with an estimated third of the UK’s 27 million households lacking off-street parking, many EV owners rely on public charging points.
A decade ago, it was possible to charge up for free – or for very little – at a number of locations as an added incentive to switch to an electric car. Nevertheless, with EVs accounting for one in four new car sales in the UK during 2025, the situation has changed.
There are still some of these free or low-cost chargers, but they’re typically older and slower machines, which could take more than 17 hours to restore the battery of a large electric SUV. To charge up at a faster rate – sometimes less than half an hour – you’ll likely need to pay a significantly higher price.
Nevertheless, with an increasing number of big companies rolling out public EV chargers across the UK, it pays to shop around. Here, we compare the current cost of a range of public chargers, share how much it would cost to charge up a popular electric car and reveal whether it’s cheaper to run an EV or a petrol alternative.
Where’s the cheapest place to charge an electric car?
For the majority of electric car owners, the cheapest place to charge by a considerable margin is at home – especially if you’re on one of the best EV home tariffs. Much like filling the tank of a petrol or diesel car, the cost of using the public charging network can vary enormously – but by how much?
To answer this question, we compared the cost of 54 different rapid and ultra-rapid charging options and a further 28 types of slow chargers. We chose the Tesla Model Y RWD for this price comparison because it’s one of the best-selling electric cars in the UK.
We chose only to calculate the cost of charging the car from 10% to 80% as letting an EV’s battery drop below 10% isn’t recommended, and it’s good practice to only charge up to 80% to prolong battery life.
What are the cheapest and priciest ultra-rapid charging options?
Our research showed that the most expensive charging network operator is Instavolt, whose top rate is 92p per kilowatt-hour (kWh). That rate is for EV owners who start charging with a contactless credit or debit card at any time, or by using the company’s app to charge between 7am and 8pm. In either case, it would cost up to £38.64 to charge a Tesla Model Y RWD from 10-80%, depending on the location.
Similarly, Geniepoint’s most expensive charging option costs 90p per kWh, whereas using a BP Pulse, Gridserve and Ionity charger will cost as much as 89p per kWh.
Most of the ultra-rapid charging options listed don’t require a paid membership, instead allowing users to start charging with a contactless credit or debit card or by using an app. However, if you charge your electric car regularly, you might want to consider paying for a subscription. These can cost as much as £10 per month but can cut charging costs to as little as 39p per kWh.
If you want a cheaper ultra-rapid charge without having to pay for a monthly subscription, you’ll be better off with the likes of Pod Point. Installing its chargers in Lidl and Tesco supermarket car parks, a 50kW charger costs 62p per kWh. At this rate, the Model Y could be charged from 10-80% for £26.04.
Another way to cut the cost of public EV charging is by plugging in at off-peak hours, with a number of network operators reducing their rates for users who charge at night. As a result, while Instavolt’s app users are charged 92p per kWh if they charge their EV between 7am and 8pm, they’ll only have to pay 55p per kWh during the rest of the day. That means it’s £15.54 cheaper to charge a Model Y during off-peak hours.
Tesla owners also benefit from free access to the Supercharger network, which can charge at speeds of up to 250kW. The cost of using a Tesla Supercharger depends on location and time, but are still among the cheapest available. At a rate of 41p per kWh, charging a Model Y from 10-80% would cost £17.22.
If you don’t own a Tesla, you can still use a Supercharger by getting a membership, which currently costs £8.99 per month. Non-Tesla drivers also incur a slightly higher charge rate, though.
