EV Charging Costs Guide: Home vs Public Charging Explained
Home Charging Costs
Home charging is by far the cheapest option. With a standard electricity tariff at 24p/kWh, charging a 60kWh battery costs roughly £14.40 for a full charge (giving 200+ miles). With an off-peak EV tariff (7-10p/kWh), the same charge costs just £4.20-6.00.
A home wallbox charger (7kW) costs £800-1,200 installed and charges a typical EV in 8-10 hours overnight.
Public Charging Costs
Slow chargers (7-22kW): 30-50p/kWh at destinations like supermarkets and car parks. Some are free.
Rapid chargers (50kW): 50-70p/kWh. Charge to 80% in 30-60 minutes. Found at motorway services.
Ultra-rapid chargers (150-350kW): 60-80p/kWh. Charge to 80% in 15-30 minutes. Premium pricing for convenience.
A full charge on a rapid charger costs £30-45 versus £4-14 at home.
Cost Per Mile Comparison
- Home charging (off-peak): 2-3p per mile
- Home charging (standard): 5-7p per mile
- Public rapid charging: 15-20p per mile
- Petrol car: 14-18p per mile
How to Minimise Costs
Charge at home overnight on an EV-specific tariff. Use free chargers at supermarkets and workplaces. Plan longer journeys to minimise expensive motorway rapid charging. Many charging networks offer subscription plans that reduce per-kWh costs by 10-20%.
Charging Networks
Major UK networks include BP Pulse, Pod Point, Tesla Supercharger (now open to all EVs), Osprey, and Gridserve. Apps like Zap-Map help you find and compare chargers nearby.
Related Calculators
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
On a standard tariff (24p/kWh), a full 60kWh charge costs about £14.40. On an off-peak EV tariff (7-10p/kWh), it costs just £4.20-6.00 for 200+ miles of range.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public charger?
Home is significantly cheaper — 2-7p per mile versus 15-20p per mile at public rapid chargers. Home charging on an off-peak tariff is 3-5x cheaper than motorway rapid charging.