Vicky Read
Chief Executive, ChargeUK
The cost of public EV charging has been inflated by regulatory change. The Government can take action to make EVs affordable for all.
There are now nearly two million electric vehicles (EVs) on UK roads. Automotive manufacturers are hitting the targets set by the Government’s Zero Emission Vehicle Mandate. These have enabled the massive growth of charging infrastructure, including more than 118,000 EV chargers on the public network.1
The transport transition has accelerated out of ‘early adoption’ and into the mainstream. But like the wider energy transition, it’s being pitted against the cost of living.
Action must be taken on standing charges, equalising VAT and exploring the credit schemes available for EV charging.
Is cost a real threat to the transport transition?
Through the Government’s Electric Car Grant, the upfront cost of a new EV is reduced. The used EV market is increasingly healthy, with fantastic deals to be found. Most drivers will be able to charge affordably, thanks to low-cost off-peak home energy tariffs.
However, the cost of charging on public networks is a different story, having risen 38% since 2021.2 Charge point operators are finding innovative ways to offer affordable charging, but costs have risen to a degree that the typical kWh price is significantly more than home charging.
This might work for a driver not fully reliant on public charging, but less so for those without a driveway, which will be increasing as EVs continue to gain traction.
What are the cost drivers?
Unlike home energy bills, it’s now largely policy that’s inflating the cost of public charging. Charge point operators’ standing charges have increased by as much as 462% due to regulatory changes.3
There are also fixed operational costs — those of installing and maintaining a network — meaning public charging prices will never equal home charging. But there’s also a higher tax, VAT, levied at 20% compared to the 5% on home energy.4
Action must be taken on standing charges, equalising VAT and exploring the credit schemes available for EV charging. The Government has a multitude of ways to address the cost of public EV charging and make it more affordable, and keep the transition on track.
[1] Zapmap. (2026). EV market stats 2026. https://tinyurl.com/3pzxt7uc.
[2] Zapmap. (2026). EV charging statistics 2026. https://tinyurl.com/2raxnp6k.
[3] ChargeUK. (2024). EV charging network can deliver half a billion miles of motoring every day. https://tinyurl.com/56cey5xt.
[4] Wright, J. (2026). VAT on electric car charging should be cut to 5pc, tribunal rules. The Telegraph. https://tinyurl.com/2wd8rn2z.
