Electric Car Charging: Times, Costs & How to Save in 2026
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Whether you're considering an electric car salary sacrifice scheme or are already driving an EV, understanding how charging works - and how much it costs - is essential. This guide brings together everything you need to know about EV charging in 2026: charge times by charger type, home versus public costs, installation guidance, and proven strategies for saving money. It is designed to be the definitive UK charging reference, updated with current data for drivers and HR teams alike.
The good news? For most UK drivers, electric car running costs are significantly lower than petrol or diesel - and smart charging habits can make the savings even greater. Available through salary sacrifice via The Electric Car Scheme, the most cost-effective route to EV ownership also includes access to The Charge Scheme - our salary sacrifice charging benefit.
How Long Does It Take to Charge an Electric Car?
A full charge can take anywhere from 15 minutes to 36 hours - the difference entirely depends on which charger you use and the size of your car's battery. Here's what you need to know.
Charging Speeds at a Glance
| Charger Type | Power Output | Approx. Charge Time (0–80%) | Miles of Range / Hour | Typical Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3-pin socket | 2.3kW | 24–36 hrs | 8–10 miles | Home (emergency) |
| 7kW wallbox | 7kW | 8–10 hrs | 25–30 miles | Home / workplace |
| 22kW fast charger | 22kW | 3–4 hrs | 70–80 miles | Car parks / retail |
| 50kW rapid | 50kW | 30–40 mins | ~150 miles | Motorway services |
| 150kW+ ultra-rapid | 150–350kW | 15–25 mins | ~200+ miles | Motorway / hubs |
Source: The Electric Car Scheme, 2026. Times are approximate and based on a 60–77kWh battery.
For the vast majority of UK drivers, a 7kW home wallbox is the sweet spot. Plugging in overnight means you wake up to a fully charged car every morning - no detours to a petrol station, no planning required. For longer journeys, rapid and ultra-rapid chargers at motorway services provide a meaningful top-up in the time it takes to grab a coffee.
Charging Times for the UK's Most Popular EVs
| Model | Battery Size | Max AC Charge | 7kW Home Charge (0–80%) | Ultra-Rapid (10–80%) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tesla Model 3 | 60–82kWh | 11kW | ~7 hrs | ~25 mins |
| Volkswagen ID.3 | 62–82kWh | 11kW | ~8 hrs | ~30 mins |
| Volkswagen ID.4 | 77kWh | 11kW | ~9 hrs | ~35 mins |
| Hyundai Ioniq 5 | 77kWh | 11kW | ~9 hrs | ~18 mins |
| Nissan Leaf | 40–62kWh | 7kW | ~8 hrs | ~60 mins (50kW) |
| Renault 5 E-Tech | 52kWh | 11kW | ~6 hrs | ~30 mins |
| BMW i4 | 83kWh | 11kW | ~9 hrs | ~31 mins |
| Polestar 3 | 111kWh | 11kW | ~12 hrs | ~30 mins (250kW) |
| Dacia Spring | 26.8kWh | 7kW | ~4 hrs | ~45 mins (30kW) |
Source: Manufacturer specifications. 7kW home charge times are to 100%; ultra-rapid times are 10–80%.
All of these models are available through The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice scheme. Employees can save 20–50% on any of these vehicles through pre-tax salary deductions, with a Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate of just 4% for 2026/27.
What Affects Charging Speed?
Charging times are not fixed — several variables influence how quickly your EV charges:
Battery size: A 26kWh Dacia Spring charges far faster than a 111kWh Polestar 3 from the same charger.
State of charge: Charging slows significantly above 80% as the battery management system protects cells from stress. This is why charge times are typically quoted to 80%.
Temperature: Cold weather reduces charging efficiency. Batteries charge more slowly when cold, and may need to pre-condition before accepting rapid charge speeds.
Charger capability: Your car's onboard charger determines the maximum AC speed it can accept - even if the charger offers more power.
Network congestion: Some rapid chargers share power across multiple bays, which can reduce speeds when multiple vehicles are charging simultaneously.
For a deeper look at charging times by model, visit our dedicated guide: how long does it take to charge an electric car?
How Much Does It Cost to Charge an Electric Car?
