How Much Does It Cost to Charge an EV at a Public Charge Point in 2026?
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The cost to charge an EV at a public charge point in the UK varies more than most drivers realise. Depending on where you plug in and how fast you charge, the price per kWh on the public network in 2026 ranges from the mid-50s to nearly 90p, a difference that compounds quickly across a year's worth of charging.
According to Zapmap's February 2026 Price Index, the weighted average across Standard and Standard Plus chargers sits at 54p/kWh, while rapid and ultra-rapid chargers average 76p/kWh. At that rapid rate, filling a typical 64kWh battery from 10% to 80% costs around £35. Compare that to home charging on a competitive off-peak tariff, where the same session might cost under £5, and it becomes clear why understanding public EV charging costs in 2026 is worth your time.
But the headline price isn't the whole story. A February 2026 First-tier Tribunal ruling could reshape the VAT treatment of public charging, potentially bringing the sticker price down across the network.
And for drivers on salary sacrifice through The Charge Scheme, there's already a mechanism that delivers savings of 20–50% on every public charge, regardless of which network they use.
This guide covers current public EV charging prices by network and charger type, what the 2026 tribunal ruling means in practice, and how The Charge Scheme turns the UK's most expensive charging sessions into some of its most affordable.
Public Charging Prices 2026: The Network Comparison Table
To understand the cost of public EV charging in the UK, it helps to start with what you'll actually pay at the charger, before any savings, subscriptions, or salary sacrifice are factored in. The figures below are PAYG (pay-as-you-go) prices, meaning what any driver pays without a membership or special deal.
According to Zapmap's February 2026 Price Index, the weighted average PAYG price across Standard and Standard Plus chargers (3kW to 49kW) is 54p/kWh, equating to roughly 16p per mile for an average-efficiency EV. For Rapid and Ultra-rapid chargers (50kW and above), the weighted average is 76p/kWh, approximately 23p per mile.
Within the top 10 rapid networks, the range is wider still: from 56p/kWh at the cheapest end to 89p/kWh at the most expensive.
| Network | Charger Type | PAYG Price (per kWh) | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| BP Pulse | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 89p | Zapmap, Feb 2026 |
| InstaVolt | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 89p | Zapmap, Feb 2026 |
| GRIDSERVE | Rapid (50–149kW) | 49p–79p | Zapmap |
| GRIDSERVE | Ultra-rapid (150kW+) | 79p–93p | Zapmap |
| IONITY | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 79p (PAYG) | Zapmap |
| Fastned | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 74p | Zapmap |
| Shell Recharge | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 79p (from) | Zapmap |
| Sainsbury's Smart Charge | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 72p | Zapmap |
| Believ | Rapid/Ultra-rapid | 66p | Zapmap |
| Tesla (open to all) | Supercharger | 56p | Zapmap, Feb 2026 |
| Pod Point | Destination (AC) | Variable/retailer-set | Zapmap |
A few things worth noting about this table.
First, subscription pricing can significantly undercut PAYG rates on some networks. IONITY's monthly plan, for example, reduces the per-kWh rate to 43p–53p.
Second, Pod Point operates predominantly as a destination network, with prices often set by the host retailer rather than by Pod Point itself, meaning charging at a Pod Point-equipped supermarket car park may be free or heavily discounted.
Third, and this is the figure that matters most for salary sacrifice EV charging drivers, none of these prices account for the pre-tax saving available through The Charge Scheme. That calculation comes later.
Key Takeaways
Zapmap's February 2026 average: 54p/kWh standard, 76p/kWh rapid
Top 10 rapid networks range from 56p/kWh (Tesla) to 89p/kWh (BP Pulse)
PAYG prices exclude subscription deals, which can reduce per-kWh costs
Pod Point operates as a destination network with retailer-set, variable pricing
Slow vs. Ultra-Rapid: The Speed-Cost Tradeoff
The most important factor in determining what you pay at a public charger isn't which network you use. It's how fast the charger delivers electricity. Broadly speaking, you pay more per kWh as the charging speed increases.
