Is it cheaper to charge an EV at night?

Yes — by a lot. EV-specific overnight tariffs are typically 6–10p/kWh, vs 27p/kWh standard. That's a 60–70% saving for the same energy.

How much does a full EV charge cost?

For a 60kWh battery: roughly £4 on a cheap home overnight tariff, £16 on standard home rate, or £47 on a rapid public charger.

Do you have to pay VAT on EV charging?

Yes — but home charging is 5% VAT (domestic energy), while public chargers are 20% VAT. That's a major reason public charging is so expensive.

What's the cheapest public charging network?

Tesla Superchargers (open to non-Tesla cars) are often the cheapest rapid option at 50–67p/kWh, especially off-peak. Pod Point at Tesco/Lidl is also competitive.

EV Charging Costs in the UK 2026: Home vs Public Compared

One of the biggest questions when switching to an EV is what it'll actually cost to charge. The honest answer: it varies wildly — anywhere from 4p/mile to 25p/mile depending on where and when you plug in. Here's the full 2026 breakdown.

Home charging — by far the cheapest

If you have a driveway with a 7kW wallbox, this is where EVs really pay off. Tariff options:

Standard rate

Average UK electricity is roughly 27p/kWh in 2026. A typical EV uses 0.3 kWh per mile, so that's ~8p/mile. Already cheaper than even the most efficient petrol car (around 13p/mile).

Off-peak / Economy 7 tariffs

Most major energy suppliers (Octopus, EDF, OVO, Scottish Power) offer dedicated EV tariffs that drop to 6–10p/kWh overnight (typically 12:30am–5:30am). At 7p/kWh, charging costs:

~2p/mile (one-third the cost of standard rate)
~£3–£4 to fully charge a 60kWh battery from empty
~£600 a year for 10,000 miles

Octopus Intelligent Go and EDF GoElectric 35 are particularly popular — they automatically charge during the cheapest hours.

Public charging — where it gets expensive

Without a driveway, you're reliant on the public network. The big networks and their typical 2026 rates:

Ionity — 79p/kWh (rapid)
BP Pulse — 79p/kWh (rapid)
Instavolt — 75p/kWh
GRIDSERVE — 79p/kWh (high-power)
Tesla Superchargers — 50–67p/kWh (open to non-Tesla too)
Pod Point at Tesco/Lidl — 50p/kWh (rapid), some free 7kW
Shell Recharge — 85p/kWh (ultra-rapid)

At 79p/kWh on a rapid charger, you're paying around 23p/mile — comparable to or even more than petrol. The gap closes fast when you're stuck on the road network.

The membership trick

Most networks offer monthly subscriptions that knock 10–20p/kWh off the price. If you charge in public regularly, BP Pulse's £7.85/month membership pays for itself in 35 kWh — about one rapid charge a week.

Free chargers — still exist, but rarer

Many supermarkets, hotels, and some councils still offer free 7kW charging while you shop:

Lidl, Tesco — often free for 1–2 hours while shopping (varies by store)
Most John Lewis car parks — free
Many leisure centres, council car parks — free, especially in less busy regions

The AI Pocket Mechanic app's EV finder shows which chargers are free, slow, fast, or rapid — useful for planning around your route.

Real-world cost: 10,000 miles per year

Three drivers, same car (60 kWh, 4 mi/kWh):

Home off-peak only: £375/year
80% home, 20% rapid: £775/year
100% public rapid: £1,975/year

For comparison, a 40mpg petrol car doing 10,000 miles at 140p/litre costs about £1,590/year.

Verdict

EVs win comfortably on running cost if you can charge at home overnight. Without a driveway, the case is much weaker — at current public rates, a frugal hybrid or diesel often comes out cheaper. Always model your own actual driving pattern before switching.