A full home charge costs £4–£15 for a typical electric car, depending on your battery and tariff. Public rapid charging costs £15–£35 for the same charge. For context, filling a petrol Ford Focus costs around £85. The table below sets out the full picture.
Full Cost Comparison: Home, Public & Workplace Charging
| Charging Type | Cost per kWh | Full Charge (60kWh) | Cost per Mile | Annual Cost (10k mi) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home – standard tariff | ~24p | ~£14 | ~4–5p | ~£520 |
| Home – EV off-peak tariff | 7–10p | £4–£6 | ~2–3p | ~£200–£310 |
| Workplace charging | Free–25p | £0–£15 | 0–4p | Varies |
| Public fast (7–22kW) | 25–45p | £15–£27 | ~7–10p | ~£700–£1,000 |
| Public rapid (50kW) | 45–65p | £27–£39 | ~10–14p | ~£1,000–£1,400 |
| Ultra-rapid (150kW+) | 55–85p | £33–£51 | ~12–17p | ~£1,200–£1,700 |
| Petrol (Ford Focus equiv.) | n/a | ~£85 (full tank) | ~14–19p | ~£1,400–£1,900 |
Source: The Electric Car Scheme, 2026. Public charging costs vary by network and location. Petrol cost based on Ford Focus 1.0T EcoBoost.
Home Charging Costs
Home charging is the cheapest and most convenient way to power your electric car. On a standard electricity tariff of around 24p per kWh, a full charge for a 60kWh battery costs approximately £14. Switch to a dedicated EV energy tariff and that same charge drops to as little as £4–£6, charging overnight during off-peak hours.
The annual saving over petrol is substantial. A driver covering 10,000 miles per year in a petrol car might spend £1,400–£1,900 on fuel. The same journey in an EV, charged primarily at home on an off-peak tariff, could cost as little as £200–£310 — a saving of over £1,200 annually. Explore our full running costs breakdown to see the numbers in detail.
Public Charging Costs
Public charging is considerably more expensive than home charging, reflecting the higher cost of equipment, grid connections, and the convenience premium. Rapid charging at 50kW typically costs 45–65p per kWh, while ultra-rapid charging at 150kW or above can reach 55–85p per kWh. For a 60kWh battery, that means a full rapid charge costs £27–£39, and ultra-rapid up to £51.
That said, public charging is primarily used for top-ups during longer journeys rather than day-to-day charging. For tips on minimising public charging costs, see our guide to saving money on EV charging.
Workplace Charging Costs
Many employers now offer charging points at work, often free or subsidised for staff. This is an increasingly popular element of company electric car scheme offerings. Workplace charging effectively doubles your charging opportunities - if you charge at both home and work, you may only need to plug in a few times a week at each location.
For employers, the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) offers up to £350 per charging socket for businesses installing workplace chargepoints. This can significantly offset installation costs and is compatible with The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice offering.
How Salary Sacrifice Cuts Your Charging Bill
Through The Charge Scheme - The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice charging benefit — employees can save 20–40% on all EV charging costs, whether at home, at work, or in public. This works in the same way as the electric car salary sacrifice scheme: charging costs are deducted from gross salary before tax and National Insurance, reducing the net cost considerably.
When combined with a salary sacrifice electric car at the current 4% BiK rate, The Charge Scheme creates a comprehensive cost-saving package — covering both the vehicle and its fuel through a single employer-sponsored benefit.
Home Charger Installation: Costs, Grants & What to Expect
Installing a home charger is the single most impactful change most EV drivers can make. It transforms the charging experience - instead of visiting a public network, you simply plug in at home and wake up to a full battery.
How Much Does a Home Charger Cost to Install?
A standard 7kW home charger installation costs between £800 and £1,500 in total — including both hardware and installation. Here's a breakdown:
Hardware (7kW smart charger): £500–£800
Installation (standard): £300–£700
Total (typical): £800–£1,500
Homes with three-phase electricity can install 11kW or 22kW chargers for faster speeds, though the upgrade to three-phase supply itself adds £2,000–£5,000 in additional costs. For most drivers, a 7kW charger is perfectly sufficient - it adds 25–30 miles of range per hour and will fully charge most EVs overnight. For a full breakdown, see our EV charger installation costs guide.
