Public EV charging costs
Public EV charging prices can vary significantly depending on the charger type, location, charging network and tariff. Destination chargers can be relatively inexpensive, while rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are often much more expensive. Checking the price before you plug in can make a meaningful difference to the cost of a long journey. Zapmap publishes regular UK charging price data and comparisons between charging networks.
Types of EV charger and typical costs
- Slow and destination chargers (3–7kW): Often found at supermarkets, hotels, leisure centres and car parks. Some are free, while paid chargers can offer lower p/kWh rates than rapid charging. They are a good option when you are stopping for several hours and do not need a fast top-up.
- Fast chargers (7–22kW): Common at town-centre car parks, workplaces and retail locations. They can be useful for longer stops where you have time to leave the car charging.
- Rapid and ultra-rapid chargers (50kW+): Common at motorway services and dedicated charging hubs. They are designed for quick top-ups, but the convenience usually comes with a higher EV charging cost. Rapid charging is now widespread across the UK, with Zapmap reporting continued growth in both rapid and ultra-rapid infrastructure.
How to minimise public EV charging costs
- Plan your charging stops before a long journey: Compare chargers along your route and look beyond motorway service areas. Destination and supermarket charging can sometimes offer better value, particularly when you are already stopping for shopping or another activity.
- Compare EV charging tariffs and subscriptions: Some charging networks offer membership plans or discounted rates for regular users. Check the monthly fee against the savings per kWh before subscribing, as the best option depends on how often you use the network.
- Avoid unnecessary rapid charging: For most longer journeys, charging an EV from around 10% to 80% is generally more time-efficient than charging all the way to 100%. Charging speeds can fall substantially as the battery approaches a high state of charge, so staying longer at an expensive rapid charger may not be good value.
- Check the price before you start charging: Use Zapmap or the charging network’s app to check the current price per kWh, charger speed and availability before plugging in. Public charging prices can change, so checking the live tariff is safer than relying on an old price you remember.
