Public charging costs

Public charging is one of those things where prices vary wildly depending on where you charge, which network you use and how fast the charger is. It’s almost always more expensive than charging at home, but it’s useful to know the going rates so you can plan journeys and understand what you’re paying.

Speed tiers and what they cost

Public chargers fall into three broad speed categories, and the price jumps with each tier.

Slow (up to 7kW): These are the chargers you’ll find in car parks, on residential streets and at some workplaces. They charge at roughly the same speed as a home wallbox. Prices vary from free (some supermarkets and hotels offer this) to around 40-55p/kWh. Useful for topping up while you’re parked for a few hours.

Fast (7-22kW): A step up in speed, often found at destination locations like shopping centres and leisure facilities. Expect to pay 45-55p/kWh. At 22kW, you’ll add around 75 miles of range per hour, so even a quick shopping trip can be worthwhile.

Rapid and ultra-rapid (50-350kW): These are the motorway service station and dedicated charging hub units. They can charge most EVs to 80% in 20-45 minutes. Prices typically range from 60-90p/kWh, making them the most expensive option by a significant margin.

Major networks and their prices

Pricing changes frequently, but here’s a rough guide to the main UK networks as of early 2026.

Tesla Supercharger: Originally Tesla-only, most sites now accept other EVs. Non-Tesla pricing is typically 47-67p/kWh depending on location and time of day, with peak hours (4pm to 8pm) costing more. Tesla owners get lower rates, and non-Tesla drivers can subscribe for £8.99/month to match those owner prices. The network is widely regarded as the most reliable.

Ionity: Ultra-rapid chargers at motorway locations. Pay-as-you-go rates are steep. Their Passport Power subscription (£10.50/month) drops this to around 43p/kWh, making it one of the better deals if you use motorway chargers regularly.

Gridserve: Found at their Electric Forecourts and at motorway services. Rapid DC charging costs 79-93p/kWh depending on location and payment method (app users pay less). Their AC chargers are cheaper at around 49p/kWh.

bp pulse: One of the largest networks with chargers across the UK. Rapid charging costs around 65-85p/kWh depending on the site and charger speed. Their subscription plan (£7.85/month) reduces the per-kWh rate, with rapid charging from around 69p/kWh for subscribers.

Pod Point: Common at Tesco car parks and other retail locations. Many of their 7kW chargers at Tesco are free to use while you shop. Their faster chargers at other locations cost 40-55p/kWh.

InstaVolt: Contactless payment, no app required, no membership needed. Peak rates sit at around 89p/kWh, though app users get off-peak rates of around 54-60p/kWh between 9pm and 7am. Popular because of the zero-hassle approach for contactless users.

Osprey: A growing rapid network found at various locations. Prices are around 82-87p/kWh, with a small discount for using the Osprey app over contactless.

Octopus Electroverse

Octopus offers a charging card and app called Electroverse that works across multiple public networks. Instead of needing separate accounts with each network, you tap one card or use one app.

The main benefits:

• Single account: One payment method across hundreds of thousands of chargers in the UK and Europe.
• Transparent pricing: You see the per-kWh cost before you start, no surprises.
• Occasional discounts: Octopus sometimes negotiates lower rates on certain networks for Electroverse users.
• Trip planner: The app can plan routes with charging stops factored in.

It won’t always be the cheapest option for a specific charger (some networks offer bigger discounts through their own memberships), but the convenience of a single account is hard to beat.

Membership schemes vs pay-as-you-go

Most large networks offer some kind of subscription or membership that reduces per-kWh costs. Whether they’re worth it depends on how often you use public chargers.

If you charge at home most of the time and only use public chargers on longer trips a few times a month, pay-as-you-go is usually simpler and cheaper overall. The membership fee will eat into any per-kWh savings unless you’re using that specific network regularly.

If you don’t have home charging (flat dweller, no driveway) and rely on public chargers daily, a membership with your most-used network makes financial sense.

The real cost comparison

Here’s where home charging on a smart tariff puts things in perspective. Take a 60kWh battery going from 20% to 80% (a typical charge of about 36kWh):

• Home on Intelligent Go (~7p/kWh): £2.52
• Home on standard tariff (~24.5p/kWh): £8.82
• Slow public charger (~50p/kWh): £18.00
• Rapid public charger (~80p/kWh): £28.80

That same charge costs over eleven times more at a rapid public charger than it does at home on Intelligent Go. Over a year of regular use, the difference runs into thousands of pounds. Try our EV calculator to see what the savings look like for your specific car and mileage.

Finding chargers

Zap-Map is the go-to app for finding public chargers in the UK. It shows real-time availability, pricing, connector types and user reviews. Almost every EV driver in the UK has it installed. The free version covers all the essentials.

Your car’s built-in navigation may also show nearby chargers, and most network apps have their own maps. For planning longer journeys, A Better Route Planner (ABRP) is excellent for mapping out charging stops based on your specific car and battery level.

When public charging makes sense

Despite the higher costs, public charging is the right choice in certain situations:

• Long journeys: You can’t avoid it. Plan stops at rapid chargers along your route.
• No home charging: If you live in a flat or don’t have off-street parking, public chargers may be your primary option. Look for workplace charging or slow chargers near your home.
• Opportunity charging: Free chargers at supermarkets and retail parks are genuinely free. Take advantage when you can.
• Topping up: Sometimes you just need a bit more range to get home. A quick 15-minute rapid charge can be worth the convenience.

The golden rule is simple: charge at home whenever you can, use public chargers when you need to.