This isn’t a coincidence: rapid and ultra-rapid infrastructure is significantly more expensive to build, install, and maintain, and that cost is reflected in the price.
Understanding this tradeoff helps you choose the right charger for each situation and, as a result, manage your EV running costs more deliberately.
Standard and Standard Plus Chargers (3kW-49kW)
These cover what were previously called slow and fast chargers.
At an average of 54p/kWh, they're the most cost-effective public charging option. You'll find them on-street, in supermarkets and retail car parks, at hotels, and at workplaces. The tradeoff is time: a 7kW charger adds roughly 30-40 miles of range per hour, so this type suits longer stays rather than en-route top-ups.
If you're stopping for a full working day or overnight, a Standard or Standard Plus charger is almost always the right call on cost.
Rapid Chargers (50kW–149kW)
Rapid chargers are more expensive, typically 60p–89p/kWh across major networks, because they're designed for en-route use where time is the priority.
A typical 50kW rapid charger can take an average EV from 20% to 80% in around 35-45 minutes: long enough for a coffee stop, short enough to keep a long journey moving. They're widely available at motorway services, petrol station forecourts, and GRIDSERVE Electric Highway locations.
Ultra-Rapid Chargers (150kW+)
Ultra-rapid is the fastest and most expensive tier.
At the top end of the network, GRIDSERVE's flagship Electric Forecourts and IONITY hubs price at 79p-93p/kWh on a PAYG basis.
The payoff is speed: a 150kW charger can add 100 miles of range in 15–20 minutes, and the fastest 350kW units can do it in under 10.
According to Zapmap, ultra-rapid charger numbers grew 40% in 2025, and there are now 27,009 rapid and ultra-rapid chargers across 6,727 locations in the UK.
The Golden Rule
Match the charger to the occasion.
For any stop where your car will be parked for an hour or more, a Standard or Standard Plus charger at a lower per-kWh rate will cost significantly less than the nearest rapid charger. For time-critical en-route charging, rapid and ultra-rapid are the practical choices, and with The Charge Scheme's salary sacrifice saving applied, even the premium networks become considerably more affordable.
Key Takeaways
Standard/Standard Plus chargers average 54p/kWh, making it the cheapest on the public network
Rapid chargers (50–149kW) suit en-route stops; PAYG rates reach 60p-89p/kWh
Ultra-rapid grew 40% in 2025; the fastest can add 100 miles in under 10 minutes
Matching charger type to stop length is the most reliable way to control cost
What Is the February 2026 VAT Ruling & What Does it Mean For Me?
For years, the VAT treatment of public EV charging has been a source of frustration for drivers, operators, and policymakers alike. Home charging attracts the reduced 5% domestic VAT rate. Public charging, under HMRC's long-standing position, has always been subject to the standard 20% rate. That 15-percentage-point gap adds roughly 12p to every kWh charged in public, a meaningful cost for drivers who rely on the public network as their primary fuelling method.
That position was challenged in court by community charge point operator Charge My Street, with representation from Deloitte. On 27 February 2026, the First-tier Tribunal published its ruling in Charge My Street Ltd v HMRC [2026] TC09802, finding in Charge My Street's favour.
What did The Tribunal Rule?
The Tribunal's decision centred on the "de minimis" provision in Note 5(g), Group 1, Schedule 7A of the VAT Act 1994. That provision states that any supply of electricity to a person at any premises, where the amount supplied doesn't exceed 1,000kWh per customer per month at that location, qualifies for the reduced 5% rate. HMRC had argued that "any premises" meant only domestic properties. The Tribunal rejected that interpretation, finding that a defined public charge point location qualifies as "premises" under the ordinary meaning of the word.
The practical effect, if the ruling stands, is that most public EV charging sessions, where individual customers are unlikely to exceed 1,000kWh at a single location in a month, should attract 5% VAT rather than 20%. Applied to a 76p/kWh rapid charge, that would reduce the price to approximately 65p/kWh.
