EV charging costs in the UK in 2026: what drivers actually pay

Charging an electric car in the UK is no longer one price. It is three or four, depending on where the driver plugs in, and the gap between the cheapest and most expensive option is now wide enough to change whether an EV saves money at all.

Here is what drivers are realistically paying in 2026, and what employers can do about it.

Home charging is still the cheapest option

On a smart overnight EV tariff, home charging remains by far the lowest cost per mile. Drivers on a dedicated off-peak rate typically pay single-digit pence per kWh for a set overnight window, which works out at a few pence per mile for most family EVs.

The catch is access. Around a third of UK households have no off-street parking, so a home charger is simply not an option for them.

Workplace charging sits in the middle

Where an employer provides charging, the rate is usually set at or near the cost of supply. It is predictable, it is easy to evidence, and it suits drivers who commute daily and can leave a car plugged in for several hours.

The limit is capacity. Most workplace car parks have fewer sockets than EV drivers, so it rarely covers a driver's full need.

Public charging is where the money goes

Rapid and ultra-rapid public charging remains the most expensive way to fuel an EV. Once you factor in VAT at the full rate on public charging, versus the reduced domestic rate at home, a driver who relies on public chargers can pay several times the home rate for the same energy.

For drivers without a driveway, that is not a choice. It is their only option, and it is the reason some EV drivers see little or no running-cost saving over petrol.

What this means for employers

If you run a car scheme, your drivers are not all getting the same deal. The employee with a driveway and an overnight tariff is doing well. The employee in a flat, charging at a rapid charger twice a week, is quietly paying the most for the same benefit.

Salary sacrifice charging closes that gap. Charging costs come out of gross pay, before tax and National Insurance, so employees save 20-50% on what they spend, whether they charge at home, at work or in public.

What to check before your next scheme renewal

• What proportion of your EV drivers have home charging?
• Are public-charging drivers being supported, or absorbing the cost themselves?
• Is charging covered by your benefit at all, or only the car?
• Could you add charging savings without changing your existing lease provider?

Next steps

To see the numbers against your own workforce, calculate your savings or book a demo.