Public EV charging prices could exceed £1 per kWh in 2027, report warns
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If you rely on public rapid chargers to keep your electric car on the road, you could soon face significantly higher bills, with new research warning that prices could exceed £1 per kWh in 2027.
The average cost of using a public rapid charger could rise from 79p per kWh today to as much as £1.03 per kWh in 2027, according to a new report from EV newsletter The Fast Charge.
The report, titled Reverse in Charge and produced in partnership with charging company Zest, examines how rising electricity network charges are increasing the cost of operating public EV charging points – costs that could ultimately be passed on to drivers.
For motorists, it could mean paying significantly more every time you plug in away from home. A 50kWh charging session, for example, would cost £51.50 at the forecast price, compared with £39.50 today.
And if you don’t have a driveway or somewhere to install a home charger, you could be among those hit hardest.
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How much more could you pay to charge your electric car?
The potential price increase could quickly add up, particularly if you regularly rely on public rapid chargers.
Here’s how the costs compare using today’s average price of 79p per kWh and the predicted 2027 price of £1.03 per kWh.
| Electricity added | At 79p per kWh | At £1.03 per kWh |
|---|---|---|
| 20kWh | £15.80 | £20.60 |
| 30kWh | £23.70 | £30.90 |
| 40kWh | £31.60 | £41.20 |
| 50kWh | £39.50 | £51.50 |
| 60kWh | £47.40 | £61.80 |
That means a 50kWh charging session could cost £12 more than it does today. If you charge several times a week, the extra expense could become a significant addition to your motoring budget.
Remember, though, that the £1.03 figure is a forecast rather than a confirmed price, and actual costs will vary between charging networks.
Why could public EV charging become so expensive?
The report blames rising electricity network charges, which have made it more expensive for companies to operate public charging points.
Following a review by energy regulator Ofgem, some businesses are charged according to the maximum amount of electricity they could use, rather than what they actually consume. This means charging operators face hefty fixed fees even when their chargers are sitting unused.
The average weekly grid charge for a standard rapid charger has rocketed from £61.47 in 2021 to £440.13 in 2026, according to the research. It is forecast to reach £541.73 in 2027.
Tom Riley, author of the Reverse the Charge report and editor of The Fast Charge, criticised the policy, describing grid standing charges as “effectively a feudal tax”, with money going “from a driver’s pocket straight to the energy networks”.
If you have a driveway, you may be able to avoid the price rises by charging at home on a cheaper electricity tariff. But if you live in a flat, rent or park on the street, you could have little choice but to rely on increasingly expensive public chargers.
Riley warned: “At present, the UK is allowing a situation where going electric, especially if you don’t have a driveway, could be more expensive than sticking with a banger.”
Charging companies call for government action
Charging operators warn rising costs cannot be absorbed indefinitely, potentially leading to higher prices for drivers and fewer new charging points.
Robin Heap, founder and CEO of Zest, said capacity-based network charges had created an “egregious cost burden” for public charging operators, driving up prices and delaying or shelving viable projects.
Jarrod Birch, head of policy at ChargeUK, said operators increasingly had no choice but to raise prices or cut investment. “As a largely pre-profit sector, this means that operators increasingly do not have the option to swallow further costs,” he told Carwow.
The government has recognised the issue. Its Cost of Public Electric Vehicle Charging Review called for urgent action to reconcile electric car adoption ambitions with the costs facing charging providers.
The 2026 Autumn Budget allocated £100m to reduce running costs for slower, local public chargers. However, proposals to move quieter rapid charging sites into cheaper standing charge bands remain unimplemented.
“Grid standing charges are effectively a feudal tax, enabled by Ofgem without proper thought, with money going from a driver’s pocket straight to energy networks,” said Riley. “The government’s own review has confirmed what charging networks have been warning about. Ofgem has known about this problem for at least a year. It’s time to fix it.”
Carwow has approached the government and Ofgem for comment.
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