All prices are correct as of 28 April 2026
The cheapest rapid EV charging rates – and the most expensive
| Network and service name | Monthly fee | Cost per kWh | Total cost |
| Tesla owner 120-250kW | £0.00 | £0.41 | £17.22 |
| Instavolt App 50kW-150kW (8pm-7am) | £0.00 | £0.55 | £23.10 |
| Pod Point Lidl member 50kW | £0.00 | £0.62 | £26.04 |
| Pod Point Tesco 50W | £0.00 | £0.62 | £26.04 |
| Be.EV member 50-150kW DC off-peak (9pm-7am) | £9.99 | £0.39 | £26.37 |
| Pogo DC | £0.00 | £0.65 | £27.30 |
| EVPoint 50kW | £0.00 | £0.65 | £27.30 |
| Dragon Charging 43-50kW | £0.00 | £0.65 | £27.30 |
| Source Energy member 100-200kW (12pm-5am) | £0.00 | £0.66 | £27.72 |
| Believ PAYG 50-75kW | £0.00 | £0.66 | £27.72 |
| Ionity Passport Power up to 350kW | £8.75 | £0.46 | £28.07 |
| ESB PAYG 43-50kW | £0.00 | £0.67 | £28.14 |
| ESB contactless 43-50kW | £0.00 | £0.68 | £28.56 |
| Ionity Passport Motion up to 350kW | £4.58 | £0.58 | £28.94 |
| Pod Point Tesco 75kW | £0.00 | £0.69 | £28.98 |
| Source Energy member 100-200kW (5am-12pm) | £0.00 | £0.70 | £29.40 |
| Believ member 50-75kW | £5.00 | £0.60 | £30.20 |
| ESB member 43-50kW | £4.99 | £0.62 | £31.03 |
| E-on 100-150kw | £0.00 | £0.74 | £31.08 |
| Pod Point Lidl PAYG 50kW | £0.00 | £0.74 | £31.08 |
| Be.EV contactless 50kW DC | £0.00 | £0.74 | £31.08 |
| EVPoint 50-300kW | £0.00 | £0.75 | £31.50 |
| Charge Place Scotland 50-150kW | £0.00 | £0.75 | £31.50 |
| Mer PAYG up to 43/50kW | £0.00 | £0.76 | £31.92 |
| ESB PAYG 100kW+ | £0.00 | £0.77 | £32.34 |
| ESB contactless 100kW+ | £0.00 | £0.78 | £32.76 |
| Source Energy contactless 100-200kW | £0.00 | £0.78 | £32.76 |
| Mer contactless to 43/50kW | £0.00 | £0.78 | £32.76 |
| Fastned member 43/50-300kW | £9.98 | £0.55 | £33.08 |
| Shell Rechard subscription - 50kW-300kW | £9.99 | £0.55 | £33.09 |
| Shell Recharge App - 50kW-300kW | £0.00 | £0.79 | £33.18 |
| MFG EV Power 50-150kW | £0.00 | £0.79 | £33.18 |
| Fastned PAYG 43/50-300kW | £0.00 | £0.79 | £33.18 |
| Osprey App up to 175kW | £0.00 | £0.82 | £34.44 |
| Source Energy PAYG 100-200kW | £0.00 | £0.82 | £34.44 |
| Tesla public 120-250kW off-peak (4am-8am) | £8.99 | £0.61 | £34.61 |
| Geniepoint Registered 50kW (non-London) | £0.00 | £0.83 | £34.86 |
| Revive 50kW | £0.00 | £0.83 | £34.86 |
| Applegreen Electric | £0.00 | £0.83 | £34.86 |
| Be.EV contactless 150kW | £0.00 | £0.84 | £35.28 |
| ESB member 100kW+ | £4.99 | £0.73 | £35.65 |
| Geniepoint Registered 50kW (London) | £0.00 | £0.85 | £35.70 |
| Osprey contactless up to 175kW | £0.00 | £0.87 | £36.54 |
| BP Pulse subscription 150kW | £7.85 | £0.69 | £36.83 |
| BP Pulse subscription 43/50kW | £7.85 | £0.69 | £36.83 |
| Be.EV member 50kW DC daytime (7am-7pm) | £9.99 | £0.64 | £36.87 |
| BP Pulse contactless PAYG 150kW | £0.00 | £0.89 | £37.38 |
| Shell Recharge contactless - 50kW-300kW | £0.00 | £0.89 | £37.38 |
| BP Pulse contactless PAYG 43/50kW | £0.00 | £0.89 | £37.38 |
| Gridserve up to 360kW | £0.00 | £0.89 | £37.38 |
| Ionity Direct up to 350kW | £0.00 | £0.89 | £37.38 |
| Geniepoint contactless 50kW | £0.00 | £0.90 | £37.80 |
| Instavolt App 50kW-150kW (7am-8pm) | £0.00 | £0.92 | £38.64 |
| Instavolt 50kW-150kW | £0.00 | £0.92 | £38.64 |
| Be.EV member 150kW DC daytime (7am-7pm) | £9.99 | £0.74 | £41.07 |
| Tesla owner 120-250kW | £0.00 | £0.41 | £17.22 |
*prices vary on location, most expensive price shown
What’s the cheapest slow EV charging cost – and the most expensive?
Less powerful public chargers take significantly longer to replenish an EV’s battery but often cost far less to use. As is the case with rapid chargers, that’s particularly true if you take advantage of off-peak tariffs some network operators offer.
Both Be.EV and Char.gy offer night time rates of 39p per kWh (as much as 25p less than the equivalent daytime tariff). As a result, the Model Y can be charged for £16.38.