Through The Electric Car Scheme's electric car salary sacrifice scheme, home charger installation can be bundled into your salary sacrifice agreement - meaning you save 20–50% on the installation cost too. For a full comparison of charger types, visit our types of home EV chargers explained guide.
OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme: How to Apply
The Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) is a government voucher initiative that provides businesses with up to £350 per charging socket, for up to 40 sockets. It is available to UK businesses, charities, and small accommodation providers.
To apply, businesses must:
Be registered in the UK and have dedicated off-street parking for staff or fleet vehicles.
Use an OZEV-authorised installer to carry out the installation.
Apply online via the OZEV portal before purchasing or installing chargepoints.
The grant is paid directly to the installer, reducing your upfront cost.
The WCS works particularly well alongside a company electric car scheme. Employers that offer The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice benefit can complement it with subsidised workplace charging, creating a compelling, low-cost green travel package for staff.
Smart Charger Features That Save Money
Modern smart chargers offer features that go well beyond simply delivering power. The best units - such as the Ohme Home Pro (7kW) and the Wallbox Pulsar Plus — offer automatic tariff optimisation, scheduling charging during off-peak hours, integration with solar panels, and app-based monitoring. For more detail, see our guide to fast charging at home.
Energy tariff integration: Automatically schedules charging when electricity is cheapest - saving up to £600 annually versus an unmanaged charger on a standard tariff.
Solar compatibility: Chargers like the Zappi can prioritise solar-generated electricity, reducing your charging cost to near zero during sunny months.
App control: Start, stop, schedule, and monitor charging remotely from your phone.
Load balancing: Adjusts charge speed automatically if your home's overall electricity demand is high.
How to Save Money on EV Charging
The biggest lever available to most EV drivers is switching to a dedicated EV energy tariff. Below are the top strategies for reducing your charging bill, whether you charge at home, at work, or in public. For a full breakdown, see our 7 proven ways to save on EV charging.
Switch to an EV-Specific Energy Tariff
This is the single most impactful change most home-charging drivers can make. EV tariffs offer dramatically reduced rates during off-peak hours - typically overnight - slashing the cost of a full charge by 60–70%.
| Tariff | Peak Rate | Off-Peak Rate | Cost (60kWh – peak) | Cost (60kWh – off-peak) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| British Gas EV Tariff | 27.47p/kWh | 7.9p/kWh | £16.48 | £4.74 |
| EDF Energy EV Tariff | 27.21p/kWh | 9p/kWh | £16.32 | £5.40 |
| E.ON Next EV Tariff | 24.85p/kWh | 6.7p/kWh | £14.91 | £4.02 |
| OVO Charge Anytime | 7p/kWh | 7p/kWh | £4.20 | £4.20 |
| Scottish Power EV Tariff | 24.19p/kWh | 7.2p/kWh | £14.51 | £4.32 |
Source: Provider tariff data, May 2025. Off-peak windows typically midnight–5am or similar. OVO Charge Anytime applies 7p 24/7 via smart charger.
Charge During Off-Peak Hours
Even without a specialist EV tariff, most energy providers offer cheaper electricity overnight. Programming your smart charger to operate during these windows can save £10–£15 per full charge. Set it to finish just before your typical departure time so the battery is warm and at peak charge when you set off.
Use Free Charging Where Available
Free charging still exists in the UK - at some supermarkets, leisure centres, car parks, and hotels. While availability is reducing as networks commercialise, destination charging remains a genuine cost-saving opportunity for drivers who plan their trips around it.
Plan Journeys Around Cost-Effective Networks
For longer journeys, route planning apps like Zap-Map, A Better Routeplanner, and PlugShare allow you to filter chargers by cost as well as availability. Choosing slower destination chargers over rapid chargers when you have time to spare can reduce public charging costs by 30–40%.
Use The Charge Scheme for Salary Sacrifice Charging
The Charge Scheme is The Electric Car Scheme's dedicated salary sacrifice charging benefit. Employees opt in, receive a charging card and app, and salary sacrifice the cost of their charging - at home, at work, or on public networks - saving 20–40% through tax and National Insurance reductions. It is the most cost-effective way to pay for EV charging in the UK, and works seamlessly alongside the electric car salary sacrifice scheme.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to charge an electric car at home?
