UK government cuts EV charging costs for lower-powered public network

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UK cuts EV charging costs

Highlights

UK government will provide £100 million over two years from spring 2027 to cut costs at lower-powered public EV chargers, covering a third of the network.
Since 2021, average prices for lower-powered chargers have risen 69% in real terms, prompting cost-focused interventions including the removal of planning permission for cross-pavement chargers from 21 October.
The government invests £7.5 billion through 2035 in EV transition, with more than 124,000 public charge points now installed and a 36% year-on-year increase in EV sales reported.

Funding plan for local chargers

As reported by GOV.UK, the government says it will cut prices at lower-powered public EV chargers across Britain, with £100 million to be provided over two years from spring 2027. The support is focused on charge points typically located on residential streets, where motorists can leave vehicles plugged in for several hours or overnight, and these units account for about a third of the current network.

The measure follows an independent review announced at Budget 2025 into the cost of charging on the public network after prices rose in recent years. The government is also taking forward a recommendation to launch a tariff porting taskforce led by industry experts to examine whether drivers can use cheaper domestic electricity tariffs at certain public chargers, with the Department for Transport to publish further details later.

EV rollout and cost pressures

The policy sits within a broader government push to accelerate EV adoption and support net zero goals. Officials say EV sales are up 36% on last year, while drivers can save up to £1,750 a year compared with petrol or diesel vehicles.

The government says it is investing £7.5 billion through 2035 to support the transition, including £2 billion via the Electric Car Grant, which has helped more than 190,000 drivers save up to £3,750 on a new EV. The UK now has more than 124,000 public charge points, up 7.4% year on year, and ministers have already committed £600 million to expand the network further, including £480 million for the Local EV Infrastructure fund to help install more than 100,000 additional chargers across England.

The charging cost review found that since 2021, average prices for lower-powered chargers have risen 69% in real terms, while higher-powered chargers have increased 94%. The government says this is a particular problem for households without off-street parking or driveways, which account for around a third of UK homes, and has also removed planning permission requirements for cross-pavement chargers from 21 October to reduce installation costs by up to £300.

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