One of the most common questions from new and prospective EV owners is whether it's cheaper to charge at home or use public chargers. The answer is clear: home charging is significantly cheaper — but let's look at exactly how much.
The Quick Answer
Home charging is 2–5x cheaper than public charging.
| Charging Location | Typical Cost per kWh | Cost per Mile |
|---|---|---|
| Home (EV tariff) | 7p | 2p |
| Home (standard) | 24p | 7p |
| Public (slow) | 40p | 12p |
| Public (fast) | 55p | 16p |
| Public (rapid) | 70p | 21p |
Real Cost Comparison
Scenario: Charging a 60 kWh battery from 20% to 80% (36 kWh)
| Location | Cost |
|---|---|
| Home (off-peak EV tariff @ 7p) | £2.52 |
| Home (standard tariff @ 24p) | £8.64 |
| Public slow charger (@ 45p) | £16.20 |
| Public fast charger (@ 55p) | £19.80 |
| Public rapid charger (@ 70p) | £25.20 |
The difference: The same charge costs £2.52 at home or £25.20 at a rapid charger — that's 10x more expensive for the convenience of speed.
Annual Cost Comparison (8,000 miles/year)
| Charging Strategy | Annual Cost |
|---|---|
| 100% home (EV tariff) | £160 |
| 100% home (standard) | £550 |
| 80% home / 20% public | £340 |
| 50% home / 50% public | £540 |
| 100% public | £1,120 |
| Petrol (for comparison) | £1,300 |
Why Is Public Charging More Expensive?
Infrastructure Costs
Business Model
Convenience Premium
When Public Charging Makes Sense
Despite the higher cost, public charging is valuable for:
1. Long Journeys
On a 300-mile trip, you'll likely need to stop once. Paying £25 for a rapid charge is still far cheaper than the petrol equivalent (£40+).
2. No Home Charging Option
If you can't install a home charger (no off-street parking, rental restrictions), public charging is your primary option.
3. Topping Up During the Day
A quick 15-minute boost while shopping costs perhaps £8–10 and provides peace of mind.
4. Free Charging Locations
Some supermarkets (Tesco, Lidl), hotels, and workplaces offer free charging — making public charging the cheapest option in those specific cases.
Finding Cheaper Public Charging
Not all public charging is expensive. Here's how to minimise costs:
Free Charging Spots
Lower-Cost Networks
| Network | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Pod Point (some) | Free | Tesco, Lidl locations |
| Osprey | 46p/kWh | Contactless, reliable |
| GeniePoint | 45p/kWh | Car parks, destinations |
| BP Pulse (subscriber) | 44p/kWh | £7.85/month subscription |
Higher-Cost Networks (but faster)
| Network | Typical Price | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Ionity | 69p/kWh | Ultra-rapid (350kW) |
| Tesla Supercharger | 50–70p/kWh | Fastest, most reliable |
| Gridserve | 64p/kWh | Electric Highway |
Multi-Network Apps
Apps like Octopus Electroverse and Bonnet give you access to multiple networks through one account, often at slightly better rates.
The Optimal Charging Strategy
If You Can Charge at Home (Best Option)
Strategy: Charge at home 90% of the time, use public only for long trips.
| Where | When | Approx. Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Daily/overnight | 85–90% of charging |
| Public rapid | Long journeys | 5–10% of charging |
| Free public | Opportunistic | 5% of charging |
Annual cost: ~£200–300 (vs £1,100+ for public-only)
If You Can't Charge at Home
Strategy: Maximise free charging, use destination chargers, minimise rapid charging.
| Priority | Where | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | Work (if free) | Covers daily driving |
| 2nd | Free supermarket | Top up while shopping |
| 3rd | Slow public (overnight) | Cheaper than rapid |
| 4th | Rapid | Only when essential |
If You Have Solar Panels
Strategy: Charge during the day using free solar electricity.
Cost Over Time: Real Example
Driver: 10,000 miles/year
Home Charger Investment:
Annual Charging Costs:
| Method | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-Year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home (EV tariff) | £1,200 | £200 | £200 | £1,600 |
| Home (standard) | £1,700 | £700 | £700 | £3,100 |
| Public only | £1,400 | £1,400 | £1,400 | £4,200 |
The home charger pays for itself in Year 1, and you save £800+ every year thereafter compared to public charging.
What If Electricity Prices Change?
The ratio between home and public charging tends to stay consistent because:
Even if electricity prices rise 50%, home charging remains far cheaper than public alternatives.
Summary: Home vs Public Charging
| Factor | Home Charging | Public Charging |
|---|---|---|
| Cost per kWh | 7–24p | 40–70p |
| Cost per mile | 2–8p | 12–21p |
| Annual cost (8k miles) | £160–560 | £960–1,680 |
| Convenience | High (overnight) | Variable |
| Speed | Slower (7kW) | Faster (50–350kW) |
| Reliability | Very high | Variable |
Our Recommendation
If you can charge at home: Do it. The savings are substantial and compound over time.
If you can't charge at home: Look for free workplace or supermarket charging first, then use destination chargers (slower but cheaper), and reserve rapid chargers for when you really need speed.
The bottom line: Home charging on an EV tariff costs about £15–20 per month for average driving. Public charging for the same mileage would cost £80–100 per month. Over 5 years, that's a difference of £3,600–4,800 — enough to pay for the home charger several times over.