Important Caveats
This is a First-tier Tribunal ruling, not a government-enacted VAT change. HMRC hasn't updated its guidance and may appeal the decision. Some operators may choose not to apply the reduced rate while the legal position remains uncertain. The Tribunal's ruling also didn't fully resolve how third-party app payments interact with the 1,000kWh threshold.
What the ruling does change, clearly, is the legal landscape. FairCharge and the wider charging industry have long campaigned for VAT parity; this decision validates that campaign in law. The UK government is also understood to be reviewing whether to legislate a formal reduction in line with the ruling.
For drivers who mainly charge on the public network, the direction of travel is unambiguously positive!
Key Takeaways
The February 2026 tribunal ruling found that public charging can qualify for 5% VAT
The ruling applies where the electricity per customer stays below 1,000kWh per month
HMRC may appeal; operators aren't yet required to apply the reduced rate
If it stands, a 76p/kWh rapid charge falls to approximately 65p/kWh
How Does The Charge Scheme Save Money On Public Charging?
The VAT ruling matters, but it hasn't yet changed what drivers pay at the charger. The Charge Scheme does.
The Charge Scheme is the UK's first salary sacrifice benefit dedicated entirely to EV charging. Rather than paying for public charging from your take-home pay, after income tax and National Insurance have already been deducted, The Charge Scheme routes your charging costs through your employer's payroll and deducts them from your gross salary, before tax is applied.
The result is a saving of 20–50% on every kWh you charge, depending on your tax bracket.
The "Effective Price" Concept
When you swipe a debit card at a rapid charger showing 76p/kWh, you pay 76p/kWh. Every penny comes from your net pay, money that's already been taxed.
When you use The Charge Scheme's RFID card for the same charge, the cost is deducted from your gross salary before your tax bill is calculated. The effective price you pay is substantially lower.
Here's what that looks like in practice, based on the Zapmap February 2026 average rapid rate of 76p/kWh:
| Tax Bracket | Saving | Effective Cost per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| Basic rate (20% tax + 8% NI) | ~32% | ~52p/kWh |
| Higher rate (40% tax + 2% NI) | ~42% | ~44p/kWh |
| Additional rate (45% tax + 2% NI) | ~50% | ~38p/kWh |
For a higher-rate taxpayer, that 76p/kWh rapid charge costs the equivalent of 44p/kWh, directly competitive with Tesla's open Supercharger network, which is the cheapest in the top 10, without any need to hunt for a Tesla charger or use a specific network.
One Card, 76,000+ Charge Points
The Charge Scheme card gives access to over 76,000 compatible charge points across the UK, covering all major networks including BP Pulse, Shell Recharge, IONITY, and GRIDSERVE. There's no need to juggle separate network memberships or pay from different accounts. Every session is handled through a single EV charging card linked directly to your payroll: tap, charge, save.
Does It Cover Home & Workplace Charging?
The salary sacrifice saving isn't limited to public charging. The Charge Scheme covers home and workplace charging as well, with employees submitting a mileage reading at the end of each month, 10 seconds of admin, and the scheme calculating and deducting the full charging cost from gross salary.
For drivers who use a mix of public, home, and workplace charging, the savings add up across every kWh.
Is Benefit-In-Kind Tax Applied?
Employer-provided charging through salary sacrifice currently attracts no Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) tax when structured correctly, which means the full saving passes directly to the employee.
Combined with the 4% BiK rate on the EV itself, the overall tax efficiency of The Charge Scheme stacks up well for anyone on, or considering, a salary sacrifice charge scheme.
Key Takeaways
The Charge Scheme deducts charging costs from gross salary, before tax is applied
Basic rate taxpayers save ~32%; higher rate taxpayers save ~42% per kWh
One card covers 76,000+ charge points across all major UK networks
No BiK tax applies to employer-provided charging when structured correctly
Hidden Public Charging Costs to Watch Out For
Image source: Shutterstock
The price per kWh is the number most drivers focus on, but it isn't always the complete picture. Several other charges can increase the real cost of a public charging session, and knowing about them in advance means you can avoid them.
