How much does public EV charging cost in the UK?

Zapmap's September 2026 index reports a weighted average pay-as-you-go price of 54p/kWh for standard and standard-plus public charging [S1]. Your actual bill depends on the charger, payment route and any separate parking charges. Use the dated benchmark to compare local tariffs, rather than treating it as your site's recommended selling price. Checked October 2026.

Last checked 16 October 2026

To compare charging an electric car at home versus a public rapid charger in the UK, multiply the energy needed by your home tariff and the public price. Zapmap’s September index puts rapid and ultra-rapid pay-as-you-go charging at 79p/kWh [S1]. Enter your actual home rate in the charging cost tool, allowing for losses and separate parking fees.

What is the average public charging price per kWh?

For September 2026, Zapmap’s weighted pay-as-you-go index reports the following UK public charging prices [S1]. Kilowatts (kW) measure power; kilowatt hours (kWh) measure energy. The unit price is for energy, rather than the maximum power written on the charger.

PAYG means pay as you go. The index weights prices using estimated energy delivered, rather than treating every advertised tariff as equally representative [S1]. These are dated national benchmarks, not a live quote for a particular car park. Use your charging speed guide to compare equipment serving similar visits.

For your business, record whether a nearby charger serves overnight stays, shopping visits or drivers making a charging stop. A tariff from a site with a very different visit pattern may be a poor comparison even when both prices are stated per kWh.

How do you calculate the cost of a public charging session?

Multiply the energy delivered by the displayed tariff, then account for separately disclosed parking or other fees. The calculations below apply the published benchmark prices to assumed energy amounts. They are illustrations, not quotes for an actual charger [S1].

For example, 40 × £0.54 = £21.60 and 40 × £0.79 = £31.60. The calculation uses delivered energy, not the car’s entire advertised battery capacity. Use the session record if you are checking a real bill.

If an assumed separate parking charge is £3, add that to the charging calculation: £21.60 + £3 = £24.60. This does not mean every site charges for parking. It shows why your comparison should capture the full visit cost rather than the energy price alone.

Why does public charging cost more than the electricity import rate?

A supply price and a retail charging price describe different purchases. For a host assessment, ask for a cost schedule covering electricity, equipment, connection, software, payment collection, maintenance and site occupation. Ask which costs are fixed and which change with energy sold.

Do not subtract a headline business electricity rate from a VAT-inclusive driver tariff and call the remainder profit. Start with a consistent VAT basis, then identify the other expenses and the energy measurement boundary. The business electricity guide explains how to compare the supply side.

This page does not assign a standard margin to your site. Obtain the proposed contract and operating budget, then use the business-case template to evaluate the funding options. Keep any proposed parking-bay rent or revenue share separate from total charging receipts.

How should you compare local public charging tariffs?

Build a dated comparison using the charger display, accessible payment screen and car-park signs. Record what a casual visitor would actually pay. Keep a separate comparison for registered members if you want to assess that route; do not quietly substitute a discounted rate into the PAYG column.

Suggested fields are location, access hours, available power, price per kWh, parking charge, time conditions and payment route. Save the observation date and recheck it before setting your own tariff. A map can identify sites to inspect, but it does not replace reading the terms at the charging location.

Run the same assumed energy session through each offer. If a subscription is involved, write down your assumed monthly use and allocate the subscription cost explicitly. A low energy price with a recurring fee may produce a different result for a frequent visitor and an occasional customer.

What price must a public charger display?

Regulation 11 requires the total charging price to be clearly displayed in pence per kWh, on the charger or through a separate device accessible without a pre-existing contract. The displayed price must not increase after charging starts [S2]. Ask your solicitor to confirm compliance for your operating arrangement.

DfT’s guidance explains practical display arrangements and how the public-access rules apply [S3]. Read it alongside the public charging checklist. Keep instructions for parking and charging together so a driver can understand both before starting a visit.

Before launch, ask someone unfamiliar with the site to find the tariff and calculate an example session. Check the payment screen against the sign and the receipt. Resolve discrepancies before opening the bays, rather than expecting reception to explain conflicting prices after a customer has charged.

What VAT applies to public EV charging?

HMRC’s fuel and power notice treats public charging as standard-rated [S4]. The Treasury’s parliamentary answer confirms a 20% rate for public EV charging [S5]. Check with your accountant before configuring your tariff and accounts, including whether your displayed and modelled inputs include VAT.

For illustration, an assumed VAT-inclusive price of 60p/kWh represents 60 ÷ 1.20 = 50p/kWh before VAT, with 10p/kWh VAT at that rate [S5]. That is a tax-basis calculation, not an estimate of net income. Do not subtract VAT again if your budget already starts with the price excluding VAT.

What should you do next?

Prepare a local tariff comparison and a clear list of what your proposed price includes. Follow the tariff-setting guide, then get matched with an installer that covers your area.

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