EV Charging
Free chargers, off-peak tariffs, the apps.
Charging an EV in Britain costs anywhere from 7p/kWh on an overnight tariff to 89p/kWh at a rapid on the motorway. That spread — over twelve times the price — is where the savings (or losses) hide.
Below are the tools UK EV drivers use to find the cheapest charge: Zap-Map for the network, Octopus for off-peak, and the rapid networks worth the convenience.
Where to look
- Zap-MapThe default UK charging-station map. Live availability and prices.
- Octopus IntelligentOff-peak tariff at ~7p/kWh for overnight EV charging.
- Pod Point Open ChargeFree chargers at participating Tesco supermarkets.
- InstaVoltRapid chargers — pricier but reliable, no app needed.
- BP PulseWide network at petrol stations. Subscription cheaper for regulars.
Articles
Charging an EV without a driveway: kerbside costs and the ways around them
Home off-peak charging works out near 2p a mile; public rapids can cost more than petrol. The lamppost sockets, pavement gullies, and neighbour schemes that close the gap.
25 Jun 20264 min read
Free and near-free EV charging in the UK: the apps, the supermarkets, and the off-peak tariff that costs 2p a mile
Charging an electric car at a motorway rapid costs more per mile than petrol. Charge at home on an off-peak tariff and it drops to about 2p a mile — and a surprising number of UK supermarkets and councils still give it away free.
4 May 20262 min read