Overstay and Idle Fees
Many networks now charge an idle fee, sometimes called an overstay fee, for vehicles that remain plugged in after their session has ended. These are typically levied per minute and can add a meaningful sum to the session cost if you lose track of time or are slow to return to the car.
BP Pulse, Shell Recharge, and IONITY all operate some form of idle fee at busy sites. The Zapmap app displays idle fee policies for individual charge points; it's worth checking before settling in for a long stop.
Connection or Session Fees
A smaller number of networks charge a flat connection fee on top of the per-kWh rate, typically in the range of 25p to 50p per session. This adds relatively little to the cost of a longer charge but can represent a notable percentage of the cost for a short top-up.
Where connection fees apply, they're usually displayed in the network's app and on the Zapmap platform before you authenticate a session.
Roaming Premiums
Some drivers use roaming apps or multi-network platforms to access chargers without signing up for individual network accounts. These services are convenient, but roaming access sometimes comes at a small premium over the native network rate.
The Charge Scheme card already functions as a roaming card across 76,000+ charge points with no additional roaming fee layered on top, which removes this hidden cost entirely for scheme users.
Subscription Value: Real or Illusory?
Several networks offer monthly subscription plans with lower per-kWh rates. IONITY's plans, for example, reduce the PAYG rate from 79p/kWh to 43p–53p/kWh. These can represent savings for heavy users of a specific network, but the maths only works if you charge frequently enough on that network to recoup the subscription cost.
For drivers who spread their charging across multiple networks, a subscription to a single provider is unlikely to deliver consistent value. The Charge Scheme eliminates this calculation by providing a single, consistent saving across all networks via the salary sacrifice mechanism.
Key Takeaways
Idle fees apply at many rapid charging sites once your session ends; plan accordingly
Session or connection fees add a flat charge on top of per-kWh pricing at some networks
Roaming services offer convenience but can add a small premium per session
Subscriptions require high single-network usage to justify the monthly cost
Charge Smarter in 2026
Public EV charging in the UK is more expensive than home charging, and that gap isn't likely to close entirely in the near term. But two developments in 2026 are shifting the equation.
The February First-tier Tribunal ruling in Charge My Street Ltd v HMRC has put the case for 5% VAT on public charging on firm legal ground, even if it hasn't yet filtered through to prices at the charger. And, The Charge Scheme is already delivering a 20–50% reduction in effective charging costs for salary sacrifice drivers today, across 76,000+ charge points.
For employees driving on salary sacrifice, the question isn't whether public charging is expensive in the abstract. It's whether you're paying full price when you don't have to. If you're still paying for public charging from your take-home pay, The Charge Scheme is the straightforward fix.
Find out more about how The Charge Scheme works for employees, or see how it works for your organisation if you're part of an HR or benefits team looking to complete your EV benefit package.
Frequently Asked Questions: Public EV Charging Costs in 2026
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According to Zapmap's February 2026 Price Index, the weighted average PAYG cost is 54p/kWh for Standard and Standard Plus chargers (3kW–49kW) and 76p/kWh for Rapid and Ultra-rapid chargers (50kW+).
These are network-wide averages on a pay-as-you-go basis. Individual networks range from 56p/kWh at Tesla open locations to 89p/kWh at BP Pulse and InstaVolt. Subscription pricing on some networks can reduce the per-kWh rate further for regular users of that specific network.
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In most cases, yes. Supermarket destination chargers, such as those operated by Sainsbury's Smart Charge and Pod Point at retail locations, tend to price at or below the rapid network average, and some offer free or low-cost charging as a customer incentive. Motorway rapid and ultra-rapid chargers are typically priced at a premium for the convenience of en-route charging.
For cost-focused public charging, destination chargers during a planned stop are almost always the better value option.
