Cheapest EV Charging in the UK
Network-by-network price breakdown and money-saving tips
Public EV charging prices in the UK range from completely free to over 89p/kWh. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive option for the same amount of energy can be £15-20 per charge. Knowing where to get the best rates makes a real difference to your running costs.
Price Comparison Table
| Network | Price | Type | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| ChargePlace Scotland | Free (90% of chargers) | Slow/Fast | £12 one-off RFID card |
| Pod Point (Tesco/Lidl) | Free | Slow (7kW) | While you shop |
| ESB Energy (sub) | 38p/kWh | Rapid | £4.99/mo subscription |
| Be.EV | 39-49p/kWh | Mixed | Northern England |
| Tesla Supercharger (member) | 39-41p/kWh | Ultra-rapid | £8.99/mo membership |
| IONITY Power 365 | 43p/kWh | Ultra-rapid | £104.99/yr subscription |
| Fastned Gold | 52p/kWh | Ultra-rapid | £9.98/mo subscription |
| IONITY Motion 365 | 53p/kWh | Ultra-rapid | £54.99/yr subscription |
| InstaVolt off-peak | 54p/kWh | Rapid | 8pm-8am, app/RFID only |
| GeniePoint | 57p/kWh | Rapid | PAYG, no subscription needed |
| GRIDSERVE AC | 59p/kWh | Fast (22kW) | PAYG |
| MFG EV Power | From 69p/kWh | Rapid | PAYG |
| BP Pulse (sub) | 69p/kWh | Rapid | £7.85/mo subscription |
Tips to Save Money on Public Charging
- Charge off-peak — InstaVolt's 54p/kWh rate between 8pm-8am is one of the best rapid deals in the UK. If you can time your charges, this alone can save hundreds annually.
- Use free chargers when convenient — Pod Point at Tesco and Lidl, ChargePlace Scotland, and some hotel destination chargers are free. Make them part of your routine.
- Get a free roaming card — Electroverse costs nothing and occasionally offers better rates than paying a network directly.
- Subscribe to your most-used network — If you charge at BP Pulse weekly, the £7.85/mo subscription saves about 8p/kWh. ESB Energy at £4.99/mo for 38p/kWh is exceptional.
- Charge at home if possible — Home charging on a standard tariff costs 24-28p/kWh. On an EV-specific tariff (like Octopus Go), it can be as low as 7.5p/kWh overnight.
- Avoid contactless premium — Contactless PAYG is typically the most expensive way to charge. Use an app or RFID card for better rates.
- Check multiple apps before charging — The same charger can have different prices via different providers. Compare Electroverse, Zapmap, and the network's own app.
Key Takeaway
The cheapest public charging is free (Pod Point, ChargePlace Scotland). The cheapest rapid charging is ESB Energy at 38p/kWh with their £4.99/mo subscription. For no-commitment rapid charging, InstaVolt off-peak at 54p/kWh is hard to beat.
Frequently Asked Questions
ESB Energy at 38p/kWh with their £4.99/month subscription is the cheapest rapid rate. Without a subscription, Be.EV at 39-49p/kWh and InstaVolt off-peak at 54p/kWh are the best deals.
Usually yes. Even at expensive public rates (80p/kWh), an EV costs about 6-8p per mile. A petrol car typically costs 14-18p per mile. With cheap public charging or home charging, EVs cost 2-4p per mile.
For a typical 60kWh battery: at 39p/kWh (Be.EV) = £23.40; at 69p/kWh (BP Pulse sub) = £41.40; at 89p/kWh (InstaVolt peak) = £53.40. The range is significant.