At the other end of the spectrum, Charge Place Scotland proved the most expensive, with some charging as much as £1 per kWh; meaning it would cost £42 to charge the Model Y. Fortunately, other chargers operated by Charge Place Scotland offer far more favourable rates, with some costing users as little as 15p per kWh.
Similarly, the cost of using Shell Recharge’s slower chargers varies on location, with some priced at a rate of 89p per kWh. At £37.38, this is even more expensive than some of the faster charging options.
The cost of using slower public EV chargers
| Network and service name | Monthly fee | Cost per kWh | Total cost |
| Be.EV member up to 25kW (7pm to 7am) | £0.00 | £0.39 | £16.38 |
| Char.gy night time (12am to 7am) | £0.00 | £0.39 | £16.38 |
| Pod Point Lidl member 22kW | £0.00 | £0.40 | £16.80 |
| E-on 7.4kW | £0.00 | £0.43 | £18.06 |
| Connected Kerb 7kW and 22kW (midnight to 7am) | £0.00 | £0.44 | £18.48 |
| Pod Point Tesco 7kW | £0.00 | £0.44 | £18.48 |
| Pod Point Tesco 22kW | £0.00 | £0.49 | £20.58 |
| Be.EV member up to 25kW (7am to 7pm) | £0.00 | £0.54 | £22.68 |
| Connected Kerb 7kW and 22kW (7am to midnight) | £0.00 | £0.54 | £22.68 |
| Source Energy PAYG up to 22kW | £0.00 | £0.54 | £22.68 |
| Mer member up to 25kW | £0.00 | £0.55 | £23.10 |
| Pod Point Lidl PAYG 22kW | £0.00 | £0.55 | £23.10 |
| Revive 7-22kW* | £0.00 | £0.55 | £23.10 |
| Believ PAYG 7-22kW | £0.00 | £0.56 | £23.52 |
| Mer PAYG up to 25kW | £0.00 | £0.56 | £23.52 |
| Pogo AC | £0.00 | £0.56 | £23.52 |
| Char.gy PAYG daytime (7am to midnight) 7-22kW | £0.00 | £0.59 | £24.78 |
| Gridserve Electric Highway 22kW | £0.00 | £0.59 | £24.78 |
| ESB PAYG 7-22kW | £0.00 | £0.63 | £26.46 |
| Be.EV contactless up to 25kW | £0.00 | £0.64 | £26.88 |
| Believ member 7-22kW | £5.00 | £0.53 | £27.26 |
| BP Pulse free PAYG 7kW charger | £0.00 | £0.65 | £27.30 |
| Shell Recharge member 7-22kW | £0.00 | £0.69 | £28.98 |
| BP Pulse subscription 7kW charger | £7.85 | £0.52 | £29.69 |
| ESB member 7-22kW | £4.99 | £0.59 | £29.77 |
| Shell Recharge PAYG 7-22kW | £0.00 | £0.79 | £33.18 |
| Revive 7-22kW | £0.00 | £0.83 | £34.86 |
| Charge Place Scotland Glasgow 7-22kW* | £0.00 | £0.84 | £35.28 |
*prices vary on location, most expensive price shown
How much does it cost to fully charge an electric car at home?
The cost of charging an EV will depend on the size of its usable battery capacity; the larger the battery, the longer it will be to charge, and the pricier it will be. Much like the fuel tank in a petrol or diesel car, the size of an EV’s battery can vary significantly.
To charge a Fiat 500e’s battery, which has a usable capacity of 21kWh, from 10-80% with a home charger at the current energy price cap of 24.67p per kWh, you’ll pay £3.63. In comparison, home charging a BMW iX3, which has a usable capacity of 108.7kWh, at the same rate would cost £18.77.
Nevertheless, whatever electric car you own, you can save money when home charging by taking advantage of a specific EV energy tariff. In most cases, these tariffs feature an off-peak period overnight that can be as low as 6.6p per kWh. As a result, by using an EV energy tariff and charging at the right time, it’s possible to replenish a typical electric family car battery for less than £5.
Is it cheaper to run an electric car than a petrol model?
Traditionally, one of the major selling points of electric cars has been their lower running costs; however, the rising cost of energy means this is no longer always the case. While it’s possible to reduce the cost of running an electric car by charging at home, extensive use of public chargers can make an EV more expensive to run than an equivalent petrol model.
When we compared the running costs of an EV and petrol car over a 200-mile road trip, we found that charging an electric Hyundai Ioniq 5’s battery cost £44.68 – nearly £20 more than topping up the tank of a petrol-powered Hyundai Tucson.
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