Here, we’ll take a closer look at charging costs, so you’ll know what to expect when you finally ‘go electric’.
You can charge an EV with a regular 3-pin plug. But it can take a long time, so using a wall box is much more efficient.
The home charging points cost between £800 and £1,200 to buy and install. You might be eligible for up to £350 to help with the expense if you own and live in a flat, or rent any residential property. You can check the eligibility criteria and apply for the EV charge point grant (which has replaced the Electric Vehicle Homecharge Scheme) through GOV.UK.
You’ll have to take energy bills into consideration too. Although the rising cost of living means bills will become more expensive, currently it’s cheaper to charge an electric car from home than to fill an equivalent petrol or diesel tank.
According to Zap-Map, as of August 2022, there are just under 34,000 public charging devices in the UK, with a mix of slow, fast, rapid and ultra-rapid charging options.
How much you pay at public charging stations depends on the battery, the charger speed and the provider. There are also subscriptions and memberships which reduce the cost of charging.
BP Pulse - one of the UK’s largest public charging networks – currently charges £7.85 for a monthly subscription. You pay 52p per kWh at a rapid 50kW charger and 55p per kWh at an ultra-rapid 150kW charger. Drivers without a membership pay 65p and 69p respectively. These prices are subject to change and provider-specific so it’s always best to check the details before charging or subscribing.
Some retail parks, supermarkets and businesses currently offer free charging to their paying customers.
Whilst charging itself may be free, EV owners still need to download relevant apps to start a charge and may have to pay parking charges.
