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Public EV charging prices and memberships

Public charging costs much more than charging at home on a cheap rate, and rapid chargers cost most. A membership can cut the price on one network, but only pays if you charge there often.

Updated 3 October 2026 · energy.org.uk editorial team

What public charging costs

Zapmap's Charging Price Index for August 2026 put the average pay-as-you-go price at about 54p per kWh on slow and fast chargers and about 77p per kWh on rapid and ultra-rapid chargers. Prices vary by network, site and sometimes time of day.

Compare that with your home rate in the home vs public charging calculator.

Rules on prices

Under the Public Charge Point Regulations 2023, operators must:

  • show the price in pence per kWh before you charge, without needing an account,
  • let you pay by contactless on new chargers of 8 kW and above, and on rapid chargers of 50 kW and above,
  • keep their rapid network working 99% of the time on average over a year.

How memberships work

Some networks offer a lower price per kWh for a monthly fee. A membership saves money only if the discount on the energy you buy is bigger than the fee:

break-even kWh a month = monthly fee ÷ (pay-as-you-go price − member price)

Use the charging membership calculator with the offer you are considering.

Check

What to check first

  • How much you charge on that network, in kWh or miles a month, from your app history.
  • Whether the member price applies at every site and at every time.
  • Other fees: overstay or idle fees, parking charges and minimum terms.
  • Roaming. Paying through another network's app can cost more than the operator's own price.

Do

Practical next steps

  1. Check your charging history for the networks you use most.
  2. Put the offer into the membership calculator.
  3. Charge at home or on slower public chargers where you can; see charging an EV without a driveway.
  4. Find chargers near you with the charger finder.

Take care

Important limitations

  • Prices and membership terms change often; check the network's app before you charge.
  • Average prices are national; local prices can be higher or lower.
  • We don't list every network's current offer, because terms change too often to keep accurate.

Related tools and guides

Sources

Official sources checked 3 October 2026.