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Yes. Because The Charge Scheme deducts your public charging costs from your gross salary before income tax and National Insurance are calculated, the effective cost per kWh is 20–50% lower than the advertised rate.
At the Zapmap average rapid rate of 76p/kWh, a higher-rate taxpayer using The Charge Scheme pays an effective cost of approximately 44p/kWh, comparable to the cheapest networks on the UK's public network, without being restricted to any single operator.
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Several factors account for the difference. Home charging typically attracts a 5% VAT rate under domestic electricity rules, while public charging has historically been subject to 20% VAT, though a February 2026 First-tier Tribunal ruling may change this position if it isn't overturned on appeal.
Public charging infrastructure also carries higher capital and maintenance costs than a home wallbox, and rapid and ultra-rapid chargers in particular require expensive grid connections. Additionally, operators factor in location costs, staffing, and network management. The result is that even the most cost-effective public rapid charger typically costs two to three times the per-kWh rate of a competitive home tariff.
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The saving depends on your tax bracket.
Basic rate taxpayers (20% income tax plus 8% National Insurance) save approximately 32% on each kWh.
Higher-rate taxpayers (40% income tax plus 2% National Insurance) save approximately 42%. Additional-rate taxpayers save up to 50%.
Applied to the Zapmap average rapid rate of 76p/kWh, those figures translate to effective costs of around 52p, 44p, and 38p/kWh, respectively.
This saving applies to every public charge made through The Charge Scheme, as well as to home and workplace charging, covering the full picture of EV charging salary sacrifice.
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Yes. The BiK rate for zero-emission vehicles rises from 3% to 4% from 6 April 2026, and is scheduled to increase to 5% in 2027/28. Despite these increases, EV BiK rates remain significantly below petrol and diesel equivalents: a petrol car emitting 120g/km CO2 carries a BiK rate of 28%.
The cost advantage of a zero-emission company car remains substantial, particularly when salary sacrifice charging further reduces the net cost of powering it.
The Bigger Picture: EV Ownership Still Makes Financial Sense
The arrival of eVED is not a reason to reconsider going electric. It is a reason to be more deliberate about managing the costs within your control. Each tax change since 2025 has narrowed the gap between EVs and combustion engine cars on paper, but none has eliminated it.
At current fuel prices, an EV driven on home electricity still costs roughly half as much per mile as a petrol equivalent, even with eVED included. For company car drivers, the BiK differential alone continues to produce savings that dwarf the new charge. What eVED changes is the importance of actively managing charging costs rather than treating them as a fixed background expense.
Salary sacrifice charging is the most direct mechanism available to offset that exposure. Every month in place before April 2028 is a month of savings banked against a cost that has not yet arrived. For HR teams, it addresses a gap employees are increasingly aware of, at no additional employer cost, and sits naturally within any strategy to future-proof benefits ahead of the 2030 ZEV mandate.
Last updated: 31/03/2026
Our pricing: is based on data collected from The Charge Scheme Calculator. All final pricing is inclusive of VAT. All deals are subject to credit approval and availability. All deals are subject to excess mileage and damage charges. Prices are calculated based on the following tax saving assumptions; England & Wales, 40% tax rate. The Charge Scheme is a product of The Electric Car Scheme™ – a trusted, trademarked brand dedicated to making electric driving more affordable. All rights reserved. The Electric Car Scheme is the trading style of The Electric Car Scheme Limited (company number 12646157, ICO number ZB030706, VAT number 439430195) and The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited (company number 13295877, ICO number ZB252629). Head office & registered address: The Shipping Building, 254 Blyth Road, Hayes, UB3 1HA. The Electric Car Scheme Limited provides services for the administration of salary sacrifice employee benefits. The Electric Car Scheme Holdings Limited is a member of the BVRLA (10608) is authorised and regulated by the FCA under FRN 968270, is an Appointed Representative of Marshall Management Services Ltd under FRN 667174, and is a credit broker and not a lender.
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