EV charging
EV charging costs: 46p to 80p per kWh in public, far less at home
The average rapid charger costs 80p per kWh and the average slow or fast charger 54p, but Tesla drivers pay 46p on Superchargers and several networks sit well under the average. The spread matters more than the average: the same 60kWh charge ranges from about £28 to £48 across public networks. Zapmap Price Index, July 2026
Slide the table sideways for every column.
| Where you charge | Price | Worth knowing |
|---|---|---|
| Charging at home, standard tariff | cheapest by far | See Tariff Tracker for current unit rates under the price cap |
| Tesla Superchargers, Tesla drivers | 46p per kWh | the cheapest widely available rapid charging |
| Tesla Superchargers, other cars | 63p per kWh | at sites opened to all brands |
| Believ | 66p per kWh | among the cheapest non Tesla networks in the index |
| Sainsbury's Smart Charge | 72p per kWh | supermarket rapid charging |
| Slow and fast chargers, average | 54p per kWh | Zapmap Price Index, July 2026 |
| Rapid and ultra rapid, average | 80p per kWh | Zapmap Price Index, July 2026 |
Index figures and network prices from the Zapmap Price Index for July 2026, checked 28 August 2026. Home charging costs depend on your electricity tariff; our sister site Tariff Tracker tracks those rates.
The one rule of cheap EV motoring
Charge at home when you can, and when you cannot, know your network before you plug in. Public charging also carries 20% VAT against 5% at home, which is part of why the gap is so large. A per charger price search is planned here on the same principle as the fuel search: operators are now required to publish pricing openly under the public charge point rules.
Common questions about EV charging costs
How much does it cost to charge an electric car in the UK?
Public charging averaged 54p per kWh on slow and fast chargers and 80p per kWh on rapid and ultra rapid chargers in July 2026, so a 60kWh charge ranges from about £28 to £48. Charging at home on a standard tariff is far cheaper, which is why most drivers who can charge at home do.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or in public?
Home charging is much cheaper. Electricity used at home carries 5% VAT while public charging carries 20%, and home tariffs are lower per unit to begin with. Our sister site Tariff Tracker tracks current home unit rates under the price cap.
Which is the cheapest public charging network?
Tesla drivers pay 46p per kWh on Superchargers, the cheapest widely available rapid charging. Non Tesla drivers can use Tesla sites opened to all brands at 63p, and among the other networks Believ at 66p per kWh is one of the cheapest in the Zapmap index.