I wanted to revisit this topic because there’s still so much noise around the cost of charging an EV, especially if you rely on public networks.
In this episode, I take a fresh look at where we are with public charging costs in the UK, what’s actually driving those prices, and whether it’s really as expensive as people think. We also dig into something I’ve been exploring recently, the idea of the “pricing hurdle” and why cheaper charging options aren’t always as simple as they seem.
What You’ll Discover
- Why Public Charging Feels Expensive: It’s not just electricity, it’s infrastructure, grid costs, maintenance, and everything behind the scenes that drives prices up.
- The Pricing Hurdle Explained: Cheaper charging exists, but it often requires effort like apps, subscriptions, or charging at specific times.
- How to Actually Reduce Your Costs: From off-peak charging to subscriptions and destination charging, there are real ways to bring costs down if you’re willing to adapt.
What really stands out to me is how misleading the headline can be. Yes, public charging can be expensive, but that’s only part of the story. There are cheaper options out there, but they come with trade-offs. Time, effort, planning, or flexibility. And that’s where the real decision sits. Not just how much you pay, but what you’re willing to do to pay less.
There’s also a bigger shift happening. More operators are introducing off-peak pricing and subscription models, which is starting to change the landscape. It’s not perfect yet, but it does feel like things are moving in the right direction.
If you’re relying on public charging or trying to make the numbers work for an EV, this episode will help you see the full picture and make more informed choices.
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence.
Episode produced by Arran Sheppard at Urban Podcasts: https://www.urbanpodcasts.co.uk
(C) 2019-2026 Gary Comerford
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Mentioned in this episode:
ZapMap
Download Zapmap and you’ll get the UK’s most comprehensive charging map in your pocket, with a range of filters so you can personalise the map to suit your specific EV model. So it’s easy to find the best charge for you, whether you’re charging on-street, en-route, or at your destination.
You can even see live charger availability and price information in the app, helping you choose your charger at-a-glance, and turn up with total confidence that it will work, it will be available, and it will be in your budget.
Plus you can pay through the app, or with a tap of the Zapmap charging card, at thousands of charge points nationwide. No need to download a different app for each charging network. You can download Zapmap for free, or check out Zapmap Premium for charging discounts, in-car compatibility, and additional filters
Zapmap
The EV Musings Podcast is sponsored by Zapmap, the go-to app for EV drivers, helping you find and pay for public charging with confidence. Zapmap is free to download and use, with subscription plans for enhanced features such as using Zapmap in-car on CarPlay or Android Auto, and discounted charging across thousands of charge points.
Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store or find out more at www.zapmap.com.
Zapmap EV Guide
UK