Every UK rapid network, ranked by real cost per mile

Comparing charging networks on their advertised rate is like comparing flights on the base fare. The number on the sign is rarely the number you pay.

What we did

For each network we took the headline rapid rate and added every unavoidable cost:

• Session or connection fees — a flat charge per plug-in
• Minimum spends — where a short charge is billed at a floor
• Idle fees — per-minute charges after the session completes
• Membership costs, amortised at a realistic monthly usage

We then converted to cost per mile at 3.8 mi/kWh, which is a reasonable mixed-driving figure for a mid-size EV.

Why session fees distort everything

A connection fee is regressive — it hits small charges hardest.

A 40p session fee on a 50 kWh charge adds 0.8p/kWh, which is noise. The same fee on a 10 kWh top-up adds 4p/kWh, which is not.

So the ranking changes depending on how you charge. A network that looks mid-table for long stops can be among the most expensive if you mostly do short top-ups.

The practical rule: if a network charges a session fee, either charge properly or go elsewhere. Short top-ups on fee-based networks are the worst value in public charging.

Idle fees are not a rip-off

They are usually framed as a penalty, but they exist for a good reason: a finished car occupying a rapid bay is a bigger problem than a slightly higher price.

They typically start after a grace period and run per minute. They are entirely avoidable — move the car when it is done. Where they matter is overnight or during a long meal, and in those situations a rapid charger is the wrong choice anyway.

Contactless versus app

An increasing number of networks accept a contactless bank card directly, which removes the worst friction in public charging: arriving at a charger and discovering you need to install something.

Where an app is mandatory, factor in that you must have signal, an account and a working payment method — all three, at the moment you need them.

What this means for you

If you rapid charge rarely, prioritise contactless acceptance and reliability over price. The difference between the cheapest and most expensive network over a handful of charges a year is small.

If you rapid charge often, the price differences add up to real money. At 10,000 miles a year of mostly rapid charging, the spread between the cheapest and most expensive networks here is several hundred pounds.

If you charge in short top-ups, avoid session fees above all else.

Methodology and limits

Prices change frequently, and this comparison is a snapshot with a review date at the top of this page. We normalise at one efficiency figure — a less efficient car shifts every number proportionally but does not change the ranking.

We do not rank on reliability, because we do not have a methodology we would trust. Where reliability data exists we would need to know how it was gathered before publishing a league table off the back of it.