Guide · 03
Public charging reality check
For most owners, public chargers are a back-up, not the main event. For people without a driveway they're everyday life, so here's what to expect and how to keep costs down.
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The short version: public rapid charging is brilliant for road trips but pricey for everyday miles, about three times the cost of charging at home on a standard tariff, and around ten times a night tariff.
When public-first still works
- You don't drive many miles, so the bill is small either way.
- You have reliable slow charging at work or the supermarket.
- You have a subscription or membership rate you use enough to justify.
- You'd rather have convenience than the lowest pence per mile.
What public charging costs now
Pay-as-you-go rapid charging works out at roughly 23.5p a mile. At home it's about 7.5p on the standard capped rate, or about 2.3p on a typical overnight EV tariff.
See the numbers
The pay-as-you-go rapid prices in our UK charger price table average 82.5p per kWh (IONITY Direct 83p, Osprey 82p; operators’ own price pages, checked 25 October 2026). All per-mile figures assume about 3.5 miles per kWh. Home: Ofgem price-cap average of 26.32p per kWh (1 October–31 December 2026); overnight EV tariff from about 6.5p (Intelligent Octopus Go, checked 31 Oct 2026).
Slower AC chargers are usually cheaper, so check each network's current price. Memberships and network deals can undercut pay-as-you-go; idle fees and peak pricing can push a session the other way.
Sources: our UK charger price table (operators’ own published prices, checked 25 October 2026); Ofgem price cap for Oct–Dec 2026.
When it hurts
- Lots of miles plus frequent rapid DC sessions.
- Idle fees and peak pricing you didn't plan for.
- Assuming "electric is always cheaper" without a decent tariff.
In the calculator, nudge up "% of miles charged publicly" and watch the 5-year gap. That one slider teaches more than another review video.
Prices with and without VAT
See the numbers
| Price | Incl. VAT | Excl. VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Ofgem price cap unit rate, GB (1 Oct–31 Dec 2026) | 26.32 p/kWh | 26.32 p/kWh |
Petrol, diesel and public charging: VAT 20%. Home electricity in Great Britain: 0% VAT from 1 October 2026 to 31 March 2027 (normally 5%; Northern Ireland stays at 5%), so the price cap figure is the same with or without VAT (HMRC VAT Notice 701/19). Households always pay the VAT-inclusive price.
Related guides
- Home charging basics
- UK off-peak EV tariffs compared
- Home EV charger installation cost UK (2026)
- Road trip charging
- How much does it cost to charge an EV at home?
Test public % impact Road trip charging
Compare public charger prices: Prices change, check before you charge. The price shown in the operator’s app or on the charger is the one you pay.