A full home charge for a typical 60kWh electric car costs £4–£15, depending on your electricity tariff. On a standard rate of 24p per kWh, expect to pay around £14. On a specialist EV off-peak tariff (7–10p per kWh), the same charge costs just £4–£6.
How long does it take to charge an electric car?
Charging time depends on the charger type and your car's battery. A 7kW home wallbox typically takes 8–10 hours for a full charge — perfect overnight. A 50kW rapid charger delivers 80% in 30–40 minutes, while ultra-rapid chargers (150kW+) can do the same in 15–25 minutes.
Is it cheaper to charge at home or at a public charger?
Home charging is significantly cheaper. At home on an off-peak EV tariff, you might pay 7–10p per kWh. Public rapid chargers typically charge 45–65p per kWh — up to six times more expensive. Home charging should account for the majority of your charging wherever possible.
How much does it cost to install a home EV charger?
A standard 7kW home charger installation costs £800–£1,500 in total, including hardware and fitting. Through The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice scheme, you can bundle installation into your monthly payment, saving 20–50% on the cost via pre-tax deductions.
What is the OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme?
The OZEV Workplace Charging Scheme (WCS) provides UK businesses with vouchers worth up to £350 per charging socket (up to 40 sockets). Businesses must use an OZEV-authorised installer and apply before purchasing equipment. It pairs well with employer electric car salary sacrifice schemes.
Can I save money on public charging through salary sacrifice?
Yes. Through The Charge Scheme - The Electric Car Scheme's salary sacrifice charging benefit - employees can save 20–40% on all charging costs, including public networks. A single charging card covers home, workplace, and public charging.
What is a smart EV charger and is it worth it?
A smart charger connects to the internet, allowing you to schedule charging during off-peak hours, monitor energy use, and integrate with solar panels or dynamic tariffs. The additional cost is typically recouped within a year through lower charging bills.
How does salary sacrifice reduce EV charging costs?
Under a salary sacrifice scheme, employees agree to reduce their gross salary in exchange for a non-cash benefit - in this case, EV charging costs. Because the deduction comes from pre-tax pay, employees save income tax and National Insurance on the amount sacrificed, reducing their net charging cost by 20–40%.
What UK EV tariff offers the cheapest off-peak charging rate?
As of 2025/26, E.ON Next's EV tariff offers one of the lowest off-peak rates at 6.7p per kWh, followed closely by British Gas at 7.9p/kWh. OVO's Charge Anytime tariff offers 7p per kWh at all times via a compatible smart charger - particularly useful for drivers without fixed schedules.
How many public charge points are there in the UK?
The UK had over 86,000 public charging points as of 2026, with new ones being added daily. The government has set a target of 300,000 public charge points by 2030. Most are concentrated in urban areas, though rural coverage is improving steadily.
Do I need to pay road tax on an electric car in 2026?
Yes. From 1 April 2025, EV drivers pay VED (road tax) for the first time. New EVs pay £10 in their first year, then £195 per year from year two. This is still significantly less than the highest-polluting petrol cars, which pay £600+ in year one.
What is the BiK rate for electric cars in 2025/26?
The Benefit-in-Kind (BiK) rate for electric cars is 4% in 2026/27. This rises by 1% per year to 5% in 2027/28, then 2% increments to 9% by 2029/30. Even at 9%, this remains far below the maximum 37% BiK rate for high-emission petrol and diesel cars.
Explore The Electric Car Scheme
The Electric Car Scheme is the UK's leading electric car salary sacrifice scheme provider, rated Excellent on Trustpilot and named Best Salary Sacrifice Provider 2025 by Car Sloth. Employees save 20–50% on any new electric car through pre-tax salary deductions, with Complete Employer Protection from day one and no setup cost for businesses.
Combine your EV salary sacrifice with The Charge Scheme to salary sacrifice your charging costs too - saving 20–40% at home, at work, or in public. Use our salary sacrifice calculator to see exactly how much you could save.
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Last updated: 24/03/2026
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